Rutherglen Glencairn F.C. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rutherglen Glencairn

Full name	Rutherglen Glencairn Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Glens
Founded	1896; 129 years ago (1896)
Ground	The Hamish B Allan Stadium (New Southcroft Park) Rutherglen
Ground Capacity	1,500
Manager	Joe Pryce & Billy Ogilvie
Home colours Away colours

Rutherglen Glencairn Football Club is a Scottish football team. They are based in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, which is close to Glasgow. People often call them The Glens. The club was started in 1896. They play their home games at The Hamish B Allan Stadium, also known as New Southcroft Park.

The Glens currently play in the . They have won several important trophies. These include the SJFA West Region Championship in 2018–19. They also won the Stagecoach Central District League Division One in 2008–09. Another big win was the West Region Super League Division One title in 2018–19 and 2009–10. Winning these titles allowed them to play in the West Region Super Premier League for the first time in the 2010–11 season.

The team is currently managed by two Co-Managers, Joe Pryce and Billy Ogilvie. Willie Harvey now works as the General Manager for the club.

Club History: The Glens' Journey

A chart showing Glencairn's league positions from 2003 to 2017

Rutherglen Glencairn F.C. was formed in 1895. The club started in an office in Rutherglen called the 'Old Jail'.

The Glens played their very first game on August 15, 1896. They played against the Ibrox XI, which was Rangers' junior team back then. The Glens won that first game 1–0. Their team, from Southcroft, then joined the Glasgow Junior League. They won this league in the 1899–1900 season. This win earned them the "Evening Times Trophy."

Winning the Scottish Junior Cup

The club's biggest moment came in the 1901–02 season. They won the Scottish Junior Cup for the first time. They also won the Glasgow League Championship and the Glasgow Exhibition Championship that year. The team that won the Scottish Junior Cup beat Maryhill 1–0 at Meadowside. This team is remembered as one of their best ever. It included future Scotland international players like Jimmy McMenemy and Alec Bennett. Both of these players were from Rutherglen.

The Glens won the Scottish Junior Cup again in the 1918–19 season. They beat St Anthony's 1–0 in that final.

Their third Scottish Junior Cup win was in the 1926–27 season. This win was extra special because they beat their big local rivals, Cambuslang Rangers, 2–1. The Glens won the Scottish Junior Cup one last time in the 1938–39 season. They defeated Shawfield, another local rival, 2–1.

Recent Success and League Changes

In recent years, Glencairn has been successful in moving up through the junior leagues. They became champions of the West of Scotland League Central District First Division in 2009. They also won the West of Scotland Super League First Division in 2010.

In 2020, the club decided to leave the separate Junior football setup. They joined a new league that connects to the Lowland Football League. This is part of the wider pyramid system below the professional level of Scottish football.

Club Crest: Symbol of Rutherglen

The current crest, or badge, of Glencairn is inspired by Rutherglen town's official design. It features the club's initials with a football in the middle. On each side, there are guardian angels watching over it. The town's motto, 'Ex Fumo Fama' , is also part of the crest. This Latin phrase means 'Fame From Smoke'.

The Hamish B Allan Stadium: Home Ground

A view of the stadium from the north-east side

A view of the stadium from the south-west side

The club plays its home games at The Hamish B Allan Stadium. This stadium is in the Burnhill area of Rutherglen. Their original home was Southcroft Park, which was on Glasgow Road. That old stadium was taken down in 2007. It was removed to make way for the M74 motorway extension into central Glasgow.

The original Southcroft Park had been around for 110 years. It was the oldest Junior football ground in Scotland when it closed. The last game played there was a 1–0 win against Dunipace in October 2006. The terraced areas of the old ground also contained a toxic chemical called Chromium VI. This was a leftover from a nearby chemical factory. This chemical was also found at other stadiums in the area, like Lesser Hampden and Rosebery Park.

The new stadium was built on the other side of the motorway from the old site. It officially opened in July 2008. The first game there was a friendly match between Glencairn and Clyde. Clyde's old home, Shawfield Stadium, was also very close to the original Southcroft Park.

Stadium Naming Rights

In August 2009, the club signed a sponsorship deal with Clyde Gateway. This company sponsored New Southcroft Park for two years, and it was renamed the Clyde Gateway Stadium. This agreement was extended for another two seasons in 2012. In 2014, Celsius Cooling Ltd became the new sponsor. The stadium was then renamed The Celsius Stadium. In August 2020, the stadium was renamed 'The Hamish B Allan Stadium'. This was done to honor a loyal supporter and committee member.

In 2012, Rutherglen Glencairn talked with Clyde about possibly sharing the stadium. The changing rooms are modern, but other parts would need upgrades to meet league rules. Clyde eventually decided not to share the stadium. They considered moving to East Kilbride instead, but that move also did not happen.

Current Team Players

Updated July 19, 2023

No. Position Player GK Scott Law GK James Scott DF Alan Dunsmore DF Anthony Maguire DF Kyle Chrystal DF Leon Boomer DF Dom McLaughlin DF Lewis Blane DF Liam Coyne DF Dom McLaughlin DF Matthew Meechan DF Ronan Shiels

No. Position Player MF Austin Sime MF Dylan Collins MF Allan Woodhouse MF Ronan Fitzpatrick MF Sean McGuire MF Jay McKay MF Matthew Gear MF Martin McBride MF Marc Risi MF Ross Smith FW Paul Brennan FW Dylan Henry FW Ryan McManus FW Bradley Wilkie

Club Leadership and Coaching Staff

Club Officials

Management Team

Here are the management staff for Rutherglen Glencairn for the 2023-24 season:

Managerial History

Club Honours: Trophies and Wins

Action from the 2023 Scottish Junior Cup final

Scottish Junior Cup

• Winners: 1901–02, 1918–19, 1926–27, 1938–39
• Runners-up: 1966–67, 1974–75, 2022–23

West of Scotland Super League First Division

• Winners: 2009–10, 2018–19

Other Important Wins

• West of Scotland League Central District First Division winners: 2008–09
• Glasgow Junior League winners: 1898–99, 1901–02, 1918–19, 1921–22
• Central League champions: 1933–34, 1942–43, 1966–67
• Central League B Division winners: 1974–75
• Glasgow Junior Cup winners: 1899–1900, 1923–24, 1934–35, 1937–38, 1942–43
• Glasgow Dryburgh Cup winners: 1939–40
• Central Junior League Cup winners: 1998–99
• Central Sectional League Cup 1991–92, 2007–08

League Performance: Recent Seasons

Here are Rutherglen Glencairn's final league positions from recent seasons:

Youth Development: Growing Future Stars

Willie Harvey became the new manager before the 2010–11 Super Premier League Season. He started under-21 and under-19 teams. Alex McArthur managed these youth teams. The under-21 team plays in the West of Scotland Under 21 League Division One. The under-19 team competes in the Cumbernauld & Kilsyth District League.

Willie Harvey believes youth development is very important. He said, "Every now and again you find a real gem." He hopes to find players who can have a great career. He wants other clubs to try and get players from Glencairn. But he also wants Glencairn to have the first chance to sign their best young players.

The 2012–13 season was amazing for the young Glens teams. Managers Andy McFadyen and Alex McArthur, along with coach George Fortheringham, led the under-21s to win three trophies! This was a historic moment for the club. In a thrilling final game at Glencairn's home pitch, Rutherglen scored a last-minute goal. This helped them win the West of Scotland Premier League for the first time.

The Glens also won the League Cup in style. They beat Goldenhill 4–1 in a match played at Shettleston. Finally, the boys finished their fantastic season by winning the West of Scotland Cup final. They won it in a penalty shootout against Knightswood.

Famous Former Players

• Jimmy Bain – Played for Manchester United and Brentford
• Sammy Baird – Played for Clyde, Rangers, Hibernian, and the Scotland national team
• Alec Bennett – Played for Celtic, Rangers, Dumbarton, and Scotland
• Kenny Campbell – Played for Liverpool, Partick Thistle, Leicester City, and Scotland
• Alex Craig – Played for Rangers, Morton, and the Ireland national team
• Joe Donnachie – Played for Everton, Oldham Athletic, and Scotland
• Rob McKinnon – Played for Hartlepool United, Motherwell, FC Twente, Hearts, and Scotland
• Jimmy McMenemy – Played for Celtic, Partick Thistle, and Scotland
• Archie McWhinnie - Played for Wrexham A.F.C. and Wales
• Archie Robertson – Played for Clyde, Morton, and Scotland
• Bernie Slaven – Played for Albion Rovers, Middlesbrough, and the Republic of Ireland national team
• Jimmy Soye – Played for Southampton and Aberdeen
• Bobby Ward – Played for Newport County