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.

Hamilton Crescent

Cricket was being played in Hamilton Crescent before the West of Scotland Cricket Club was founded in 1862.

Hamilton Crescent's place in sporting history was assured when it was chosen by Queen's Park to host what is considered to be the first ever international Association football match.

As we have seen , Charles Alcock had , in his enthusiasm to spread the association game, instituted 'international' matches in 1870. The 'Scottish' teams involved were not truly representative, the players usually having only tenuous connections with Scotland. Alcock didn't want this to be the case, however. He wanted genuine Scottish representation, as we can see from the following letter, which appeared in  The Glasgow Herald in November 1870:

ENGLAND versus SCOTLAND

Sir,—Will you allow me a few lines in your paper to notify to Scottish players that a match under the above title will take place in London on Saturday, 19th inst, according to the rules of the Football Association? It is the object of the committee to select the best elevens at their disposal in the two countries, and I cannot but think that the appearance of some of the more prominent celebrities of football on the northern side of the Tweed would do much to disseminate a healthy feeling of good fellowship among the contestants, and tend to promote to a still greater extent the extension of the game. In Scotland, once essentially the land of football, there should still be a spark left of the old fire, and I confidently appeal to Scotsmen to aid to their utmost the efforts of the committee to confer success on what London fondly hopes to found, an annual trial of skill between the champions of England and Scotland. Messrs. A. F. Kinnaird, 2 Pall Mall East, London, and J. Kirkpatrick, Admiralty, Somerset House, London, will be glad to receive the names of any Scottish player who will take part against England in the match in question.—I am, etc.,

Charles W. Alcock, Hon. Secretary of Football Association.

West Dulwich, Surrey, 1st November, 1870.

Queen's Park responded to the letter by asking if one of their members could play, They nominated Robert Smith (conveniently he had recently moved to London and was playing for South Norwood). Smith consequently played in the 2nd and 3rd 'Alcock Internationals'.

Queen's Park wrote to Alcock in the summer of 1872. What was happening regarding international matches? would the Football Association be disposed to send a team to play Scotland in Scotland? In effect the  Queen's Park club assumed responsibility for responding to Charles Alcock's challenge to Scottish footballers. There was no Scottish Football Association at the time. Queen's Park were in effect the governing body in Scottish football, as well as dominating the game on the pitch they were also arbiters and guardians of the rules. One thing that they didn't have, however, was a ground of their own. They still played in public parks.

Queen's Park were devilishly good at organizing things. They set up subcommittees to handle every aspect of preparing for the visit of the English.  The West of Scotland Cricket Club were approached regarding the use of Hamilton Crescent. Queen's Park anticipated the match being a lucrative event. The following terms were agreed:

West of Scotland Cricket Club to receive £10* for staging the match and and a further sum of £10 should the receipts exceed  £50. 

This was a bold move by Queen's Park, who only had £7 in their account and had been offered the Burnbank Rugby ground free of charge.

It paid off, though, as the takings reached £102 19s. 6d. Admission was 1 shilling and the attendance topped 4,000. 

The match cost a total of  £69 11s. 6d to stage, leaving Queen's Park a balance of £33 8s which they used to fund their journey to London for the following season's international.

One thing about this first international troubles me- if, according to  F.I.F.A. regulations, a match must be organised according to the prescribed rules by two National Football Associations, then should this game be considered a full international? There was no Scottish FA. Queen's Park organised the match, selected the team and provided all the players (who incidentally played in Queen's Park's colours). 

Hamilton Cresecent had served it's purpose well, though. Queen's Park moved into the first Hampden Park in 1873, but the internationals of 1874 and 1876 were both played in Hamilton Crescent, as were the first 2 matches of the 1877 Scottish Cup Final between Glasgow Rangers and Vale of Leven. (It took 2 replays to settle the tie- the 2 matches at Hamilton Crescent were drawn, 1-1). 

* 1872 Pre decimal money: 1 pound (£) = 20 shillings (s). 1 shilling = 12 pence (d). A general labourer earned about £1 per week. 

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.

Vale of Leven

The original Vale of Leven Football Club were powerhouses in the early Scottish game, winning the Scottish Cup three times in succession (1877, 1878 and 1879) and defeating English FA Cup winners Wanderers in  1878. 
 In December 1876 Vale of Leven became the first  Scottish club to beat Queen's Park (the first time they had ever lost in Scotland in their ten year existence).
 Vale of Leven faded with the advent of professionalism and went out of business in 1929.
I'm guessing the Fergie referred to in the badge is  John 'Jake' Ferguson, Vales' Scottish International forward.