Union Football Club was a 19th-century football club based in Glasgow.
| Full name | Union Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1873 | |
| Dissolved | 1880 | |
| Ground | Queen's Park | |
| Secretary | James R. Murdoch | |
|
| ||
History edit
The club was founded in 1873.[1] The first recorded match against another side was at Govan in October 1875.[2]
It was not a major club; it did not play any of more prestigious clubs in Glasgow at the time, such as Queen's Park, Clydesdale, or Rangers. It had fielded a second XI in 1875–76,[3] but by 1877 its membership was 21, the smallest recorded in Charles Alcock's Football Annual for the year. The club's secretary, James Murdoch of Prince Edward Street in Crosshill, was a commercial traveller and nearing his forties when the club was founded.[4]
The only major fixtures in which the club participated were in the Scottish Cup. In 1877–78, Union lost 2–0 at the original Partick club.[5] In 1878–79, Union won its first round tie against fellow Glaswegian club Rosslyn, at the latter's Merkland Park, the only goal being scored by R. Wallace.[6] The club went out in the second round to Parkgrove by the same score, at Trinidad Park in Govan, having been pressed all match and Parkgrove having two goals disallowed; goalkeeper Borland received praise from the press,[7] and, perhaps not coincidentally, is reported as playing for Parkgrove later in the season.[8]
The club scratched when overmatched with 3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers in the first round in 1879–80.[9] The club did continue playing in the season, the last recorded fixture being a 1–0 win over the obscure Eldon club.[10]
Colours edit
The club played in blue jerseys, white knickerbockers, and blue stockings.[11]
Grounds edit
The club played at the Queen's Park, Glasgow, and did not have its own clubhouse.[12]
References edit
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1877). Football Annual. p. 130.
- ^ "Local football fixtures". North British Daily Mail: 6. 9 October 1875.
- ^ "Local football fixtures". North British Daily Mail: 3. 15 January 1876.
- ^ 1871 Scotland Census (1871). Parish: Govan; ED: 6; Page: 25; Line: 15; Roll: CSSCT1871_144. Edinburgh: General Register Office for Scotland.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Partick v Union". North British Daily Mail: 3. 24 November 1877.
- ^ "Union v Roslyn [sic]". North British Daily Mail: 3. 30 September 1878.
- ^ "Parkgrove v Union". North British Daily Mail: 3. 21 October 1878.
- ^ "Parkgrove v Kilmarnock Portland". Glasgow Herald: 10. 8 March 1880.
- ^ Mathers, Stewart. "Season 1879–80". Beautiful Dribbling Game. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ "Union v Eldon". Glasgow Herald: 6. 3 November 1879.
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1877). Football Annual. p. 130.
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1877). Football Annual. p. 130.