It has been announced today that Preston Lodge rugby club has won the RBS Club of the Month award for January and that the accolade will be dedicated to George Gillan; a long serving member of the club who died last week.

The award comes only a matter of weeks after the senior team won RBS East Division 1, the first league title claimed by any side in season 2011/12 so far, and exactly one year after they last won the £1,000 cash prize.

The side have not only put in performances worthy of the award in January but throughout the entire season, winning 14 matches of 15 victories with a four try bonus point.

The club’s president, Shona Brash, said: “This award is a fitting tribute to all the hard work our development officer [Dougie Thomson] and all our volunteers put in. Without them we wouldn’t have a club.

“We have agreed that the award will be dedicated to George Gillan. He was a much loved member of Preston Lodge.

“Our main aim at Pennypit Park is to provide the best support we can to every player in every team, so it’s been wonderful to see four of our colts being selected for the first XV this season so far.

“It’s absolutely awesome, we are stunned, delighted and honoured to have won.”

As well as the success of their first XV in the league Preston Lodge is a very active club with teams in all age-groups; a second XV; a club development officer, Dougie Thomson, who works closely with Preston Lodge High School and the local primary schools; and plans in motion for all weather pitches and strength and conditioning facilities.

They also fulfilled the good discipline criteria of the award, receiving only one yellow card in January.

Scottish Rugby’s head of community rugby, Colin Thomson, said: “Congratulations to Preston Lodge. They are an extremely proactive club who are going places both on and off the park.

“Shona Brash and everyone at Pennypit Park richly deserve this award for their efforts and for being the first club to win a league title this season.”

First XV results in January:

Saturday 28 January: Duns 16-18 Preston Lodge
Saturday 21 January: Preston Lodge 73-0 Forrester
Saturday 14 January: North Berwick 14-42 Preston Lodge

The club will receive the award from Scottish Rugby council representative Barry Sinclair and RBS Rugby Rep, Karen Hazzard at Pennypit Park tonight.

As RBS Club of the Month winners, Preston Lodge will receive a cheque for £1,000 and ten invites to the annual Scottish Rugby Club Awards Dinner at Murrayfield where they will be in with a chance of winning the prestigious RBS Club of the Season award. The dinner will take place on Friday 25 May. Places are now available to book at the reduced price of £35 per head, call 0131 346 5250.