King's Park
Formed 1875
Founder member of the reformed Scottish Division Two 1921. Membership lapsed during Second World War.
Kit History
1879-1881 (b)
1881-1882 (b)
1882-1883 (b)
1883-1884 (f)
1884-1885 (b)
circa1886-1887 (d)
1892-1893 (d)
1898-1899 (d)
1921-1922 (d,e)
1923-1924 (d)
1926-1935 (d)
1938-1939 (d)
1939-1940 (d)
Background
King's Park played in Stirling, taking their name from the biggest and most popular park in the city where they played until 1881. SFA records (researched by Paul Doherty and Alick Milne) indicate the club wore navy jerseys and knickerbockers in the 1880s with various "hose" (stockings). From 1887 the club's registered colours were cardinal red and white.
In 1891 King's Park became founder members of the Scottish Alliance, one of several leagues set up after the Scottish League was formed in 1890. After only one season, the club joined the Midland League and then helped form the Central Combination in 1897. The competition was abandoned with fixtures incomplete in 1903-04 and King's Park spent two seasons playing friendlies and in cup competition before joining the Scottish Union in 1906 and then the Central League in 1909.
In 1921 the Central League was incoporated into the Scottish League as the new Second Division. King's Park generally finished in the middle of the table, although they narrowly missed out on promotion in 1928 when they finished in third place, just one point behind promoted Third Lanark.
Competition was suspended in 1939 after the outbreak of World War Two: King's Park played on in regional competition and in June1940 the pitch was damaged by a German bomb. After a few games at the beginning of 1940-41 it was decided to close down for the rest of the war due to lack of interest and Forthbank Park was handed back to its owner. In the Spring of 1945, with the war drawing to a close, the club's future came up for discussion. Mr TH Fergusson wanted to purchase the Annfield Estate and re-establish senior football as soon as possible. The King's Park board, however, decided to wait for war compensation before re-starting the club. Fergusson went his own way and established Stirling Albion FC.
It was not until 1953 that the War Office settled King's Park's claim, which went entirely to pay off their creditors after which the club was formally wound up.
Sources
- (a) London Hearts
- (b) Scottish Football Annuals 1879-1884 researched by Paul Doherty
- (c) The Scottish Football League Past Members Part 3 (Norman Nichol 1994)
- (d) Paul Doherty
- (e) Alick Milne