Stenhousemuir
Formed 1884
Founder member of the reformed Scottish Division Two 1921
Kit History
1883-1886 a
1888-1891 a
1891-1900 a
1900-1901 a
1901-1902 a
1911-1912 b
1912-1913 a
1920-1921 a
1925-1926 a
1927-1928 a
1932-1935 a
1936-1947 a c
1948-1959 a c
1959-1964 a
1959-1962 alt a
1964-1969 a
1969-1977 a
1977-1980 a
1983 g
1984-1985 f
1985-1986 g
1986-1987 g
1992-1993 e
1993-1994 e
1994-1996 e
1998-1999 e
2000-2001 e
2001-2003 e
2003-2004 e
2004-2005 e
2005-2006 e
2006-2007 d e
2007-2008 d
Background
Stenhousemuir is a small town in Scotland’s central belt, an area that is teeming with football clubs. Formed in 1884 by a group of young men who broke away from a junior side called Heather Rangers, the club moved into Ochilview Park in 1890. They became known as “The Warriors” in the late 1880s but the reason for this is now lost.
They joined the Midland Central League in 1893 and enjoyed some success in the early years of the twentieth century, winning the Qualifying Cup twice (1901, 1902) and reaching the semi-final of the Scottish FA Cup in 1903. In 1909 they joined the old Central League where they competed until it was suspended in 1915.
After the war ended former members of the Scottish Second Division reformed the Central League as a rival competition to the Scottish League with Stenhousemuir among them. In 1921 this competition was incorporated as the new Scottish Second Division. The Warriors managed to finish in fourth place in 1924 and then three times in succession (1931-1934) but otherwise had an undistinguished career.
In 1928 a new stand was built after the old wooden structure was destroyed by fire. Shortly before it was finished, it was realised that the architect had omitted to include access stairways and these had to be hastily improvised.
In 1946, Stenhousemuir were placed in Division “B” (the new name for the old Second Division). They narrowly missed out on promotion in 1959 and 1961 but they usually finished near the foot of the table. When the league was restructured in 1975 with the creation of the Premier Division, Stenhousemuir were placed in the new Second Division (third tier). In 1996 the club won their first senior trophy (excluding the nine Stirlingshire Cups they have won over the years), beating Dundee United on penalties for victory in the League Challenge Cup.
Stenhousemuir languished in Division Two until 1998 when they were relegated to the Third Division (fourth tier). The following season they won their first ever promotion but in 2004 they were back in the basement.
Sources
- (a) Alick Milne
- (b) Ayr United FC - Images of Sport (Duncan Carmichael 2002)
- (c) London Hearts
- (d) Stenhousemuir Official Site
- (e) SNS Pix
- (f) Classic Kits
- (g) Ralph Pomeroy