Cambuslang Hibernian F.C.

Cambuslang Hibernian F.C., also known as the Cambuslang Hibs, was a football club based in the town of Cambuslang, Scotland which was originally founded in 1884. They competed in regional competitions and the Scottish Cup during the 1880s before dissolving in 1889 after being expelled from the Scottish Football Association over a payments dispute. They reformed in 1892 as a Scottish Junior Football Association club, and won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1896.[1] Overlooked for a place in some of the more lucrative competitions organised over the next decade, they became defunct in 1908.

Cambuslang Hibernian
Founded1884 (senior)
1892 (junior)
Dissolved1889 (senior)
1908 (junior)
GroundWestburn Park
Cambuslang
South Lanarkshire

Background

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Cambuslang Hibernian (established in 1884, some years after Cambuslang F.C.) were one of several teams formed in the late 19th century to represent, or raise funds for, the local Irish immigrant communities in Scotland;[2] the main survivors of these early outfits are the major clubs Celtic F.C. from Glasgow and Hibernian F.C. of Edinburgh, while Dundee United F.C. changed their name from 'Dundee Hibernian' in the 1920s aiming to broaden their appeal.

Cambuslang Hibernian played at Westburn Park, situated to the north of the railway lines and main road through the town, which is now occupied by housing in the Circuit neighbourhood.[3] They shared the ground with Cambuslang F.C. until the older club decamped to Whitefield Park, and Cambuslang Rangers also played at Westburn before their move to Somervell Park in 1904.

For most of their history, the Cambuslang Hibs colours were green shirts with navy shorts.

Senior years

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Cambuslang Hibernian entered the (senior) Scottish Cup four times between 1886 and 1889 (there was no national league competition in place at the time of their formation). Their best result was in 1886-87 when they defeated Cowdenbeath and Hamilton Academical before losing to Vale of Leven.[4]

Due to Cambuslang's location just outside Glasgow within Lanarkshire, the club could enter both the Glasgow Cup and the Lanarkshire Cup. They reached the semi-finals of the Lanarkshire competition three times in a row between 1885–86 and 1887–88, losing the first two ties to Airdrieonians and the third to Motherwell.[5] Their only attempt at the Glasgow version was the following season, 1888–89, where they were drawn against the leading club of the era, Queen's Park, in the second round and went down 4-0 at home.[6]

The club was expelled from the Scottish and Glasgow Football Associations at the start of 1889, for "overcharging" Queen's Park and Clyde (the latter in the Scottish Cup), i.e. putting down too much in expenses in order to reduce the share of the gate to which the visitors were entitled.[7] The club appears to have been wound up as a senior outfit after this.

Junior years

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Cambuslang Hibernian relaunched as a Junior club in 1892. Having competed in local district competitions in the preceding years (winning the Lanarkshire Junior Cup in 1895),[8] they entered the Glasgow Junior League (GJL) for its inaugural season in 1895–96 and won it. The same season they also won the Scottish Junior Cup, beating Strathclyde in the semi-finals and Parkhead in the final.[9]

The 1896 success was to prove the pinnacle of the club's achievements. They never won the GJL again, although they were runners-up in 1897 and 1899.[10] After finishing bottom of the league in 1904 they were not re-elected (Clydebank Juniors were picked instead) and although the number of teams was increased for the next season, Hibs were overlooked again in favour of emerging neighbours Cambuslang Rangers (as well as Shettleston).[11]

Cambuslang Hibs played for one season in the second division of the GJL, but that was then disbanded and they moved with the other rejected teams to the Glasgow District League. They completed one season, but failed to complete a second in 1906–07 and were 'suspended'. Many of the District teams were then re-absorbed by the GJL, but Cambuslang Hibs were not among them and the club folded altogether soon after.[12]

Hibs also failed to recreate their 1896 success in the Scottish Junior Cup, their best attempt being in 1900 when they reached the semi-finals only to be beaten by Kilmarnock's Rugby XI club.[9] They did manage to win the less prestigious Glasgow Junior Challenge Cup in 1897 and the Glasgow North Eastern Cup in 1901.[13][14]

Other teams who completed the 'double' of Scottish Junior Cup and Glasgow Junior League were Strathclyde (1897), Rutherglen Glencairn (1902 and 1919),[15] Parkhead (1903) and Ashfield (1910).

Notable players

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In their short history, Cambuslang Hibernian acted as a stepping stone for several players who went on to play for senior clubs:

References

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  1. ^ List of Junior Cup finals 1886-1956, Scottish Football Association
  2. ^ 1884: Off-field success, Hibernian FC Historical Trust
  3. ^ "Scotland's Places – Map of Cambuslang area in 1896".
  4. ^ Cambuslang Hibernian [in Scottish Cup] [attributed 1893 matches were played by Cambuslang FC], London Hearts Supporters Club
  5. ^ Lanarkshire Cup, Scottish Football Historical Archive
  6. ^ Glasgow FA Cup 1887-1989, Scottish Football Historical Archive
  7. ^ "Scottish Football Association". Dundee Courier: 4. 23 January 1889.
  8. ^ "Did you know?". Play up, Liverpool. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  9. ^ a b Scottish Junior Cup Results/queries, Scottish Football Historical Archive
  10. ^ McColl, Brian. "Glasgow Junior League Tables". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  11. ^ McColl, Brian. "History of Glasgow Junior League". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  12. ^ McColl, Brian. "Glasgow District League". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Retrieved 28 December 2016.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "Junior Finals". Pie and Bovril. 11 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  14. ^ a b "Jimmy McNemeny[sic] - Scottish football cap, gold football medals and archive material". Lyon & Turnbull Auctions. 30 November 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  15. ^ "Club History". Rutherglen Glencairn F.C. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  16. ^ Cunningham James Image 1 St Mirren 1909, Vintage Footballers
  17. ^ Patrick Gilhooley factfile
  18. ^ Celtic Players A-Z - Patrick Gilhooley
  19. ^ "Celtic player David Hamilton profile". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  20. ^ Aberdeen Heritage Trust website - William McAulay
  21. ^ "Andrew McCowie". LFC History. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  22. ^ Celtic Players A-Z - Thomas McDermott
  23. ^ - StamfordBridge.com - Tommy McDermott
  24. ^ GreensOnScreen Database - William McLaughlin
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55°49′04″N 4°09′24″W / 55.81773°N 4.156748°W / 55.81773; -4.156748