1873

 We have previously alluded to the position of the Queen's Park club as a de facto governing body within Scottish football.

It comes as no surprise, then, to find that when steps were taken to actually form a Scottish Football Association that Queen's Park were the originators of the scheme. 

It all began with a proposal for a knock out competition along the lines of the FA Cup. On February 8th 1873 the committee of Queen's Park instructed the secretary, Archibald Rae to write to all Scottish clubs proposing a cup competition.

The resulting meeting on 13th March, 1873, was attended by representatives of  the following clubs (along, of course, with Queen's Park themselves):

 Clydesdale

Founded 1872, dissolved 1881, based in Kinning Park in south Glasgow (later home to Rangers).

Vale of Leven

Founded 1872, dissolved 1929, from Alexandria in West Dunbartonshire (to the west of Glasgow).In 1876 they became the first club to defeat Queen's Park ever! One of the first teams to seriously challenge the dominance of Queen's Park. Won the cup in 1877, 1878 and 1879.

Rovers FC

1873-78. Played at The Queen's Park , a public park in which Queen's Park had originally played. Rovers expressed an interest in the venture, but are not listed as founding members of the SFA.

Dumbreck

1871-79, based at Glasgow's Ibroxhill.

3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers

Founded in 1872, the Cathkin Park club survived until 1967. Their military connections were by then a distant memory. Cup winners in 1889 and 1905.

Eastern
Active from 1873-85 Eastern were another 'public park' team based in Glasgow.

Granville 
1872-78. This was Granville's only entry into The Scottish Cup. 3 of the players in Scotland's first international XI were members of the club (as well as being members of Queen's Park).

The resolution passed on March 13th was:

The clubs here represented form themselves into an association for the promotion of football according to the rules of The Football Association and that the clubs connected with this association subscribe for a challenge cup to be played for annually, the committee to propose the laws of the competition.

The first elected officials were: 

President: Archibald Campbell (Clydesdale) 

Hon. treasurer: Mr. William Ker (Queen's Park)

Hon.secretary: Archibald Rae (Queen's Park) 

Committee:James Turnbull (Dumbreck), Don. McFarlane (Vale of Leven), Eben Hendry (Clydesdale), W. E. Dick (Third Lanark), John Mackay (Granville), James McIntyre (Eastern), Robert Gardner (Queen's Park), and William Gibb (Clydesdale).

 A special mention is due to :

Kilmarnock

One of the oldest clubs in Scotland, founded in 1869, Kilmarnock were technically not founder members. They did, however, send a letter to the meeting giving their support to the proposals . They had to wait a while for their cup successes, which came in 1920, 1929, and 1997.

These 9 clubs were joined by the following 7 for the first round of the the first edition of the Scottish FA Cup in October 1873.

Alexandra  Athletic
1873-84- based in the East End of Glasgow.

Callander
1872-74- a short lived Glasgow club who were Rangers' first ever opponents.

Dumbarton
1872- present. Currently in the second tier of Scottish football. Appeared in 6 Cup Finals in the 19th century , winning in 1883.

Renton
1872-1922.  The Dunbartonshire club were one of the big names in 19th century game.  Played in 5 Cup Finals in the 19th Century, winning in 1885 and 1888. They were World Champions in 1888.

Blythswood
1872-79. From Kelvinside in Glasgow.

Southern
1872-75. Scratched from their only ever Scottish FA Cup match.

Western
1873-78. Another Glasgow suburban team.

The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup, 1873-1900

1874- Queen's Park 2 Clydesdale 0 
16 teams entered the inaugural Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup.
The first Scottish final was played at Queen's Park's Hampden (1) in front of 2,500 spectators.  


1875- Queen's Park 3 Renton 0
A crowd of 7,000 were at Hampden (1) to see The Spiders assert their position as the dominant force in Scottish football.


1876- Queen's Park 2 3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers 1
The competition was growing in popularity, with 49 teams now entering and a crowd of 10.000 watching the final at Hamilton Crescent.
The cup was decided in a replay, the first match being drawn 1-1. The second match was played at Hampden (1) in front of 6,000 spectators. 

1877- Vale of Leven 3 Glasgow Rangers  2
The sensation of this season's cup was the defeat of Queen's Park by Vale of Leven. This was the first time that Queen's Park had been beaten by Scottish opposition and the first time they had lost in Scotland. 
300 minutes were needed to settle the final- 2 1-1 draws (including Scotland's first ever period of extra time) preceding the deciding match. Attendances were steadily growing as well. 


1878- Vale of Leven 1 3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers 0
128 teams entered. Queen's Park suffered a 3rd round defeat to 3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers
The attendance at the final at Hampden (1) was down to 5.000.

1879- Vale of Leven walkover victory over Glasgow Rangers.
 After the final ended 1-1 Rangers refused to replay in protest at having had a goal disallowed in the original match. The incedent and the aftermath were remarkable.  There were no goal nets in those days, and it appears that a shot from a Rangers player went through the goal, hit a spectator and flew back into play. Neither the referee or the umpires were in a position to award the goal. Rangers produced a witness- the man who the ball had hit, He was a knight and a professor of surgery at the Glasgow University. The SFA Committee dismissed their appeal and ordered a replay for the following Saturday, but Rangers showed their disdain by not turning up. 

1880- Queen's Park 3 Thornliebank 0
After 3 years absent from the final Queen's Park were back to claim their 4th victory.  Thornliebank is a village about 10km south of Glasgow. 

1881- Queen's Park 3 Dumbarton 1
Replayed after Dumbarton had protested against the 2-1 result of the first game. The protests were at the behaviour of the crowd at Glasgow Rangers' Kinning Park. The replay was held at the same ground. Dr John Smith scored a hattrick in the second match.  James McAulay  appeared for Dumbarton as a forward.

1882- Queen's Park  4 Dumbarton 1
Another replayed final, this time following a 2-2 draw in the first match.

1883- Dumbarton 2  Vale of Leven  1
Yet another replay following a 2-2 draw. Having appeared in the finals of the previous 2 years as a forward, James McAulay was now between the sticks for Dumbarton in the first match and at centre forward in the replay!

1884- Queen's Park walkover victory over Vale of Leven, who were unable to field an XI for the final tie. Vale appealed to have the final postponed as they had so many players ill or injured. The SFA would not entertain their appeal. So only Queen's Park turned up for the final. They kicked off unopposed and scored. The season also saw Queen's Park reach the final of the FA Cup.

1885 -Renton 3 Vale of Leven 1
A replay following a 0-0 draw. Both matches were played at Hampden (2) in poor weather before small crowds (2,000 and 3,500)

1886- Queen's Park 3 Renton  1

1887- Hibernian 2 Dumbarton 1
The first Edinburgh winners

1888- Renton 6 Cambuslang 1
Renton went on to become 'World Champions'.

1889- 3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers 2  Celtic 1
This was a replay. Third won the first match 3-0 but the teams had signed an agreement before kick off that the game should be considered a friendly due to poor conditions.

1890- Queen's Park 2 Vale of Leven 1
Replay following a 1-1 draw

1891- Heart of Midlothian 1 Dumbarton 0

1892- Celtic 5 Queen's Park 1
A replay- Celtic won the first match 1-0 in front of a 40,000 crowd at Ibrox, but the match was declared a 'friendly' due to the pitch being covered in snow. The tide in Scottish football was turning. Rememeber that at this point the game was still, from the official point of view, amateur. 

1893- Queen's Park 2 Celtic 1
deja vu- a replay- Celtic won the first match 1-0. A huge crowd, almost 50,000, unaware that before the game the match had been agreed as a friendly due to frost. 

1894- Glasgow Rangers 3 Celtic 1
The first Old Firm final, played at Hampden (2) in front of 17,000. 0-0 at half time, then Rangers took a 3-0 lead.

1895- St Bernard's 2 Renton 1
Edinburgh football was enjoying something of a purple patch. St Bernards won the cup in front of a crowd of 13,500 at Ibrox. 9 of Renton's players were teenagers!


1896- Heart of Midlothian 3 Hibernian 1
The first all Edinburgh final and the first (and only) final to be played away from Glasgow, at St Bernard's Logie Green ground watched by a crowd of 16,000. An insight into the spirit in which the game was played in Scotland at the time - the teams agreed before the match not to dispute the outcome! James Catton referred to an earlier period of football in England as the 'win draw or protest ' era.

1897- Glasgow Rangers 5 Dumbarton 1
Dumbarton were no longer the great force they had been in the amateur era, and were now a second tier side. Rangers overwhelmed them in the second half of the final, which was watched by 14.000 at Hampden (2).

1898- Glasgow Rangers 2 Kilmarnock 0
Kilmarnock were a second tier side 

1899- Celtic 2 Glasgow Rangers 0
25.000 at Hampden (2) saw a Celtic team featuring 9 Scottish internationals defeat an all international Rangers XI.

1900- Celtic 4  Queen's Park 3
This match at Ibrox represents something of a turning point in Scottish football, with Queen's Park making their last cup final appearance (to date) having featured so prominently in the game during its first three decades.  They eschewed league football and had remained staunchly amateur.

The Founding Members of the Scottish League

As we have seen, the Football League had 12 founding Members, 11 of which still exist as full time professional clubs in the English Pyramid system.
But what of their counterparts, the founders of the Scottish League?
Let's take a look at the founder members who contested the season 1890–91:

Dumbarton
(Founded 1872) Joint champions in the first season, outright champions in the second, and then... nothing in the top tier. They made 6 Cup final appearances, the last being 1897.
Dumbarton currently play in the 2nd tier of the Scottish pyramid system.

Rangers
(Founded 1872) Having shared the first championship with Dumbarton, Glasgow Rangers went on to become  the most successful club in domestic football in the World, but went bankrupt in 2012. They were reformed and joined the 4th tier.

Celtic
(Founded 1887) Celtic established a dominance alongside their Glasgow rivals Rangers after the advent of professionalism. They remain in the 1st tier of the Scottish League pyramid.

Cambuslang
 (Founded 1874) Cambuslang were a Central Glasgow club. After 2 years in the League they moved into the Scottish Alliance. They lasted there for 2 seasons and were wound up in 1897.

3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers
 (Founded 1872) Thirds were based in Glasgow. They rebranded as Third Lanark AC in 1903.  They won the Scottish League Championship in 1903-04 and the Scottish Cup in 1889 and 1905. There were no more major honours for the Cathkin Park side and they went out of business in 1967.

Heart of Midlothian
 (Founded 1874) The Edinburgh giants are still in the 1st tier of Scottish football.

Abercorn
 (Founded 1877) From the east end of Paisley, Abercorn suffered the indignity of having to apply for re-election in each of the first three seasons of the Scottish League. In 1893-94 they joined the new Second Division. Having rejoined the top flight in 1897 they went back down again the following season , joined the Western league in 1915 and ceased to exist in 1922.

St Mirren
(Founded 1877) St Mirren are another of the original member clubs who are now in the 1st tier. There's a history of the club's early years here.

Vale of Leven
 (Founded 1872) One of the giants of the early Scottish game, Vale of Leven were already on the wane by the time the league was introduced.  In their second season they failed to win a single game and finished last. Rather than face re-election for the second time, the club withdrew and joined the rival Scottish Alliance where they played for a single season.
Between 1893 and 1902 the Vale played only friendly matches and in cup competitions before joining the Scottish Football Combination. In 1905 they applied successfully for readmission to the Scottish League when the Second Division was extended with two additional places. They finished as runners-up in 1907 and in 1909 but did not receive the votes they needed to be elected to the First Division
In 1915 they joined the Western league.  dissolved in 1929 the club was re formed 1939, competing in junior football.

Cowlairs
 (Founded 1876) Cowlairs was formed by Glasgow railway workers. 1890–91 was a bad year- bottom of the League, points deducted for fielding ineligible players, accusations of professionalism, capped off by an unsuccessful bid for reelection.In 1892–93, Cowlairs joined the Scottish Alliance, which they won. They played in Division Two in the 1893–94 season, finishing as runners-up. A combination of bad form (voted out of the League for a second time in 1895) and financial difficulties brought about the club's demise in 1896.

Renton 

(Founded 1872) Renton were a major force in the 1880s. They won the Scottish Cup in 1885 and 1888. In 1888 they were World Champions.  They were however expelled from the Scottish League after just 5 games having played a friendly fixture against Edinburgh Saints.The Saints were actually  St Bernard's, under  suspension by the SFA for professionalism. Following a legal appeal Renton were reinstated the following season. After 2 mediocre seasons they were relegated in 1894 having won only a single game.

They resigned from the League early in the 1897-98 season and ceased to be in 1922.

Cathkin Park- Second Hampden

For most of its existence Cathkin Park was the home of Third Lanark FC.
The stadium was initially built as the new home for Queen's Park, who had been forced out of their previous ground by railway development.
Cathkin Park opened in October 1884 with a match between Queen's Park and Dumbarton (0-0). At that time the ground was still called Hampden Park, as was Queen's Park’s previous ground.
It soon became one of Scotland’s major grounds, regularly hosting Scottish Cup finals and internationals, as well as the 1888 “Championship of the World” match between  Renton and West Bromwich Albion, won 4-1 by the Scots. Another highlight includes the first ever Celtic-Rangers cup final in 1899 (2-0).
It did not take long for the ground to become too small and Queens Park therefore tried to acquire more land in order to expand. These plans were frustrated and in 1903 the club moved to a new site just south of Cathkin Park, the third and present Hampden Park.

After Queens Park had left the ground, Cathkin Park found a new occupant in Third Lanark FC. As soon as the new club moved in, they renamed it Cathkin Park (more precisely New Cathkin Park as they had previously played at a different ground with the same name).

Scottish Teams in the FA Cup

Queen's Park of Glasgow held a position of unassailable preeminence in the early Scottish game. They were responsible for bringing the Football Association's rules to Scotland, and, unsurprisingly, affiliated themselves to the (English) FA. This fraternization extended, naturally, to entering the first organized Association football competition.

So, in 1872 Queen's Park entered the FA Cup, and for the first decade of it's existence they would represent the only Scottish involvement in the competition. But, as we will see, their participation was not exclusive.

In the first round Queen's Park were drawn at home to Donington School (Lincolnshire) the tie was not fulfilled, but due to teams scratching both sides were carried over into round 2. Donington scratched and Queen's Park advanced into the Quarter Finals, where they were given a bye. So, having reached the semi-finals without kicking a ball, Queen's park met Wanderers in a goalless draw at the Oval. The replay was scheduled for the same ground, and Queen's park scratched because of the expense and inconvenience of having to return to London for the replay. 

In the 1872-73 season, Queen's Park entered the FA Cup again, and  were given byes until the semi-finals in order to reduce the amount of travelling necessary. Having thus progressed to the last four without playing a game Queen's Park withdrew anyway when they were drawn away at Oxford University.

1873–74 saw the introduction of the Scottish Cup, which was won by Queen's Park.

The 1875-76 season saw Clydesdale entered for the Cup, but their opponents, South Norwood, had a walk over in the first round, presumably because Clydesdale decided not to travel south. this was Clydesdale's only foray into the FA Cup.

The 1876-77 season saw Queen's Park again presented with two byes and then withdrawing from the competition when faced with an away tie at  Oxford University.

In 1877-78 a bye in the first round for was followed by an away tie with Druids (North Wales), which Queen's Park withdrew from. 

This pattern of Queen's Park entering and withdrawing when drawn away from home continued in the 1879-80 1880-81, 1881-82 and 1882-83  seasons ( Sheffield , Sheffield Wednesday, Accrington and Grimsby Town  respectively being awarded  first round walk overs). Incidentally a team called rangers featured in the FA Cup in 1880-81, but this was not the famous Glasgow Club, but a team based in London.


1883–84 saw Queen's Park make it all the way to the final. In the year in which they also won the Scottish Cup for the 7th time they illustrated the gulf in class between the leading sides and the emerging English provincial teams with a dazzling cup run. In the first round the Glasgow side traveled to Crewe Alexandra and won 10-0. They followed this with a 15-0 home win against Manchester (no connection with either United or City). In the third round Oswestry Town were beaten 7-1 (away). The fourth Round saw the biggest scalp- Aston Villa beaten 6-1 in Hampden (Caithkin). Old Westminsters were beaten 1-0 in London.

In the semi final Blackburn Olympic, the holders, were well beaten, 4-0 in Nottingham.
In the final at Kennington Oval Queen's Park were beaten 2-1 by Blackburn Rovers. It was a controversial result in Scottish eyes. Queen's Park had two goals disallowed before Blackburn had scored, one historian recording referee Major Francis Marindin's views on off-side as being ''peculiar and vain'.
In this cup-run Queens Park had the impressive record of played 7, won 6, lost 1, for 44 against 4.

In 1884-85 Queen's Park reached their second successive FA Cup Final. They were presented with a walkover by Stoke in the first round before beating Crewe Alexandra 2-1 at home in the second. The third round saw them travel to Leek and win 3-2. In the fourth round Old Wykehamists were beaten 7-0 at . In the 5th round they received a bye and then beat Notts County 2-1 in Derby following a 2-2 draw at Nottingham. 

Nottingham forest and Queens Park drew 1-1 at Derby and Queen's park took the replay (played at Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh) 3-0 to set up a second cup final meeting with Blackburn Rovers.
This time Blackburn triumphed by 2-0.

1885-86 saw 5 Scottish teams enter the FA Cup, namely Queen's Park, Glasgow Rangers, Partick Thistle, Third Lanark and Heart of Midlothian.
A record number of Scottish Clubs entered the 1886-87 tournament- 7- Queen's Park, Glasgow Rangers, Partick Thistle, Third Lanark and Heart of Midlothian being joined by Cowlairs and Renton. 


October 31st 1885 gave us the unprecedented spectacle of an FA Cup match being played between 2 Scottish teams in Glasgow- Queen's Park beating Partick Thistle 5-1.
Rangers did not contest their first round match at Rawtenstall, nor did Heart of Midlothian, drawn away at Padiham. Third Lanark beat Blackburn Park Road 4-2 at home in their first round match. Both drawn away to Lancashire clubs (South Shore and Church) in the second round, Queen's Park and Third Lanark withdrew from the competition.

Queen's Park were beaten 3-0 at home by Preston North End, whilst visits to Darwen saw Cowlairs beat  Darwen Old Wanderers 4-1 but  Heart of Midlothian thrashed 7-1 by Darwen. Partick Thistle enjoyed a 3-1 win away at Blackburn Olympic. Third Lanark entertained High Walton to a 5-0 beating and Everton pulled out of their away match to Rangers.
 in the second round for all the Caledonians fared as follows:- Rossendale 2-  Cowlairs 10, third Lanark 2- Bolton Wanderers 3, Rangers 2- Church 1, Partick Thistle 7-Fleetwood Rangers 0, Blackburn Rovers 0- Renton 2 (following a 2-2 draw at Renton).
In the third round Rangers and Cowlairs were drawn together, Rangers winning 3-2, Renton were beaten 2-0 at home by Preston North End and Partick Thistle were rewarded for their trip to Ireland with an 11-0 win over Cliftonville.
Rangers and  Partick Thistle received byes in the fourth round.
The fifth round saw Partick Thistle travel to London for a 1-0 loss to Old Westminsters. Rangers beat Lincoln City 3-0 at Ibrox.
 Old Westminsters visited Ibrox for the sixth round, where Rangers won 5-0.
Rangers faced Aston Villa in the semi final at Crewe and lost 3-1.

In May 1887 the Scottish Football Association forbade Scottish clubs from membership of any other national association,which put a stop to further participation in the FA Cup by  Scottish clubs.

The 93rd Highland Regiment took part in the 1890-91 FA Cup, losing 2-0 to Sunderland Albion, but they came under the wing of the Football Association, being a part of the British Army FA, formed in 1888.

Scottish League 1890-91, Irish League 1890-91

Following the example of England two other members of the International Football Association Board (founded 1886) inaugurated leagues in the 1890-91 season. 
In Scotland Dumbarton and Rangers were joint champions- they finished the league season level on points and a play-off game at Cathkin Park on 21st May ended in a 2-2 draw.
The giants of 19th century Scottish football, Queen's Park declined to join the League in a stand against illegal professionalism.
  In an eventful season Renton were  were expelled from the league  for professionalism (the result of them playing a match against Edinburgh Saints, who were actually St Bernard's, who had been banned by the Scottish FA for paying players) and  Celtic, Third Lanark and Cowlairs were all deducted  points for fielding ineligible players.


In Ireland seven of the eight teams who contested the league came from Belfast. The title went to Linfield, who were founded in 1886 in Sandy Row in south Belfast by workers at the Ulster Spinning Company's Linfield Mill. Linfield's record that season was played 14, won 12, drawn 1 , lost 1- goals for 89, goals against 18. Very healthy.

Linfield.

The First Penalty 1891

It might seem strange that the idea of the penalty kick was first put forward by a goalkeeper-
William McCrum, of Ireland's Milford FC  proposed the idea in response to the widespread practice of deliberate fouls preventing clear goal scoring chances. Under the rules as they stood such fouls were punished by indirect free kicks, which were relatively easy to defend.
In June 1890 the idea was submitted to the   International Football Association Board .
Here is the proposal:
 If any player shall intentionally trip or hold an opposing player, or deliberately handle the ball within twelve yards from his own goal line, the referee shall, on appeal, award the opposing side a penalty kick, to be taken from any point 12 yards from the goal line, under the following conditions: All players, with the exception of the player taking the penalty kick and the goalkeeper, shall stand behind the ball and at least six yards from it; the ball shall be in play when the kick is taken. A goal may be scored from a penalty kick.
Which was amended to:

The proposal was initially unpopular, but a high profile incident in a Stoke v Notts County FA Cup quarter final on 14th February 1891 seems to have swayed opinion-  a deliberate handball on the goal line lead to an   indirect free kick which did not produce a goal- justice did not prevail.
The rule came into effect in 1891.
The first goal from a penalty kick was scored by Alex McCall for Renton FC against Leith Athletic on August 22nd 1891.
In England it is generally held that  "Billy"Heath, playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers against Accrington at Molineux on 14th September 1891 scored the first penalty. However, on the same day  Bailey of Leicester Fosse scored one against Notts County, and the times are unrecorded.
One myth that is perpetuated on many websites is that Newton Heath's Alf Farman scored the first penalty in England. This seems to originate from Clark Miller's 1998 book He always puts it to the right , which states that Farman achieved the feat in a game for for Newton Heath v Blackpool in the Lancashire League on September 5th. However, at the time Newton Heath were in the Football Alliance, and their first recorded fixture that season was on September 12th. However, a crowd of 4000 at North Road would have seen Farman score a penalty against Blackpool in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup on December 5th  1891.

Alf Farman

Renton FC - Champions of The United Kingdom & The World

Renton FC was formed in 1872. West Dumbartonshire was a nursery of Scottish football, with Renton's neighbours Vale of Leven and Dumbarton also producing strong teams in this era. In 1888 Renton beat Cambuslang 6-1 in the Scottish Cup final. It was their second cup win.

In the 1888 FA Cup final in England underdogs West Bromwich Albion beat Preston North End on  24th March . West Brom. then issued a challenge to Renton. They would come to Scotland and meet Renton on a neutral ground to determine the‘Champions of the United Kingdom’ – and the World.

Renton accepted the offer, and on May 19th the two cup winners met at Cathkin Park, Glasgow.

The match was played in appalling conditions, Renton running out 4-1 winners. Renton's team included 19 year old Neil McCallum, who later that year would score the first ever goal for Celtic.

A sign proclaiming Renton ‘Champions of the World’ appeared above the pavilion in their home ground, Tontine Park. 

 Two weeks later, Renton cemented their claims of world domination by beating Preston North End (away) in an exhibition game.It was this Preston North End team, who, the following season,won the first ‘Double’ in England, and with it the nickname 'The Invincibles'.