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Edinburgh City F.C.

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FC Edinburgh
Full nameFootball Club of Edinburgh
Nickname(s)The Citizens
Founded1928; 96 years ago (1928) (original club)
1966; 58 years ago (1966) (present club)
GroundAinslie Park, Edinburgh
ChairmanJim Brown[1]
ManagerAlan Maybury
LeagueScottish League Two
2023–24Scottish League One, 10th of 10 (relegated)
WebsiteClub website

Football Club of Edinburgh (formerly known as Edinburgh City F.C.) is a semi-professional senior Scottish football club which plays in Scottish League One, the third tier of the Scottish Professional Football League. The club play at Ainslie Park, where they have groundshared since 2017.

A club known as Edinburgh City was first formed in 1928. It participated in the Scottish Football League in the 1930s and 1940s, but went out of business in the 1950s. The present club adopted the Edinburgh City name in 1986. It applied to join the Scottish Football League in 2002 and 2008, but failed to win election. Edinburgh City became members of the new Lowland League in 2013. The club won the Lowland League championship in 2015 and 2016 and won promotion to the Scottish Professional Football League in 2016.

In 2022, Edinburgh City were promoted to reach Scottish League One for the first time in club’s history after winning 3–2 in the play-off final against Annan Athletic. Following this promotion, on June 16 2022 the club rebranded, changing its name from Edinburgh City Football Club to Football Club of Edinburgh and unveiling a new badge.

History

The original Edinburgh City was founded in 1928. The club adopted amateur status, with the aim of becoming the Edinburgh equivalent of Queen's Park. Edinburgh City joined the Scottish Football League in 1931.[2] The club played in the Lothian Amateur League during the Second World War and were only admitted to the C Division in 1946.[3][4] After three more years of struggle, the club left the Scottish Football League in 1949.[3][4] It switched to junior status and played in the Edinburgh & District Junior League.[3][4] The club ceased activity completely in 1955,[3] when the local council refused to renew its lease on its home ground, City Park.[4]

A club called Postal United was founded in 1966 and joined the East of Scotland League. Their best league finish was third in 1985–86, having won the Qualifying Cup in 1982–83 and King Cup in 1984–85.

The Edinburgh City Football Club Ltd.,[5] which had continued trading as a social club since the football club stopped playing, gave their approval in 1986 for Postal United to use the Edinburgh City name.[4] The club has participated in the Scottish Cup since the mid-1990s, when it became a full member of the Scottish Football Association.[4] In the 1997–98 Scottish Cup they defeated SFL club, East Stirlingshire, before losing 7–2 to Dunfermline Athletic, then of the Premier Division.

The club applied to join the Scottish Football League in 2002,[6] after Airdrieonians had gone bankrupt, but Gretna won the vote instead. Edinburgh City applied again following Gretna's liquidation in 2008,[7] but this time lost out to Annan Athletic.[8]

Edinburgh City won the East of Scotland Football League Premier Division title for the first time in the 2005–06 season and became members of the new Lowland League in 2013.[9] The club won the Lowland League title in 2014–15 and 2015–16. They then gained promotion to the Scottish Professional Football League by defeating East Stirlingshire in a play-off with a penalty four minutes from time by Dougie Gair.[10] The victory also meant that it was the first time that a non-league club had been promoted to the professional league. The club finished in seventh place during their first Scottish League Two season of 2016–17.[11] They avoided the relegation play-offs in 2018, finishing eight points ahead of bottom placed Cowdenbeath,[12] and fared better in 2018–19, finishing third and qualifying for the League One promotion play-offs;[13] however, they were knocked out by Clyde in the play-off semi-finals, losing 4–0 over two legs.[14] Edinburgh City sat second in the table after 27 games when the truncated 2019–20 season was brought to an early finish in April 2020.[15]

The club began preparations for 2020–21 by announcing the signing of a pre-contract with former striker Ouzy See in June 2020.[16] This was followed up by the signing of defender Lee Hamilton from Stranraer and goalkeeper Kelby Mason in July.[17][18] The club also confirmed that sporting director Jim Jefferies had departed to return to Hearts.[19]

In June 2022 the club changed their name to FC Edinburgh following a challenge from a local social club.[20][21]

Colours

The club colours are white and black.[4] Postal United F.C. played in all-red, but switched to the traditional colours when it adopted the Edinburgh City identity in 1986.[4]

Stadium

Ainslie Park, where the club has groundshared with Spartans since 2017

The original club played its home matches at Powderhall Stadium and City Park during its time in the Scottish Football League.

The present club initially played their home fixtures at the Saughton Enclosure, which is now home to Lothian Thistle, before switching to Paties Road, where Edinburgh United currently play. Edinburgh City then moved to City Park and then Fernieside. Edinburgh City moved to Meadowbank Stadium in 1996, which had been vacated by the move of Meadowbank Thistle to Livingston.[4]

In February 2013, the City of Edinburgh Council started a new consultation process about the future of Meadowbank Stadium.[22] Three options for redeveloping Meadowbank were put forward for consideration by Edinburgh Council in December 2013.[23] A planned design was made public in November 2016[24] and work began after the 2016–17 season ended.[25] Edinburgh City reached an agreement with Spartans to use their Ainslie Park ground for three seasons while Meadowbank is redeveloped.[26] The club announced in March 2021 that they would return to Meadowbank for the 2021–22 season, with the ground now having a 4G artificial playing surface and a 500-seat stand.[27] Due to construction delays because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the club remained at Ainslie Park for the 2021–22 season.[28]

First-team squad

As of 19 June 2022[29]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF Scotland SCO Ciaran Brian
— DF Scotland SCO Callum Crane
— DF Scotland SCO Mark Docherty
— DF Scotland SCO Lee Hamilton
— DF Scotland SCO Jonny Jarron
— DF Scotland SCO Robbie McIntyre (captain)
— DF South Africa RSA Michael Travis
— MF Scotland SCO Danny Handling
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF Scotland SCO Danny Jardine
— MF Scotland SCO Innes Murray
— MF Scotland SCO Callum Tapping
— MF Scotland SCO Kieran Watson
— FW Scotland SCO Nicky Reid
— FW Scotland SCO John Robertson
— FW Scotland SCO Ouzy See
— FW Scotland SCO Ryan Shanley

Coaching staff

Position[30] Name
Manager Alan Maybury
Assistant Manager Mark Kerr
First Team Coach Liam Burns

Honours

SPFL League 2

  • Runners-up (2): 2019–20, 2020–21

Lowland Football League

East of Scotland Football League

  • Winners: 2005–06
  • Runners-up: 2003–04

East of Scotland Football League First Division

  • Winners: 1995–96
  • Runners-up: 1989–90

SFA South Region Challenge Cup

  • Runners-up (3): 2007–08, 2010–11, 2015–16

East of Scotland League Cup

  • Winners (3): 1992–93, 2001–02, 2012–13[31]
  • Runners-up (4): 2000–01, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2011–12

King Cup

  • Winners (2): 1998–99, 1999–00
  • Runners-up: 2004–05

References

  1. ^ Pilcher, Ross (26 May 2017). "Jim Brown appointed chairman of Edinburgh City". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  2. ^ (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 294)
  3. ^ a b c d (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 295)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Edinburgh City". Historical Football Kits. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  5. ^ "THE EDINBURGH CITY FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED". Archived from the original on 10 December 2018.
  6. ^ Lindsay, Clive (17 June 2002). "Airdrie may edge out Gretna". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  7. ^ "Edinburgh City will apply to SFL". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  8. ^ "Annan voted into Scottish league". BBC Sport. BBC. 3 July 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  9. ^ "Scottish Lowland Football League clubs selected". Scottish FA. SFA. 17 June 2013.
  10. ^ McLauchlin, Brian (14 May 2016). "East Stirlingshire 0–1 Edinburgh City". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  11. ^ "Scottish League 2, 2016/2017 Season". skysports.com. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  12. ^ "2017/2018 LEAGUE TWO". spfl.co.uk. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Scottish League Two table 2018/19". skysports.com. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  14. ^ "SCOTTISH LEAGUE ONE - PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL - 2ND LEG 3 0". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Scottish League 2 2019/20 Season". skysports.com. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  16. ^ "Ouzy See returns". edinburghcityfc.com.
  17. ^ "Hamilton Is A Citizen". edinburghcityfc.com. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  18. ^ "Edinburgh City Complete Signing of Kelby Mason". edinburghcityfc.com. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Edinburgh City FC Confirms Jim Jefferies' Departure". edinburghcityfc.com.
  20. ^ "SPFL side forced to change name due to social club rights dispute". HeraldScotland.
  21. ^ "Edinburgh City change name to FC Edinburgh" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  22. ^ "Future of Meadowbank Stadium unclear as council opens negotiations". www.news.stv.tv. STV. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  23. ^ "Three options considered for Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh". BBC News. BBC. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  24. ^ "New Meadowbank Stadium design plans unveiled". BBC News. BBC. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  25. ^ Temple, Alan (28 April 2017). "Pitch invasions, Manchester United & DIY: Emotional Edinburgh City prepare for Meadowbank farewell". Deadline News. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  26. ^ Pilcher, Ross (29 March 2017). "Edinburgh City and Spartans confirm three-season groundshare". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  27. ^ McGlade, Neil (31 March 2021). "Edinburgh City set for Meadowbank return in 'major step' for club". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  28. ^ Delaney, James (3 May 2022). "Meadowbank Stadium 'finishing line in sight' as delayed arena to open". STV News. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  29. ^ "Edinburgh City squad". Edinburgh City FC. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  30. ^ "Management". Edinburgh City FC. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  31. ^ "Previous East of Scotland League Cup finals". Retrieved 12 May 2019.
Sources

External links

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