| |  Glencairn's side of 1967
Recent history 07-08: 4th, Stagecoach Central District League Division One 06-07: 5th, Stagecoach Central District League Division One 05-06: 3rd, Stagecoach Central District League Division One 04-05: 8th, Stagecoach Central District League Division One 03-04: 9th, Stagecoach Central District League Division One 02-03: 2nd, Abercorn Central District League Division One 01-02: 4th, Abercorn Central League Division One 00-01: 10th, Abercorn Central League Premier Division 99-00: 2nd, Abercorn Central League Division One
98-99: 12th, Reebok Central League Premier Division
97-98: 2nd, Reebok Central League Division One
96-97: 9th, Reebok Central League Division One
95-96: 6th, Reebok Central League Division One |
Rutherglen Glencairn Football Club
A century of history
The "Old Jail"in Rutherglen was, believe it or not, the birthplace of Glencairn in 1895. But don't get the idea that the foundations of the famous old Glens were laid by men with criminal records. It just happened that the "Old Jail" office was the only place available at the time to hold a meeting and discuss the formation of a new club.
William Napier was appointed the first president and John Morrison took over as Secretary. Their first move apart from building a team, was to rent Southcroft Park, still the Glens' home, although greatly improved from the old days.
On 15th August 1896, Southcroft was opened by a visit from the Ibrox XI (Rangers' junior string in those days) and the Glens won 1-0. On 15th August 1996, Rangers very kindly sent along a team to celebrate our Centenary. This time the "100 year old" Glencairn team won 2-0. It was a night which every Glencairn supporter will store as a unique memory in Rutherglen Glencairn's history.
Right from the first the Glens started winning trophies - among them the now defunct South Side Junior Cup, and the Cambuslang and District League. The team at that time was - Renfrew, Smith, Milligan, D Irvine, W Oswald, McKim, Dick, Morton, Sands, Wilson and Shaughnessy. The outside left was better known later in senior circles as Colonel Shaughnessy, the Celtic Director.
(The Glencairn team of 1896)
The Southcroft team joined the Glasgow Junior League and won it in 1899/1900 to take possession of the "Evening Times Trophy" with the following side - Logan, Smith, Milligan, Kinnon, Martin, Swift, Lindsay, McCartney, Donaldson, Laird, J Stewart.
But the Glens' big moment did not arrive until season 1901/02 when they won the Scottish Junior Cup, the Glasgow League Championship, and the Glasgow Exhibition Championship. The team that proudly took the "Scottish" to Ru'glen for the first time by beating Maryhill 1-0 at Meadowside was about the greatest ever, namely - Tom Sinclair, John Kinnon, McLean, Brannan, Russell, Williamson, Leitch, McMenemy, Bennett, Underwood and McEwen.
Almost every man in their team went on to stardom in senior football. Jimmy McMenemy who scored the goal against Maryhill and Alex Bennett joined Celtic, with Bennett later moving on to Rangers ! Sinclair found his way to Rangers, then Newcastle United before coming back to Rangers.
It was not until 1918/19 that the Glens won the Scottish Junior Cup again, beating St. Anthony's 1-0. That was another of the great Glens sides - Edwards, Mackie, Hopewell, Bagan, Shields, McLellan, Bennett, Lawrie, Gordon, Dempster, Cameron.
Glencairn's third "Scottish" win was in season 1926/27 and the satisfaction was all the greater because it was Cambuslang Rangers, their great local rivals, who were defeated 2-1. The Glens won the Scottish Junior Cup again for the last time in season 1938/39 when Shawfield went down 2-1.
In 1974, when the Glens last reached the Scottish Junior Cup Final, the grandstand at Southcroft was tragically burned down just 2 weeks before the big game. All the players' strips were destroyed. Glens always had a tradition of wearing the black and white hoops in the cup, and the fans were desperate to see that continue. Queen's Park came to the rescue by donating their strips for the day ! Unfortunately they didn't work and Glenrothes won 1-0.
Over the Century the Glens have contested many, many competitions and have had many successes. The latest in this long line came in 1999 when they lifted the Abercorn Central League Cup. The only trophy to elude the 'Cairn is the West of Scotland Cup - maybe in the next 100 years ?
