Rutherglen F.C. (1875) facts for kids
| Full name | Rutherglen Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Ru'glen | |
| Founded | 1875 | |
| Dissolved | 1891 | |
| Ground | Phoenix Park | |
| Match Secretary | Allan McCall | |
| Hon Secretary | W. D. MacDonald | |
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Rutherglen Football Club was a Scottish football team. They were based in the town of Rutherglen. The club was active during the late 1800s.
Contents
Club History
The club started in 1875. Back then, it was called Westburn. For a few years, the club was not very well known. They joined the Scottish Football Association in 1884. This allowed them to play in the 1884–85 Scottish Cup. In their first cup match, they won 6–2 against Tollcross. They then lost in the second round to Glengowan.
In 1885, the club changed its name to Rutherglen. They kept playing in the Scottish Cup. However, they never made it past the second round. Their best performance was in the 1886–87 season. They won their first game against Drumpellier. Drumpellier complained about the game, but their complaint was not accepted.
A Surprising Draw
Rutherglen then played Cambuslang in the second round. Cambuslang was a very strong team. Rutherglen managed to tie the game 1–1. This was a big surprise for everyone. The newspaper called it "without a doubt the greatest surprise of the day." Cambuslang won the replay game 6–1. But Rutherglen still earned a lot of respect. They were praised for playing "a brilliant game." After the match, both teams enjoyed time together.
Sadly, Rutherglen's good performance had a downside. Some of their best players left the club. By the next season, only three of their regular players remained.
Other Cup Competitions
Rutherglen reached the second round of the Scottish Cup two other times. Both times, it was after playing another Rutherglen club, Clydesdale. In 1887–88, Rutherglen won 4–1. In 1888–89, both teams moved forward after two tied games.
The club also played in the Lanarkshire Cup from 1884 to 1889. Their best run was reaching the quarter-finals in 1885–86. They beat Albion Rovers in this competition. They then lost to Airdrieonians.
Later, Rutherglen joined the Glasgow Cup. They played in this tougher competition from 1888. However, they lost all four of their matches. Rutherglen also reached the semi-finals twice in the Glasgow North Eastern Cup. They lost to Cowlairs in 1887–88 and Northern in 1889–90. Both of these teams later played in the Scottish League.
Club Challenges and End
There were many strong football clubs nearby. This made it hard for smaller clubs like Rutherglen. Also, Rutherglen's lease for their football ground was ending in 1892. They had trouble finding a new ground.
Merger Attempt
Because of these challenges, Rutherglen suggested joining with Clydesdale. The new club would be called Ruglonians. They would play at Clydesdale's ground. Clydesdale's committee agreed to this idea. However, Clydesdale's members voted against it. They felt Clydesdale was doing better financially. They did not want to take on Rutherglen's debts.
Clydesdale then suggested that Rutherglen's players simply join Clydesdale. Rutherglen's members were not happy about this. They said they had reduced their debts. Both clubs continued to play separately in the 1891–92 season.
Player Suspension
In the 1891–92 Scottish Cup, Rutherglen played against Annbank. Rutherglen asked Alexander Neil, Clydesdale's goalkeeper, to play for them. They paid for his train ticket and lunch. Rutherglen listed him as "McVee" on their team sheet.
Clydesdale found out and complained to the Scottish Football Association. Neil had already played for Clydesdale in an earlier cup game. A player was not allowed to play for two different clubs in the same cup. Rutherglen's secretary explained that their usual goalkeeper couldn't play. So, Neil played as an emergency. He said he didn't think it would cause much harm.
As a result, both Neil and Rutherglen were suspended. Rutherglen's suspension was for one month. However, there are no records of the club playing any more games after this. The club stopped playing football in 1891.
Team Colours
The club's jerseys were black and white with hoops. In their final season, they wore light blue jerseys.
Home Ground
The club first played at Phoenix Park. In 1887, they had to leave Phoenix Park. It was hard to find a new ground in the area. They finally found a new place called Lochgair. This ground was on Col. Buchanan's Eastfield estate. They signed a five-year lease. They even moved their fence and clubhouse from Phoenix Park to Lochgair.
Rutherglen opened their new ground with a Scottish Cup match. They played against Albion Rovers. About 1,200 people came to watch. Albion Rovers won the game 6–3.
Notable Player
- "Spriggie" Rae was the club captain in 1886–87. He later became a Scottish international player. He played for 3rd L.R.V..
