| Full name | Kilmaronock Thistle Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1874 | |
| Dissolved | 1884 | |
| Ground | Ardoch, Ross Lane Park | |
| Hon. Secretary | John M'Neil, Robert M'Kinlay | |
Kilmaronock Thistle Football Club was an association football club based in the village of Gartocharn, in Dunbartonshire.
The club was founded in 1874, [1] and took its name from Kilmaronock Parish, in which the village is situated. It was occasionally referred to as simply Kilmaronock or as Kilmaronock Lochlomondside, and was often mistaken for a side from Kilmarnock. [2]
The club joined the Scottish Football Association in September 1877 [3] and entered the Scottish Cup for the 1877–78 campaign, but withdrew when paired with Vale of Leven, one of the strongest clubs in the world at the time. This would become a pattern, as the early rounds of the Scottish Cup in the period were drawn on a geographical basis, and Dunbartonshire almost always provided one of the Cup finalists. Therefore, although Kilmaronock entered every year until 1883–84, [4] it withdrew after the draw four times.
Kilmaronock did play in the competition on three occasions. In 1878–79, the club lost 4–0 at Helensburgh in the first round, having ceded home advantage. [5] In 1879–80, the club was drawn to visit Renton in the first round, and gained a 2–2 draw. [6] In the home replay, however, the Thistle lost 8–0, the club losing its two best players for the match. [7]
The last time the club played a match in the competition was in 1881–82, against Helensburgh again, this time losing 6–2 at home. The Kilmaronock side was the heavier side, but the visitors displayed "greater science and training in their play", [8] and were 2–0 up inside ten minutes. [9]
One difficulty the club had was in attracting new players; its membership stayed around the 40 mark throughout its senior existence, while clubs such as Vale of Leven Hibernians went from fewer to many more. The club's final Cup entry resulted in a withdrawal when drawn against Jamestown. [10] The club was one of the 33 struck off the Scottish Football Association register in August 1884, the final indignity being that even the agenda for the relevant meeting listed the club as Kilmarnock Thistle. [11]
The club should not be confused with Kilmarnock Thistle, from Kilmarnock in Ayrshire. The Ayrshire side, founded in 1886, entered the Scottish Cup only in 1888–89 and withdrew before playing a tie. [12]
The club's colours were red shirts, navy knickers with a red stripe, and red hose. [13] [14]
The club originally played at Ross Lane Park, two miles from Caldarvan railway station. [15] From 1880 its ground was given as Ardoch, [16] but this may have been the same location. Players used the Gartocharn Inn for facilities. [17]
Vale of Leven Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Alexandria, in the Vale of Leven area of West Dunbartonshire. Nicknamed the Vale and formed in 1939, they play at Millburn Park. They play in the West of Scotland League Third Division, the ninth tier of Scottish football.
The 1876–77 Scottish Cup – officially the Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup – was the fourth season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. Entries to the competition again increased with a total of 81 clubs involved in the first round draw. This resulted in an earlier start to the competition than in previous seasons with the first matches played on 23 September 1876. The cup was won for the first time by Dunbartonshire club Vale of Leven who defeated Rangers 3–2 in a twice-replayed final.
The 1877–78 Scottish Cup – officially the Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup – was the fifth season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. For the first time, over 100 teams took part in the competition which began with the first round on 22 September 1877. The cup was won by Vale of Leven for a second time after they defeated Glasgow club 3rd Lanark RV 1–0 in the final on 30 March 1878.
The 1878–79 Scottish Cup – officially the Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup – was the sixth season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. Defending champions Vale of Leven met Rangers in the final but, after a 1–1 draw in the original match on 19 April 1879, the replay was scratched and Vale of Leven were awarded the cup. Rangers objected to a goal being disallowed in the original match and refused to play the replay.
The 1879–80 Scottish Cup – officially the Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup – was the seventh season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. With 142 entrants, this season saw the largest number of teams to compete for the trophy since its inception. Three-time defending champions Vale of Leven lost their first match in the competition for four seasons when they were knocked out in the first round, losing 4–3 to rivals Dumbarton. Queen's Park regained the trophy as they won the competition for the fourth time after beating Thornliebank 3–0 in the final on 21 February 1880.
Airdrie Football Club was a Scottish association football club based in the town of Airdrie, Lanarkshire.
Vale of Leven Rovers Football Club was a Scottish association football club based in the town of Alexandria, Dunbartonshire.
Busby Football Club was an association football club from Busby in Renfrewshire.
Star of Leven Football Club was an association football club based in the town of Alexandria, in the Vale of Leven area of West Dunbartonshire.
Helensburgh F.C. was a nineteenth-century association football club from Helensburgh in Dunbartonshire, Scotland.
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.
Lennox Football Club was a 19th-century football club based in Dumbarton, in Scotland.
Jamestown Football Club was an association football club based in the village of Jamestown, in the Vale of Leven area of West Dunbartonshire, which entered the Scottish Cup from 1878 to 1890.
Renton Thistle Football Club was an association football club based in the town of Renton, in Dunbartonshire.
Alexandria Cricket and Football Club was an association football club based in the town of Alexandria, in Dunbartonshire.
Ailsa Football Club was a 19th-century association football club originally based at Pollokshields, in Glasgow.
Tarbolton Football Club was a football club from the village of Tarbolton, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Strathblane Football Club was a Scottish football club located in Strathblane, Stirlingshire.
Catrine Football Club was a Scottish association football club based in the village of Catrine, Ayrshire.
