Glasgow Roller Derby


Glasgow Roller Derby is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 2007, the league has four teams, and three combined teams which compete with other leagues. Glasgow is a member of the United Kingdom Roller Derby Association, and the Women's Flat Track Derby Association.

History

The league was founded as the Glasgow Roller Girls in February 2007, by Teri Toxic and Mistress Malicious. It was the first league in Scotland, and the fourth in the United Kingdom. After initially practising in Kelvingrove Park, the league gained a regular slot at Glasgow Caledonian University, which has been their main bouting venue ever since.
The league's first bout was in 2008, against London, and subsequently it hosted the first transatlantic match, against Team Canada. It won the first Scottish tournament, "Highland Fling", and contributed several skaters to Team Scotland for the Roller Derby World Cup in 2011, including its head coach.
In July 2011, GRG became a Women's Flat Track Derby Association Apprentice league, and it was a founder member of the UK Roller Derby Association. Early in 2012, it changed its name to "Glasgow Roller Derby". In June 2012, it was accepted as a full member of the WFTDA.
In 2015, Glasgow was the Tier 1 winner at the British Roller Derby Championships.
Three members of Glasgow Roller Derby were selected to skate for Team Scotland at the 2018 Roller Derby World Cup.

Teams

Glasgow Roller Derby has three travel teams, the Irn Bruisers, the Maiden Grrders, and the Cannie Gingers - All three of these names are inspired by the popular Scottish carbonated beverage Irn-Bru. There are also three home teams, the Bad Omens, Death Stars and the Tyrannosaurus Wrecks.

WFTDA competition

In 2015, Glasgow qualified for Playoffs for the first time, entering the Division 1 Playoff in Jacksonville, Florida as the seventh seed. After losses of 184-159 to Charlottesville Derby Dames and 284-100 to Tampa Roller Derby, Glasgow rebounded to win the ninth place game against Pikes Peak Derby Dames, 247-153.

Rankings

Recruitment

Glasgow Roller Derby regularly runs an intensive course to aid new "would be" skaters to learn to skate/improve their skill and become GRD Members. GRD is a passionate advocate for LGBT inclusion in sport, with two league members currently acting as the Transgender Liaison for the UK Roller Derby Association, and as such all women and non-binary people are welcomed to join GRD with a view to becoming full competing league members. During their training phase these skaters are known as the Glasgow Roller Recruits. The GRR also includes future referees who are keen to learn the sport and join the league as skating officials, people of all genders are welcome to join the league as referees.