Ardrossan Accies Rugby Club president Dougie Tyler says he is delighted to be back playing rugby again after a turbulent year for the club.

Much like most sports, it has been a tough time for rugby during the pandemic, with the heavy contact element of the sport making it a no go for a long time.

During that period Accies elected a new chairman in Tyler, who says he lives and breathes rugby having been a member at the club for most of his life.

He said: “When I was growing up my life was playing rugby three times a week at the club and arranging everything else around it.

“Even when I was getting married, we had to get married in the two month window between the season finishing and pre-season starting.

“The former president Peter Gossman asked me to be his

vice president two and half years ago. The succession is that the incoming president asks someone to be their vice president, you do your two years as vice president then two years as president.

“So, I was elected president back in May during the annual general meeting.”

Although he was thrilled with his appointment at the club, Tyler admits it has been a tough ask at times.

“It has not been without its challenges. We have had a few setbacks around about the clubhouse.

“The place was not getting used and the heating broke down.

“So, we had to scramble around and get some grants to get the heating system replaced over Winter.

“Then as chance would have it, we entered this year with the floor collapsing in the shower room.

“So, work on that is currently underway and we are working on floodlights as well.”

Tyler says that is not the only work taking place, with the club keen to improve on the park as well, adding: “The men’s first X1 are yet to win a game this season, so we need to cement

our position in the Scottish National League 3.

“In terms of the womens team, we would like to grow that and for the youth set up we are trying to do the same thing. We are also looking to recruit a new development officer.”