Vale of Leven
Formed 1872
Founder member of the Scottish Football League 1890. Withdrew 1892.
Elected to Scottish Division Two 1905. Membership rescinded circa 1917.
Founder member of the reformed Scottish Division Two 1921. Lost place when the Scottish Third Division was scrapped in 1926.
Kit History
1876-circa1900 (a,b)
1908-1909 (b)
1912-circa1915 (a,b,c)
1915-1916 (b)
1920-1921 (b)
1922-1923 (b)
1924-1925 (b)
Background
In the early days of Scottish football, Vale of Leven (based in Alexandria) and their neighbours Renton were real powers in the land. Vale won the Scottish FA Cup three times in succession (1877, 1878 and 1879) and became founder members when the Scottish Football League was formed in 1890. By this time, the club was being eclipsed by the rising stars from Glasgow and Dumbarton. In their second season they failed to win a single game and finished last. Rather than face re-election for the second time, the club withdrew and joined the rival Scottish Alliance where they played for a single season.
Between 1893 and 1902 the Vale played only friendly matches and in Cup competition before joining the Scottish Football Combination. In 1905 they applied succesfully for readmission to the Scottish League when the Second Division was extended with two additional places. They finished as runners-up in 1907 and in 1909 but did not receive the votes they needed to be elected to the First Division. As the following decade wore on, Vale of Leven struggled and regularly finished near the foot of the table. When the Second Division was suspended in 1915, Vale joined the Western League.
After the First World War ended Vale of Leven returned to the Scottish League for the third time as members of the reformed Second Division. After a decent fourth place finish in their first season, the club was relegated to the new Third Division in 1924. This ill-fated competition was abandoned in 1926 when it became clear that the cost of meeting match guarantees and additional travel expenses were beyond the means of its members.
After a season playing in the Scottish Alliance, the club was disbanded in 1929.
A decade later a new Vale of Leven FC was formed and took over the Milburn Park home of their predecessor and joined the Scottish Junior FA. The club continues to play at juniior level to this day.
Sources
- (a) The Scottish Football League - Past Members IV (Norman Nichol 1994)
- (b) Alick Milne
- (c) Ayr United FC - Images of Sport (Duncan Carmichael 2002)