| Full name | Helensburgh | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1882 | |
| Dissolved | 1886 | |
| Ground | Range Park, Mossend | |
| Hon. Secretary | Thomas Robinson [1] | |
| Match Secretary | James M'Innes | |
| Captain | A. Hutchison | |
Helensburgh F.C. was a nineteenth-century association football club from Helensburgh in Dunbartonshire, Scotland.
The first record of the club is as Helensburgh Athletic, playing against the Star of Leven 2nd XI in March 1882. [2] In the aftermath of the demise of the two previous senior clubs in the town, Helensburgh and Victoria, the club kept a low profile, although it did take part in the first Dumbartonshire Cup in 1884, losing 10–1 to the quasi-professional Dumbarton in its first tie. The club changed its name to the simpler Helensburgh in early August 1885, having entered a pre-season tournament as Helensburgh Athletic, [3] but playing in it as Helensburgh. [4]
In August 1885, with club membership having risen to a respectable 70, Helensburgh joined the Scottish Football Association. [5] In effect the club merged with another club in town, Helensburgh Albion, as two of the players in the 1885–86 Scottish Cup tie with Dumbarton Athletic - back D. Campbell and captain Hutchison - had been Albion players. [6]
Its first (and only) Scottish Cup tie in September, against Dumbarton Athletic, was suffused with confusion. The tie did not take place, voided by the referee on the basis of "mismanagement" by Helensburgh. [7] The referee had assessed that the goal-posts were too high, [8] which led to protest and counter-protest; Helensburgh about the non-registration of a number of Athletic players, Athletic that it should be awarded the tie as the pitch was not in a proper state. The FA ruled that the match should be played out at Mossend, [9] and the visitors went into a 2–0 half-time lead, but Helensburgh nearly pulled the scores level, only to be caught by a sucker punch break at the end to go down 3–2. [10]
The club never took part in the Scottish Cup again, not renewing its subscription the next August. The gap between the club and the three big Dumbartonshire sides was demonstrated by it losing to Vale of Leven in the 1884–85 and 1885–86 Dumbartonshire Cups, by scores of 6–1 (Helensburgh taking the lead through a Connal goal) [11] and 8–2; despite encouragement from the President of the Vale, who noted that "the mettle was in the Helensburgh", [12] there is only one record of a Helensburgh club after 1886, a 2–0 defeat at Methlan Park in April 1887, [13] which may refer to the Victoria junior club.
The club wore blue jerseys and white knickers. [14]
The club originally played on a public park in Helensburgh. [15] Requiring a private ground in order to become a senior club, Helensburgh rented Range Park [16] in Mossend, ¼ mile from Helensburgh railway station, [17] from late 1884. [18]
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 1884–85 season was the 12th Scottish football season in which Dumbarton competed at a national level.
The 1885–86 season was the 13th Scottish football season in which Dumbarton competed at a national level.
The 1888–89 season was the 16th Scottish football season in which Dumbarton competed at a national level.
Mossend Swifts were a Scottish senior football club from the shale mining village of Mossend, just to the north of the town of West Calder, West Lothian. There is now little left of this village.
Alclutha Football Club was a football club based in Dumbarton, Scotland. From 1883 the club was called Dunbritton Football Club.
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.
Dumbarton Athletic Football Club was an association football club based in the town of Dumbarton, in Scotland.
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.
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.
Rock Football Club, usually referred to as Dumbarton Rock, was an association football club based in the town of Dumbarton, in West Dunbartonshire.
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.
Dalmuir Thistle F.C. was a 19th-century association football club from Dalmuir, Clydebank, Dumbartonshire.
Levendale Football Club was a football club from Alexandria, Dumbartonshire, active in the 19th century.
Newtown Thistle F.C. was an association football club from Dumbarton in Scotland, active in the 19th century.
