COME AWA' THE HEATHER

On March 13th 1996, a resident from Dunblane, called Thomas Hamilton, entered the gymnasium of the local Primary school and shot dead 16 pupils and then himself. In the school at the time were the Murray brothers of tennis fame as well as a full compliment of teachers and students. The gymnasium has been demolished and replaced by a memorial garden. 

Dunblane is a sleepy commuter town, near Stirling in central Scotland, with a population of around 10,000. Close by was another primary school, a co-ed boarding school supporting children from the Armed Forces  and a co-ed High School with 800 pupils. They were the lucky ones.

The gymnasium at the primary school, where the murders took place, has been demolished and replaced by a memorial garden. 

The local football club was founded in 1896 and flourished as the biggest club in Perthshire for a feww years. The First World War saw the demise of the club and then professionalism in the game restricted the development of the club causing it to fold.

Dunblane FC was re-formed in 2000 and has over 300 members, supporting an amateur club including juniors up to 18 years old, an adult team of over 35 years old and a flourishing girls' section. The Heather, the club's nickname, is known as Scotland's largest community club.

The club is known as "The Heather" because of the bright red shirts they wear. and their old ground at Duckburn Park nows supports a Marks and Spencers Store,