Whitefield F.C. facts for kids
| Full name | Whitefield Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1877 | |
| Dissolved | 1892 | |
| Ground | Whitefield Park | |
| Capacity | 2,000 | |
| President | W. Kinghorn | |
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Whitefield Football Club was a football team from Scotland. They were based in Govan, which is now part of Glasgow. The club played for about 15 years before it stopped playing in 1892.
Contents
The Club's Early Days and History
When Was Whitefield Football Club Started?
The Whitefield Football Club began on November 3, 1877. Soon after, they joined the Scottish Cup for the first time in the 1878–79 season.
Whitefield's First Big Win
Their very first game in the Scottish Cup was a huge success! They won 10–0 against a team called Telegraphists. This was their biggest win ever in that competition.
How Long Did Whitefield Play in the Scottish Cup?
Whitefield played in the Scottish Cup almost every year until the 1892–93 season. Sometimes, they had to drop out of a game before playing. For example, in 1888, they didn't play a scheduled match.
Did Whitefield Join Other Clubs?
Whitefield was one of the last football clubs in Govan to keep playing, even with bigger teams like Rangers around. In 1885, they even became stronger by joining with another Govan team called Dean Park.
How Far Did Whitefield Go in the Scottish Cup?
Whitefield was not a super successful team. They only reached the third round of the Scottish Cup once. This happened in the 1887–88 season. They beat Linthouse and Pollokshields in earlier rounds. But then they lost 2–0 to Thistle in front of 3,000 fans.
Local Football Competitions
Playing in the Glasgow Cup
Whitefield didn't have much luck in the Glasgow Cup, which was a very strong local competition. They only won one game out of six times they entered. Their best run was in 1892–93, when they reached the quarter-finals. This was mostly because other teams didn't show up or had to drop out.
Winning Local Trophies
Whitefield was more successful in smaller local competitions. Their most important win was the Jubilee Cup in 1887–88. On their way to the final, they beat their local rivals, Linthouse, 2–1. About 2,000 people watched that game! In the final, they won 4–0 against Kelvinside Athletic.
The Govan Charity Cup Wins
Whitefield also won the Govan Charity Cup twice, in 1885–86 and 1886–87. The 1887 final against Linthouse was quite dramatic. After one game ended in a tie, Whitefield seemed to win the replay 2–0. But Linthouse complained, and they played another game. Linthouse won that one 3–1. Then Whitefield complained, and in the end, Whitefield was given the trophy!
Rivalry with Linthouse
The rivalry between Whitefield and Linthouse was intense. In the 1887–88 Scottish Cup, they played each other. Their first game was a 3–3 tie. Whitefield won the replay 2–1. During that game, Linthouse players were warned for rough play, and fans were very upset because of Linthouse's "questionable tactics."
However, Linthouse soon became the stronger team. In 1888–89, Linthouse beat Whitefield 9–0 in the Govan & Ibrox Cup. All nine goals were scored in the second half! When the Scottish Football Alliance league started in 1891–92, Linthouse joined, but Whitefield did not.
The Club's Last Games
Whitefield's last Scottish Cup games were in the 1891–92 preliminary rounds. They won one game 7–0 against Clydesdale of Rutherglen. But then they lost 9–0 to Battlefield. This was their biggest loss ever in the Scottish Cup.
In the Glasgow Cup, Whitefield was supposed to play Linthouse. The game was moved to Linthouse's field because many people wanted to watch. But Whitefield didn't show up on time, so Linthouse claimed they won. The two teams did play the game properly the next week, and Linthouse won 5–2.
By the start of the 1892–93 season, the club had stopped playing. But because their Scottish Cup opponent, Summertown Athletic, had also stopped playing, some Whitefield members restarted the club for one more game. They traveled to play Motherwell. When they arrived, Whitefield decided not to play the official match, so they played a friendly game instead. Motherwell won 3–0. This was probably Whitefield's very last game.
Even after they stopped playing, the club still entered the Scottish Cup and Glasgow Cup in 1893–94, hoping for one last chance or some money. But they dropped out of both competitions before playing any games.
Team Colours
When Whitefield Football Club first started, their uniforms were blue shirts and white shorts. From 1879, the shirts were described as navy blue, with navy blue socks. In 1888, they changed their shirts to navy and white, probably with stripes, and wore blue shorts.
Home Field
The club played at a field called Whitefield Park. This is where the club got its name! The entrance to the park was on Copeland Road in Govan. After 1892, another local team used the field.
In 1886, the clubhouse at Whitefield Park was broken into. Two boys stole three jerseys, a pair of boots, a football, and a comb.
Famous Players
- Charlie Gorevin was a player for Whitefield. He later played in the very first game for Celtic F.C. in 1888.
