Union F.C. (Glasgow)

Union

Full name	Union Football Club
Founded	1873
Dissolved	1880
Ground	Queen's Park
Secretary	James R. Murdoch
Home colours

Union Football Club was a 19th-century football club based in Glasgow.

History

Report on the 1877 Cup defeat by Partick, from the North British Daily Mail

The club was founded in 1873. ^[1] The first recorded match against another side was at Govan in October 1875. ^[2]

It was not a major club; it did not play any of more prestigious clubs in Glasgow at the time, such as Queen's Park, Clydesdale, or Rangers. It had fielded a second XI in 1875–76, ^[3] but by 1877 its membership was 21, the smallest recorded in Charles Alcock's Football Annual for the year. The club's secretary, James Murdoch of Prince Edward Street in Crosshill, was a commercial traveller and nearing his forties when the club was founded. ^[4]

The only major fixtures in which the club participated were in the Scottish Cup. In 1877–78, Union lost 2–0 at the original Partick club. ^[5] In 1878–79, Union won its first round tie against fellow Glaswegian club Rosslyn, at the latter's Merkland Park, the only goal being scored by R. Wallace. ^[6] The club went out in the second round to Parkgrove by the same score, at Trinidad Park in Govan, having been pressed all match and Parkgrove having two goals disallowed; goalkeeper Borland received praise from the press, ^[7] and, perhaps not coincidentally, is reported as playing for Parkgrove later in the season. ^[8]

The club scratched when overmatched with 3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers in the first round in 1879–80. ^[9] The club did continue playing in the season, the last recorded fixture being a 1–0 win over the obscure Eldon club. ^[10]

Colours

The club played in blue jerseys, white knickerbockers, and blue stockings. ^[11]

Grounds

The club played at the Queen's Park, Glasgow, and did not have its own clubhouse. ^[12]

References

1. Alcock, Charles (1877). Football Annual. p. 130.
2. "Local football fixtures". North British Daily Mail: 6. 9 October 1875.
3. "Local football fixtures". North British Daily Mail: 3. 15 January 1876.
4. 1871 Scotland Census (1871). Parish: Govan; ED: 6; Page: 25; Line: 15; Roll: CSSCT1871_144. Edinburgh: General Register Office for Scotland.
5. "Partick v Union". North British Daily Mail: 3. 24 November 1877.
6. "Union v Roslyn [sic]". North British Daily Mail: 3. 30 September 1878.
7. "Parkgrove v Union". North British Daily Mail: 3. 21 October 1878.
8. "Parkgrove v Kilmarnock Portland". Glasgow Herald: 10. 8 March 1880.
9. Mathers, Stewart. "Season 1879–80". Beautiful Dribbling Game. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
10. "Union v Eldon". Glasgow Herald: 6. 3 November 1879.
11. Alcock, Charles (1877). Football Annual. p. 130.
12. Alcock, Charles (1877). Football Annual. p. 130.