| Full name | Dalmuir Thistle F.C. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | the Thistle | ||
| Founded | 1877 | ||
| Dissolved | 1895 | ||
| Ground | Castle Park | ||
| Hon. Secretary | T. Wilson, Robert Sanders, J. Scott | ||
| Match Secretary | John McGregor, W. Cross, James Rae | ||
| |||
Dalmuir Thistle F.C. was a 19th-century association football club from Dalmuir, Clydebank, Dumbartonshire.
The club was reputed to have been founded in 1877, [1] but the first recorded matches for the club do not appear until 1884, the earliest being a 6–2 defeat to Vale of Leven Wanderers in October, [2] just before the club's first appearance in the Dumbartonshire Cup (an 8–0 defeat to Union). The club was made up mostly of workers at the Singer foundry in Kilbowie, and many did "double duty" by playing for the foundry in works competitions. [3]
On 10 October 1885, the Thistle was hosting Glen Rangers in a friendly. One of the Thistle's players, Thomas Anderson, who worked at Singer, was kneed in the abdomen by M'Aulay of the Rangers, [4] and collapsed to the ground; he did not receive immediate treatment because those present thought he was faking an injury. He died of his injuries the following day. [5] The club therefore dissolved, [6] but was revived in time for the 1886–87 season. [7]
The Thistle's only win in the Dumbartonshire Cup in the 1880s came in the Consolation Cup in 1887–88, against the obscure Duntocher Union, and the club's status as second-tier was confirmed by a 7–0 defeat to Vale of Leven in the next round. [8]
Despite this lack of success, the Thistle joined the Scottish Football Association in August 1890, [9] just in time to play in the 1890–91 Scottish Cup, the last year in which all entrants started in the first round proper. The club won 6–1 at Tillicoultry in the first round, [10] and in the second lost 7–5 at home to Cowdenbeath in "boisterous" weather; Cowdenbeath took the lead inside three minutes and was quickly 2–0 up, and 5–4 up at half-time. Thistle brought the score level but the much heavier Cowdenbeath showed more stamina to win through. [11]
Dalmuir at least won in the main rounds of the Dumbartonshire Cup for the first time, 8–1 at Bowling, [12] that season, but, the following season, the Scottish Football Association brought in qualifying rounds, and the Thistle never won through to the first round proper of the national competition again again. In 1891–92 the club was drawn at home to the original Aberdeen in the fourth and final preliminary stage, [13] but sold home advantage. The decision proved costly as Thistle lost 2–1, having been ahead at half-time. [14]
The club's best run in the county competition was in 1893–94, and that was only because of the decimation of clubs in the area due to the introduction of the Scottish League and professionalism; it gained a bye and beat Kirkintilloch Athletic 2–1, [15] putting it into the semi-final, which ended with defeat to Duntocher Harp.
The Thistle was forced to close up shop in August 1895, "showing the effect professionalism has had in the provinces". [16] By this time Dumbartonshire was only down to three senior clubs which were not in the Scottish League.
The club originally played in dark blue. [17] In 1892 it changed to black and white vertically striped shirts, blue knickers [18]
The club's home ground was Castle Park, [19] notable for having a hedge and tree along its touchlines. [20] After the club's demise the ground was taken over by Clydebank United. [21]
Renton Football Club was a football club based in Renton, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. Formed in 1872, it was a prominent team in the early history of Scottish football, and was one of the teams that featured in the first ever Scottish Cup fixture. It won the competition twice, in 1885 and 1888, and was also runners-up three times. Its 6–1 win against Cambuslang in 1888 is the joint record win in a Scottish Cup final.
The 1889–90 Scottish Cup was the 17th season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. Queen's Park defeated rivals Vale of Leven 2–1 in a replayed final.
Campsie Football Club was a Scottish association football club based in the village of Lennoxtown, Stirlingshire.
Kilsyth Wanderers Football Club was a Scottish association football club based in the town of Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire.
Vale of Leven Wanderers Football Club was an association football club based in the town of Alexandria, in the Vale of Leven area of West Dunbartonshire.
Lenzie Football Club was an association football club based in the town of Lenzie, in Dunbartonshire.
Union Football Club was an association football club based in the town of Dumbarton, in West Dunbartonshire.
Yoker Football Club was an association football club based in the Scottish town of Yoker, now part of Glasgow.
Lassodie F.C. was an association football club from the now-lost village of Lassodie, Fife, Scotland.
Methlan Park Football Club was an association football club based in the town of Dumbarton, in West Dunbartonshire.
Kirkintilloch Central Football Club was a 19th-century association football club based in Kirkintilloch in Dumbartonshire.
Albion Football Club was an association football club based in the town of Dumbarton, in West Dunbartonshire.
Old Kilpatrick Football Club was an association football club based in the Scottish village of Old Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire.
Tillicoultry Football Club was a football club based in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire.
Carrington Football Club was a Scottish association football club based in Dennistoun, in Glasgow.
Duntocher Harp Football Club was an association football club based in the village of Duntocher, in West Dunbartonshire, which entered the Scottish Cup in the late 19th century.
Smithstone Hibs F.C. was a football club from Kilsyth in Scotland.
Levendale Football Club was an association football club from Alexandria, Dumbartonshire, active in the 19th century, and was the second senior club of that name.
Newtown Thistle F.C. was an association football club from Dumbarton in Scotland, active in the 19th century.
