Helensburgh F.C. (1874)
| Full name | Helensburgh Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1874 | |
| Dissolved | 1882 | |
| Ground | Ardencaple Park | |
| Secretary | Joseph Jamieson[1] | |
|
| ||
Helensburgh F.C. was a nineteenth-century association football club from Helensburgh in Dunbartonshire, Scotland.
History
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The club was founded in 1874.[2] The club's earliest association match reported was a defeat at home to Rangers F.C. in March 1874.[3]
The club entered the Scottish Cup for the first time in 1874-75, beating the Third Edinburgh Rifle Volunteers in Glasgow in the first round, and losing to local rivals Renton F.C. in the second.
Helensburgh's best run in the Cup came in 1878-79. The club beat both Heart of Midlothian F.C. and Hibernian F.C. (the latter at the Powderhall ground)[4] on its way to the semi-finals, which, that season, had three clubs; unfortunately for the club, Helensburgh missed out on the bye to the final, and lost 3-0 at home[5] to a Vale of Leven side heavily backed by a local factory and de facto a professional side.
The following season, the club again lost to the Vale, and the worth of having factory backing was demonstrated by the similarly-backed Dumbarton F.C. beating Helensburgh 7-0 in the first round in 1880-81.
The club's last entry to the competition came in 1881-82, losing in the fourth round to Arthurlie F.C. in a match spoilt by heavy wind.[6] The club folded during the season, hanks to crowds dwindling to the single figures, with competition from the successful Dunbartonshire sides in the vicinity,[7] and the club was struck off the register in August 1882.[8] The name was later used by at least three other clubs, including one founded in 1896 which became a member of the Scottish League.
Colours
The club originally played in blue and yellow shirts and shorts, with black hose.[9] In 1880 the club changed to blue shirts and white shorts.[10]
Ground
The club originally played at Ardencaple Park, two miles from the railway station.[11] In 1877 it moved to Kirkmichael Park.[12]
References
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1876). Football Annual. p. 166.
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1876). Football Annual. p. 166.
- ^ "Rangers (Glasgow) v Helensburgh". Glasgow Herald: 7. 24 March 1874.
- ^ "Football". North British Daily Mail: 3. 10 March 1879.
- ^ "Helensburgh v Vale of Leven (Cup tie)". North British Daily Mail: 6. 31 March 1879.
- ^ "Arthurlie v Helensburgh". Paisley Daily Express: 3. 21 November 1881.
- ^ Webb, Jeff. "Helensburgh FC". Forgotten Clubs. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
- ^ Weir, John (1993). The Boys From Leven's Winding Shore. PM Publications.
- ^ Weir, John (1993). The Boys From Leven's Winding Shore. PM Publications.
- ^ "Club Directory". Scottish Football Historical Results Archive. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1876). Football Annual. p. 166.
- ^ "Club Directory". Scottish Football Historical Results Archive. Retrieved 27 October 2022.