21st Royal Scots Fusiliers F.C. explained

Clubname:21st Royal Scots Fusiliers
Fullname:21st Royal Scots Fusiliers F.C.
Nickname:the Sodgers, the Red-coats[1]
Founded:1873
Dissolved:1892
Owntitle:Secretary
Owner:D. M. Stuart
Ground:Maryhill Barracks
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The 21st Royal Scots Fusiliers F.C. was an association football club from Glasgow, which caused a surprise in the 1891–92 Scottish Cup qualifying round.

History

The club was an army side, taken from the Royal Scots Fusiliers, and based at the Maryhill Barracks. The club retained the old name of the regiment during its existence as a senior club.

The earliest record for the club is a 4–0 defeat at Alexandra Athletic in December 1873.[2] The club took on a more serious aspect when it joined the Scottish Football Association in August 1891[3] and entered the Scottish Cup, after the introduction of qualifying rounds.

The club started with a remarkable 4–2 win at Hamilton Academical,[4] and held Ayr F.C. to a 3–3 draw away from home (having been 3–1 to the good at half-time, albeit with the best of the "boisterous" conditions).[5] However many of the soldiers were redeployed in October 1891 to Fort George,[6] and that seems to have had a deleterious effect on the club - it lost the replay to Ayr 2–1,[7] and lost 3–0 in the Ayrshire Cup to Stevenston Thistle.[8]

The last recorded game for the club was a 2–1 defeat to Saltcoats Victoria in November 1891[9] and the club did not renew its Scottish FA membership at the end of the season.[10]

Colours

The club's colours were dark blue and red.[11]

Ground

The club played at Kelburn Park,[12] next to Maryhill Barracks.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Red-coats to the front . Scottish Referee . 28 September 1891 . 2.
  2. Alexandra Athletic (Scratch) v 21st Fusiliers . North British Daily Mail . 22 December 1873 . 3.
  3. To Be and Not To Be . Scottish Referee . 24 August 1891 . 4.
  4. Football notes . Airdrie Advertiser . 12 September 1891 . 6.
  5. Red-coats to the front . Scottish Referee . 28 September 1891 . 2.
  6. Maryhill . Lennox Herald . 10 October 1891 . 3.
  7. Ayr v 21st Royal Scots Fusiliers . Irvine Herald . 9 October 1891 . 3.
  8. Football . Ayr Observer . 30 October 1891 . 5.
  9. Saltcoats Victoria v 21st Royal Scots Fusiliers . Irvine Herald . 20 November 1891 . 6.
  10. Birds of prey . Scottish Referee . 26 August 1892 . 2.
  11. Book: M'Dowall . John . Scottish Football Annual 1891–92 . 1891 . Hay Nisbet . Glasgow . 83.
  12. Ayr v 21st Royal Scots Fusiliers . Irvine Herald . 9 October 1891 . 3.
  13. Book: M'Dowall . John . Scottish Football Annual 1891–92 . 1891 . Hay Nisbet . Glasgow . 83.