Bathgate
Formed 1893
Founder member of the reformed Scottish Division Two 1921. Resigned 1929
Kit History
1893-1900 (b)
1900-1903 (a,b)
1904-1905 (a,b)
1908-1919 (a,b)
1919-1921 (b)
1921-1923 (b)
1925-1930 (b)
Background
Bathgate were formed in July 1893 and played their first fixture a month later against Broxburn, a match which they lost 3-4. The West Lothian club joined the Central Combination in 1902 and played in various league competitions until the First World War. After peace was declared the club played in fetching cerise and grey shirts in the Central League until 1921 when this competition was incoporated into the Scottish League. They returned to the more familar maroon shirts at this stage and continued to wear these until their demise.
After three promising seasons (fifth, fifth and third position), the ’Gates fortunes took a turn for the worse and they finished near the bottom of the league between 1925 and 1928. In the course of the 1928-29 season Bathgate were unable to fulfil their fixtures and resigned with 28 matches played and their record was expunged. The club was finally wound up in October 1938. There appears to be no connection between this club and the current Bathgate Thistle, a junior side formed in 1937.
Sources
- (a) The Scottish League Former Members (Norman Nichol 1992)
- (b) Alick Milne