Albion Rovers

Kit History

1882 h

1903-1906 l

1913-1924 l

1924-1928 l

1928-1935 l

1935-1936 f

1936-1937 d g

1937-1938 d g l

1944-1945 l

1945-Dec1946 l

Jan1947-1955 d l

1955-1956 l

1956-1959 l

1959-1960 l

1960-1961 l

1961-1964 e l

1964-1965 l

1965-1967 l

1967-1968 l

1968-Dec1969 l

Jan-May 1970 l

1970-1972 l

Aug-Dec 1972 l

Jan-May 1973 l

1974-1975 l

1975-1976 l

1976-1977 l

Admiral

1977-1978 l

Admiral

1977-1978 alt l

Admiral

1978-1980 l

1980-1981 d

1983-1985 j l

1985-1987 d j k l

1987-1988 d

1988-1990 i j

1990-1991 d

1991-1992 j

1993-1994j

1996-1997 j

1998-2000 d j

2000-2001 c d

2001-2002 a

2002-2004 a b j

2004-2006 a b j

TFG

2006-2007 a c

Macron

2007-2008 a

Background

The "Wee Rovers" play in Coatbridge near Glasgow but like many Scottish sides, they do not bear the name of their home town. They were in fact formed when two local sides, Albion FC and Rovers FC decided to merge, incorporating the names of both clubs into one (although they are always known to their supporters as "The Rovers" and never "Albion"). In 1903 the club was admitted to the Second Division of the Scottish Football League. For a period they had two grounds but have played at Cliftonhill Stadium since Christmas Day 1919.

In 1915 the Scottish Second Division was suspended and the member clubs formed regional leagues. When, after the war, the First Division clubs refused to reinstate the Second Division, the members resigned en masse, Rovers among them. They continued to play in the Western League until 1921 when they were invited to rejoin the reformed Scottish League Division Two.

The club's highest achievement to date came in 1919-20 when, having beating Rangers after two semi-final replays, they reached the final of the Scottish Cup. In front of 95,600 spectators Rovers were narrowly beaten 2-3 by Kilmarnock at Hampden Park.

The only other successes to have come the club's way were Second Division championships in 1934 and 1989. On the former occasion they spent three seasons in Scottish Division One while in 1989, of course, the Second Division had become the third tier of Scottish League system.

In 1961 the club changed from its traditional blue and white to the much brighter yellow and red that continues to this today.

The 1983 kit was sponsored by Tunnock's who produced a caramel wafer bar in a gold wrapper with red diagonal stripes, which gives the Wee Rovers the dubious distinction of having worn a kit inspired by a sweetie wrapper.

Like so many small clubs in Scotland's central belt, life has been a constant struggle for Rovers. They can never compete for support with the Old Firm clubs based just 13 miles away in Glasgow and it was not until 2000 that they appointed a full-time manager and a squad of full-time professional players (although many of these "professionals" were unemployed youngsters on a government training scheme). The gamble almost paid off as the club narrowly missed out on promotion in 2002 and 2003. The cost of maintaining a full-time squad and the expense of maintaining their crumbling ground proved too great however and the number of professionals on the books has been steadily reduced.

The board opened negotiations with Airdrieonians with a view to sharing that club's new stadium once it was built. This proved deeply unpopular and the board were ousted before talks came to fruition. The Airdrie club subsequently went bankrupt so it was perhaps just as well that these machinations came to nothing. Since then club has received a multi-million pound offer from a property developer for Cliftonhill but, having learned from the example of Airdrieonians, the board is seeking an alternative home within Coatbridge before selling up. Since 1994 they have played in Scottish Division Three (the lowest tier) attracting crowds of between 300-400.

Historical Football Kits

Kit History

Background

Sources