Pollok F.C. (1878) Explained

Clubname:Pollok
Fullname:Pollok Football Club
Founded:1878
Dissolved:1884
Ground:Broom Park
Owntitle:President
Mgrtitle:Match Secretary
Manager:William M'Laren
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Leftarm1:87CEEB
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Shorts1:FFFFFF

Pollok Football Club was a Scottish football team, based in Pollokshaws, now part of Glasgow (at the time a separate burgh).

History

The club was founded in 1878.[1] The club attracted members quickly (65 in its first season) and entered the first Renfrewshire Cup in 1878–79.[2] In 1880–81 entered the Scottish Cup for the first time, and had its best season in each competition, reaching the semi-final of the Renfrewshire and the third round of the Scottish.

Its Scottish Cup run included a win over Thornliebank, runners-up the previous season and reigning Renfrewshire champion club,[3] which "astonished the football world".[4] Pollok lost in both competitions to Arthurlie,[5] who went on to win the Renfrewshire Cup; the Renfrewshire semi-final - at Arthurlie's Dunterlie Park - was decided only by a goal five minutes from time.[6]

Arthurlie also knocked Pollok out of the 1881–82 Scottish Cup, this time in Pollok's first tie in the competition;[7] it did so again in the 1883–84 Scottish Cup with three late goals.[8] In the 1882–83 Scottish Cup, Pollok made it through to the third round, after a narrow win over Renfrew and two draws against Abercorn, entitling both teams to be carried over. This meant that Pollok was drawn to play outside Renfrewshire for the first time, at Lugar Boswell. The trip to Ayrshire was too much for one of the team, who arrived late, and obliged Pollok to play with ten men for the first 30 minutes, to the club's cost - by half-time the score was 5–0. Lugar added one more in the second half, plus two disputed goals.[9]

On 18 April 1884, at a meeting at the town hall between members of the club and of the Sir John Maxwell club, it was agreed to merge the two sides, under the name Pollokshaws. Although a new ground was planned, the new club continued at the Pollok ground.[10]

Colours

The club originally played in dark blue.[11] From 1881 the club played in light blue jerseys, white knickers, and black and white hose.[12]

Grounds

The club played at Broom Park, Cowglen.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Fleming . J. S. . Scottish Association Football Annual 1880–81 . 1880 . Gillespie Brothers . 45.
  2. Renfrewshire Cup . Rutherglen Reformer . 17 May 1879 . 3.
  3. Thornliebank v Pollok (Pollokshaws) . North British Daily Mail . 4 October 1880 . 7.
  4. To-morrow's football matches . Paisley Daily Express . 25 March 1881 . 2.
  5. Matches played on Saturday . Glasgow Herald . 25 October 1880 . 7.
  6. Arthurlie (Barrhead) v Pollok (Pollokshaws) . Paisley Daily Express . 14 March 1881 . 3.
  7. Arthurlie v Pollok . Paisley Daily Express . 3 October 1881 . 3.
  8. Arthurlie (Barrhead) v Pollok (Pollokshaws) . North British Daily Mail . 10 September 1883 . 7.
  9. Pollok v Lugar Boswell . Glasgow Herald . 23 October 1882 . 9.
  10. Football . Rutherglen Reformer . 25 April 1884 . 3.
  11. Book: Fleming . J. S. . Scottish Association Football Annual 1880–81 . 1880 . Gillespie Brothers . 45.
  12. Book: Livingstone . Robert . Scottish Football Association Annual 1881–82 . 1881 . Gillespie Brothers . 104.
  13. Book: Fleming . J. S. . Scottish Association Football Annual 1880–81 . 1880 . Gillespie Brothers . 45.