Linthouse
Formed 1881
Elected to Scottish Division Two 1895. Did not seek re-election 1900.
Kit History
1881-1886 (a,b)
1886-1887 (a)
1887-1900 (a,b)
Background
Linthouse is part of the Govan district of Glasgow, a former shipbuilding area south of the River Clyde. The football club, one of many that sprang up in the city in the late nineteenth century, played at Langlands Park. In 1891 they became founder members of the Scottish Football Alliance, one of the leagues set up immediately after the Scottish Football League was formed in 1890. The "Linties" won the competition in its inaugural season - no mean feat considering that every one of the 12 competing teams would become members of the Scottish Football League within a few years. In 1894 they moved to Govandale Park.
In 1895 Linthouse were elected to the Scottish Second Division but at the end of the season they finished last (out of ten teams competing at that time) and had to apply for re-election. After three ballots Linthouse received more votes than Wishaw Athletic and retained their place. In 1899 the club again faced re-election, having finished ninth out of ten and once again they were successful. When they finished in last place the following season the board decided enough was enough: it was clear that they would never be able to compete with their close neighbours, Rangers and so the club withdrew from the Scottish League.
Linthouse soldiered on into the next season and entered the Scottish FA Cup. In a bizarre sequence of events they were eliminated from the competition in the Second Round without kicking a ball! Their first round opponents, Clydebank forfeited their tie and Linthouse then scratched from the second round game against Motherwell and went out of business.
Sources
- (a) Alick Milne
- (b) The Scottish Football League - Former Members Part 4 (Norman Nichol 1994)