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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
