Linlithgow Athletic F.C. was an association football club from Linlithgow in West Lothian.
| Full name | Linlithgow Athletic Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | the Athletic[1] | |
| Founded | 1888 | |
| Dissolved | 1897 | |
| Ground | Captain's Park | |
| Secretary | Alex. Bennie | |
|
| ||
History
edit
The club was formed at the start of 1888, the club's opening match being a 1–0 home win over Dean Rangers of Edinburgh.[2]
It was generally one of the least successful senior clubs in the county, not helped by losing some of its leading players before its first full season.[3] It only played in the main rounds of the Scottish Cup twice, and suffered heavy defeats on both occasions - 6–2 at home to the Adventurers of Edinburgh in 1888–89[4] and 10–1 at Cowdenbeath in 1890–91; the Cowdenbeath game suggesting a lack of fitness amongst the Athletic, as eight of the Cowden goals came in the final half-an-hour.[5]
The Athletic was similarly unsuccessful in the Edinburgh Shield, the most notable of the local competitions which the club entered. It entered every year from 1888–89 until 1896–97, and only won twice - 9–1 against Pumpherston in 1891–92[6] and 5–1 at a scratch Bellstane Birds in 1894–95.[7] The slightly less prestigious Percival King Cup also provided slim pickings for the Athletic, only once reaching the third round, in 1893–94.
The only competition in which the Athletic had any level of success was the Linlithgowshire Cup, which generally had entrants in the single digits. Even the Athletic's one appearance in the final, in 1893–94, was aided by considerable fortune. The club protested a first-round defeat to the original incarnation of Uphall because of the non-registration of one player, and won the replayed tie. Its next opponent - Armadale - was disqualified before the tie was played because it did not provide a list of players from its tie with Bo'ness.[8] That was enough to put the Athletic in the final, against Broxburn Shamrock at Bathgate, and the Shamrock won 4–0.[9]
Despite the efforts of the faithful club secretary Alexander Bennie, who stayed loyal to his post for the club's entire existence, and who had even scored in the club's first competitive match in 1888,[10] the club threw in the towel soon after the start of the 1896–97 season. The last throw of the dice had been an attempt in 1895–96 to form a Linlithgowshire league - the club had not participated in any of the predecessor competitions such as the Eastern Alliance - but that collapsed after the Athletic had played just 3 matches, the last - the club's last match of all - being a 1–1 draw at Armadale.[11]
In 1896–97, the club was forced to scratch in the first round of both the Scottish Cup and Edinburgh Shield (to Penicuik Athletic[12] and Broxburn Shamrock[13] respectively), and did not pay its subscription to the local association as being "not being able to raise a team",[14] at least two of its "best men" having joined Bo'ness.[15] The coup de grâce was being struck off the Scottish Football Association membership list before the start of the next season.[16] A junior club, Linlithgow Athletic Rovers, played at Captain's Park during the season, perhaps as a Junior continuation;[17] but this incarnation only lasted until October 1897, its last match being a 2–0 defeat to North-Western.[18]
Colours
editThe club's first colours were white shirts and blue knickers.[19] In 1894 the shirts changed to red and black hoops.[20]
Ground
editThe club played at Captain's Park.[21]
Honours
edit- Linlithgowshire Cup
- Runners-up: 1893–94
Notable players
edit- George Allan, one-time record goalscorer for Liverpool F.C. and Scottish Championship winner with Celtic F.C.[22]
References
edit- ^ "Shield ties". Lothian Courier: 6. 27 September 1890.
- ^ "Linlithgow Athletic v Dean Rangers". Lothian Courier: 3. 25 February 1888.
- ^ "Linlithgow Athletic v Bo'ness". Lothian Courier: 6. 6 October 1888.
- ^ "Linlithgow Athletic v Edinburgh Adventurers". Lothian Courier: 3. 8 September 1888.
- ^ "Cowdenbeath v Linlithgow Athletic". Lothian Courier: 6. 13 September 1890.
- ^ "Linlithgow Athletic v Pumpherston (ESFA Tie)". Lothian Courier: 6. 26 September 1891.
- ^ "Queensferry Flashes". Lothian Courier: 5. 22 September 1894.
- ^ "Linlithgowshire Football Association". Lothian Courier: 3. 17 March 1894.
- ^ "Final of Linlithgowshire Cup". Lothian Courier: 3. 28 April 1894.
- ^ Albeit a consolation in a 12–2 defeat in its first Linlithgowshire Cup tie; "Linlithgow Athletic v Bo'ness". Lothian Courier: 6. 6 October 1888.
- ^ "Football". Lothian Courier: 3. 16 May 1896.
- ^ "Football notes". Airdrie Advertiser: 6. 5 September 1896.
- ^ "Edinburgh Shield". Lothian Courier: 3. 12 September 1896.
- ^ "Linlithgowshire Football Association". Lothian Courier: 3. 10 October 1896.
- ^ "Bo'ness v Battlefield". Airdrie Advertiser: 7. 3 October 1896.
- ^ "Scottish Football Association". Lothian Courier: 4. 7 August 1897.
- ^ "Linlithgowshire Junior Football Association". Lothian Courier: 3. 24 July 1897.
- ^ "Football notes". Lothian Courier: 3. 2 October 1897.
- ^ M'Dowall, John (1888). Scottish Football Annual 1888–89. Glasgow: Hay Nisbet. p. 78.
- ^ M'Dowall, John (1894). Scottish Football Annual 1894–95. Glasgow: Hay Nisbet. p. 94.
- ^ M'Dowall, John (1888). Scottish Football Annual 1888–89. Glasgow: Hay Nisbet. p. 78.
- ^ "Players - George Allan". LFC History. Retrieved 17 May 2023.