| Full name | Kilsyth Wanderers Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | the Wanderers | |
| Founded | 1885 | |
| Dissolved | 1902 | |
| Ground | Garrel Gardens Park | |
Kilsyth Wanderers Football Club was a Scottish association football club based in the town of Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire.
| Full name | Kilsyth Wanderers Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | the Wanderers | |
| Founded | 1885 | |
| Dissolved | 1902 | |
| Ground | Garrel Gardens Park | |
Kilsyth Wanderers Football Club was a Scottish association football club based in the town of Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire.
The first reference to the club is of its hosting Milton of Campsie in August 1885, winning 6–5. [1] The club's first competitive football came in the Stirlingshire Cup in the 1885–86 season, Wanderers losing to Longcroft in the first round.
In August 1887 the club joined the Scottish Football Association, [2] making its Scottish Cup debut in 1887–88 with a defeat at Falkirk, William Hamilton scoring the Wanderers' consolation near the end after Falkirk goalkeeper Mitchell flapped at a cross. [3] The club however improved and reached the semi-final of the Stirlingshire Cup for the first time in 1888–89, but lost to Slamannan, slightly against expectation. [4]
It struggled in its first Cup entries, only winning one tie in four seasons, but in the first round of the 1890–91 Scottish Cup, the club pulled off the biggest shock in the competition to date, and perhaps still the greatest shock in the competition's history. The club's opponent, Renton, had just become one of the founder members of the Scottish League and two years before claimed to be world champions, having won the 1888 Scottish Cup Final and then having beaten FA Cup winners West Bromwich Albion. Although Renton had lost many of its best players to professional sides, Kilsyth was not reckoned to be a challenge, with even the local media claiming that "they will not be surprised if they are beaten by a dozen goals, at the very least". [5]
Nevertheless, the Wanderers turned around at half-time 2–1 to the good, and, despite being under siege for the whole of the second half, hung on for the win; [6] a score so outlandish that "few could believe the evening papers". [7] Renton protested on the basis of encroachment by the home spectators but the protest was dismissed on the technical grounds that the objection at the match had been made by Renton's umpire and not the club captain. [8] One unintended consequence of the Wanderers' victory was that Renton arranged a friendly with the suspended St Bernard's in lieu of a second round fixture, which resulted in Renton's expulsion from the Scottish League. [9]
The club reached the third round, coming from 3–0 down with half-an-hour remaining to beat Clydebank Athletic 5–3 in the second, thanks to inspirational play by captain Cuthbert, [10] before the Vale of Leven pulled off the sort of result people expected Renton to inflict, beating the Wanderers 8–0 at Garrel Garden; all eight goals came in the second half. [11]
From the 1891–92 season, a qualifying element was brought into the Scottish Cup, and the Wanderers only reached the first round proper once more; in 1898–99, by winning through to the fifth round of the Scottish Qualifying Cup (where the club lost to Wishaw Thistle. [12] In the first round, the club had a plum draw at home to Queen's Park, but switched the tie to Hampden Park, and Queen's won 4–0. [13]
The club came close to winning the Stirlingshire Cup in 1892–93, taking the lead in the final at Brockville against East Stirlingshire and, with the scores at 1–1 in the second half, the Shire was reduced to ten men after Hastings was sent off for kicking a Wanderer; but, despite playing the better football, the Wanderers conceded a winner with four minutes remaining. [14]
With the rise of league competitions in the 1890s, the club sought to join the Midland League, being turned down for membership in 1893–94, but was finally admitted in 1895–96. The club also reached the final of the Stirlingshire in the latter season, playing Falkirk at Merchiston Park, and took the lead in the first minute when Brown finished off a counter-attack, but by half-time the local side was 3–1 up, and with luck going against the Wanderers (including hitting a post just before the break), Falkirk scored three breakaway goals in the second half for a flattering 6–1 scoreline. [15]
The club played in the Midland League, and its successor competition (the Central Football Combination), until 1899–1900, finishing between third and fifth in the competition.
In 1899–1900 the club was forced to withdraw from the Central Combination after playing 9 games for financial reasons; one problem was the difficulty in securing fixtures or availability as the town was not close to a railway station. [16] The club's last match in the Combination, and last recorded match in toto, was a 2–1 defeat at home to Falkirk in on 24 March 1900. [17]
Despite this withdrawal the club was still ranked 6th in the 9-team competition, but at the end of the season it was expelled from the competition for non-payment of subscription and visiting clubs' guarantees. [18] One of the club's players, P. Heenan, had already been banned sine die for on-pitch brutality, the ban coming soon after a 7-month suspension had ended. [19] Most of the club's players left for other clubs over the summer of 1900, [20] and, although an entry was made for the Qualifying Cup in 1900–01, no team could be got together, and the club scratched to Stenhousemuir so late that the Warriors were able to put in a claim for expenses. [21] However the club apparently had no money, not renewing its subscription to the Stirlingshire FA in October 1900. [22] Oddly, the club was not struck from the Scottish FA register before the 1901–02 season, apparently to give the club one last chance for resurrection, [23] and it was entered for the Qualifying Cup draw in August, although it was claimed that was because "someone has blundered". [24] The club was again drawn to face Stenhousemuir but this time scratched in good time. [25] The coup de grâce for the club, which had not played a match since 1900, was its striking from the Scottish FA register in April 1902. [26]
The club played in black and white vertically striped shirts with blue knickers. [27]
The club played at Garrel Garden, [28] described as "primitive" and "rough and ridgy". [29]
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 1883–84 Scottish Cup – officially the Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup – was the 11th season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. Queen's Park won the competition for the seventh time after Vale of Leven could not field a team on the date fixed for the final due to player illness.
The 1885–86 Scottish Cup was the 13th season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. Queen's Park won the competition for the eighth time after they beat defending champions Renton 3–1 in the final.
The 1886–87 Scottish Cup was the 14th season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. Hibernian won the competition for the first time after they beat Dumbarton 2–1 in the final.
The 1887–88 Scottish Cup was the 15th season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. Renton won the competition for the second time after they beat Cambuslang 6–1 in the final. The result set a new record as the largest margin of victory in a Scottish Cup Final - a record that was equalled by Celtic in 1972 but has never been bettered.
The 1888–89 Scottish Cup was the 16th season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. 3rd Lanark RV beat Glasgow rivals Celtic 2–1 in a replayed final. The original match was won 3–0 by 3rd Lanark RV but the SFA ordered a replay due to the playing conditions.
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.
Grangemouth Football Club was a Scottish association football club based in the town of Grangemouth. The club was founded in 1886 and disbanded eight years later in 1894. The club competed in the Scottish Cup between 1887 and 1894. Grangemouth also competed in regional competitions such as the Stirlingshire Cup and Midland Football League.
Gairdoch Football Club was a Scottish association football club based in the village of Carronshore, Stirlingshire.
Slamannan Football Club was a Scottish association football club based in the village of Slamannan, Stirlingshire.
Thomas McAteer was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a centre half in the Football League for Bolton Wanderers, in the Scottish League for Dundee, Clyde, Celtic, Albion Rovers and Abercorn, and in the English Southern League for West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion.
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.
Slamannan Rovers Football Club was a Scottish association football club based in the village of Slamannan, Stirlingshire.
Camelon Football Club was a football club from the town of Camelon, Stirlingshire, Scotland. The club twice won the Stirlingshire Cup in the late 19th century but was wound up in 1905.
Kirkintilloch Central Football Club was a 19th-century association football club based in Kirkintilloch in Dumbartonshire.
Dalmuir Thistle F.C. was a 19th-century association football club from Dalmuir, Clydebank, Dumbartonshire.
Denny F.C. was a football club from Denny, Stirlingshire.
Smithstone Hibs F.C. was a football club from Kilsyth in Scotland.