| Full name | Pollokshields Athletic Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Shields, the Gilded Youths, [1] the P.A.C. [2] | |
| Founded | 1875 | |
| Dissolved | 1888 | |
| Ground | Pollok Park | |
| Manager | Kenneth Wilson [3] | |
Pollokshields Athletic F.C. was a Scottish football team, based in the Pollokshields district of Glasgow (at the time a separate burgh).
The club was founded in 1875, originally as a rugby union club, [4] and was playing association football by 1877. The club first entered the Scottish Cup in 1877–78, losing 3–0 at Northern F.C. in the first round. The following season the club drew twice with Whiteinch F.C. in the first round, and both clubs were put through to the second; Shields were drawn at home to Queen's Park F.C. and lost heavily.
However, in 1879–80, the club reached the semi-finals for the first time, after beating Oxford F.C., Dennistoun F.C., Northern F.C., Renfrew F.C., [5] and winning 4–0 at Cambuslang F.C.. [6] The club was favoured to beat Thornliebank F.C. in the semi-final, but neutral venues were not used at that time, and the draw had the match played at Thornliebank's ground. The home advantage proved decisive; although Shields took the lead, and generally dominated the game, the ground was "hard as iron, rendering dribbling an impossibility", and the home side scored two late goals to reach the final. [7]
Despite recruitment for the following season, Athletic's form fell away, and the club was unable to entice English clubs for friendly matches. [8] It did not win another Scottish Cup tie until 1882–83, when the club again miraculously reached the semi-finals; the standout result being a 5–2 replay win over the Third L.R.V. in the quarter-finals, having been 2–0 down before half-time. [9]
The run ended against eventual winners Dumbarton F.C., the original game at Hampden Park, in front of 7,000 people, ending 1–0 to the Dumbarton club, but the goal was heavily disputed; Dumbarton claimed to have put the ball over the line in a scrimmage, and "after considerable hesitation" the goal was given, but "there were not many on the field who thought a goal had been scored, and the decision was not well received". [10] Shields put in a protest, and Dumbarton agreed to a re-play, provided the match take place at Dumbarton's Boghead ground. [11] With home advantage, Dumbarton won with ease.
The following season, one of the club's players, Woodville Gray, was called up for the Scotland international match with Wales, but had to withdraw. Had Gray played, he would have been Scotland's youngest-ever cap, not having had his 18th birthday at the time. Gray's one cap came before he was 20. [12]
The club was a founder member of the Glasgow Football Association the following season [13] and played in the first two editions of the Glasgow Cup in 1887 and 1888. [14] Shields were competitive in the Scottish Cup for the next few seasons, a highlight being a 4–1 defeat of Dumbarton "to the surprise of the spectators", coming from 1–0 down, in 1884–85, [15] but after that season the club did not get past the second round again. In 1886–87, the club was drawn to play St Andrew's, a local rival which used the Shields' former ground at Lorne Park, and won 5–2. However St Andrew's put in a successful protest (on the basis that the pitch markings had not been properly chalked out) [16] and won the replayed tie - at Lorne Park - 4–1. [17]
The club's last Scottish Cup match was in the first round of the Scottish Cup in 1888–89, when it lost to the United Abstainers F.C. side from Crosshill - the only win the Abstainers ever recorded in four entries. On 6 October 1888 the club lost 7–1 at home to Rangers F.C. in the Glasgow Cup. They were the last competitive matches of the Pollokshields club. By December, it had been taken over by fellow south Glasgow amateur side Battlefield F.C.. [18]
The name was revived in 1892 by a junior club which lasted two seasons.
The club played in white shirts, navy blue shorts. From 1877 to 1884 the shirt bore a red and black badge, and from 1884 to 1887 a red, white, and black sash over the left shoulder. [19]
For its first two seasons, the club played at Prince's Park; in 1877–78, the club used Lorne Park. From 1878 onwards the club played at Pollok Park, [20] near Haggs Castle. [21]
Three players won international caps for Scotland when at Shields: [22]
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 1882–83 Scottish Cup – officially the Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup – was the tenth season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. Dumbarton won the cup for the first, and so far only, time when they beat Vale of Leven 2–1 in a replayed final.
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.
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 1884–85 Scottish Cup – officially the Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup – was the 12th season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. Renton won the competition for the first tie after they defeated Vale of Leven in a replayed final.
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.
Thornliebank Football Club was a football club that existed between 1875 and 1907, based in Thornliebank, Renfrewshire, Scotland.
The 1882–83 season was the tenth Scottish football season in which Dumbarton competed at a national level.
The 1883–84 season was the 11th Scottish football season in which Dumbarton competed at a national level.
The 1884–85 season was the 12th Scottish football season in which Dumbarton competed at a national level.
The 1886–87 season was the 14th Scottish football season in which Dumbarton competed at a national level.
Inchview was a football ground in the Whiteinch area of Glasgow, Scotland. It was the home ground of Partick from the 1870s until 1885, and of Partick Thistle from 1885 until 1897.
Kilmarnock Athletic Football Club was an association football club from Ayrshire in Scotland.
Drumpellier Football Club was a Scottish football team located in the town of Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Whiteinch Football Club was a football club based in the burgh of Whiteinch, Scotland.
Pollokshields Football Club was a Scottish football team, based in the Pollokshields district of Glasgow. From 1885 the club was called St Andrew's.
Mavisbank Football Club was a Scottish football team, based in the Pollokshields district of Glasgow.
Rock Football Club, usually referred to as Dumbarton Rock, was an association football club based in the town of Dumbarton, in West Dunbartonshire.
