Craig Park F.C. Explained

Clubname:Craig Park
Fullname:Craig Park Football Club
Founded:1874
Dissolved:1877
Mgrtitle:Secretary
Manager:George H. Bruce
Ground:Haghill Park
Pattern La1:_thin_black_hoops
Pattern B1:_inch_blackhoops
Pattern Ra1:_thin_black_hoops
Pattern So1:_hoops_black
Leftarm1:FF7F00
Body1:FF7F00
Rightarm1:FF7F00
Shorts1:000080
Socks1:FF7F00

Craig Park Football Club, usually recorded as Craigpark,[1] was a Scottish association football club based in Dennistoun, in Glasgow.

History

The club was founded in 1874,[2] and was named after the Craig Park estate, one of those bought up by Alexander Dennistoun when building the suburb. The earliest record of the club is its failure to turn up at Bellahouston of Govan for a match in December 1874.[3] The club was not one of Glasgow's leading clubs, only being considered of status to face the second XIs of Northern[4] and Alexandra Athletic.[5]

Nevertheless, Craig Park entered the Scottish Cup in 1876–77. Craig Park was drawn to play Clydesdale, who had played in the first final, at the latter's Titwood Park. The Clydesdale won 6–0, the Craig Park players being described as "showing good play, but want of combined effort prevented them from having a single shot at their opponents' goal".[6]

Craig Park entered again the following season. The club opened the season by being the first visitor to Rosslyn's new ground at Brighton Park, drawing 1–1.[7] In the Cup, the club was drawn at home to Havelock,[8] but switched the tie to their opponent's Middleton Park,[9] and lost 6–0 again.[10]

The club was active throughout the 1877–78 season, even running a second XI,[11] but the last recorded presence of the club is for a match at Kelvinbank in February 1878,[12] the senior football role in the district being taken on by the Dennistoun club.

Colours

The club's colours were orange and black jerseys and hose, with dark blue knickers.[13]

Ground

The club played at Haghill Park,[14] a minute's walk from the tram terminus at Dennistoun.[15] The Dennistoun club took the ground over from 1879.[16]

Notes and References

  1. The Alcock yearbook, based on the club's own submission, records Craig Park.
  2. Book: Alcock . Charles . Football Annual . 1877 . 128.
  3. Bellahouston v Craigpark . North British Daily Mail . 23 December 1874 . 6.
  4. Craigpark v 2d Northern . North British Daily Mail . 8 March 1875 . 6.
  5. Craigpark v 2d Alexandra Athletics . Glasgow Herald . 4 December 1876 . 7.
  6. Clydesdale v Craigpark . North British Daily Mail . 9 October 1876 . 3.
  7. Rosslyn v Craigpark . North British Daily Mail . 17 September 1877 . 4.
  8. Scottish Football Association . North British Daily Mail . 12 September 1877 . 4.
  9. Local football fixtures . North British Daily Mail . 29 September 1877 . 3.
  10. Web site: Mathers . Stewart . Season 1877–78 . Beautiful Dribbling Game . 12 March 2023.
  11. Local football fixtures . North British Daily Mail . 14 December 1877 . 6.
  12. Saturday's football fixtures . North British Daily Mail . 21 February 1878 . 2.
  13. Book: Alcock . Charles . Football Annual . 1877 . 128.
  14. Craigpark v Parkgrove . Glasgow Herald . 18 December 1876 . 7.
  15. Book: Alcock . Charles . Football Annual . 1877 . 128.
  16. Dennistoun v 2d Govan . North British Daily Mail . 27 October 1879 . 7.