Port Glasgow Athletic
Formed 1880
Founder member of Scottish Division Two 1893. Resigned 1911.
Kit History
1882-1885 (b)
1899-1902 (a,b)
1906-1910 (a,b,c)
Background
Formed as Broadfield FC in 1880, the club was originally based at Devol Farm, high on the hillside overlooking Port Glasgow's bustling shipyards. A year later, they became Port Glasgow Athletic and moved into Clune Park on Glasgow Road. They played in the Scottish Alliance in 1891-92 and 1892-93 when this competition was incorporated as the new Scottish Second Division. Despite having seven points deducted for infringing the rules, they finished a respectable 6th (out of 10) in their first season and coninued to finish near the top of the table until they were crowned as champions in 1902 and elected to Scottish Division One. They also reached the semi-finals of the Scottish FA Cup in 1899.
Athletic had to apply for re-election in 1903 but survived (this was before automatic promotion and relegation was introduced). In 1906, they reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals for the second time after knocking out Rangers and then were involved in a play-off with Kilmarnock to determine which would have to apply for re-election: Athletic won 6-0 (Killie were comfortably re-elected). In 1908 they again survived after finishing bottom but their luck ran out in 1910 when they again finished last. Facing severe financial difficulties, Port Glasgow did not seek re-election and were relegated.
After playing a single season in the Scottish Second Division, Port Glasgow Athletic resigned and were wound up in 1912.
Sources
- (a) Scottish Football League - Former Members IV (Norman Nichol 1994)
- (b) Alick Milne
- (c) Brian McColl