Southfield Rangers F.C. Explained

Clubname:Southfield Rangers
Nickname:the Rangers
Founded:1888
Dissolved:1891
Ground:Townhead
Chrtitle:Secretary
Chairman:Wm. M'Allister
Mgrtitle:Captain
Manager:George Stewart[1]
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Southfield Rangers Football Club was a Scottish association football club based in the village of Slamannan, Stirlingshire.

History

The club from the village of Slamannan in Stirlingshire was founded in 1888, taking its name from Southfield Colliery Row in the village.[2] Its first match was an 8–2 victory over Redding Athletic in April.[3] A return match the following February ended in tragedy as Athletic's Robert Whyte suffered an injury in the match that resulted in his death three days later.[4]

The club's first competitive football came in the 1889–90 Stirlingshire Cup; the club drew 2–2 with Dunipace at home in the first round,[5] but lost heavily away. By March 1890, however, the club won 11 of 18 matches,[6] and the season finished on a high, as the Rangers beat a scratch Falkirk 4–2,[7] and the club even picked up some silverware; the Rangers won the inaugural Slamannan Charity Cup, beating Slamannan Rovers 4–3 in the final, scoring 2 goals in 2 minutes in the first half,[8] after a 3–3 draw at Barnsmuir.[9]

In August 1890, the club joined the Scottish Football Association.[10] It made its Scottish Cup bow against Bridge of Allan the next month, the match being played at Forthbank as the Bridge of Allan ground was not ready.[11] Surprisingly the Rangers were heavily defeated, by 7 goals to 2,[12] and the club disappeared[13] after a 5–1 defeat at Stenhousemuir in the Stirlingshire Cup.[14]

Colours

The club's colours were amber and black.[15]

Ground

The club played at the Townhead ground, which held 700 as a neutral ground for a cup tie between rivals Slamannan F.C. and Slamannan Rovers in 1890.[16]

Notes and References

  1. Supper and ball . Falkirk Herald . 8 March 1890 . 7.
  2. Athletic jottings . Bridge of Allan Reporter . 8 November 1890 . 5.
  3. Southfield Rangers v Redding Athletic . Falkirk Herald . 5 May 1888 . 3.
  4. A fatal kick on the football field . Lothian Courier . 2 March 1889 . 6.
  5. Southfield Rangers v Dunipace (Stirlingshire Cup tie) . Falkirk Herald . 30 October 1889 . 6.
  6. Supper and ball . Falkirk Herald . 8 March 1890 . 7.
  7. Football . Falkirk Herald . 3 May 1890 . 3.
  8. Slamannan Rovers v Southfield Rangers . Falkirk Herald . 5 July 1890 . 3.
  9. Football . Falkirk Herald . 21 June 1890 . 3.
  10. Book: Scottish FA Minutes 1889–90 . 19 August 1890 . Scottish Football Association . 273.
  11. Sports and pastimes . Bridge of Allan Gazette . 6 September 1890 . 2.
  12. Football notes by Argus . Bridge of Allan Gazette . 13 September 1890 . 2.
  13. Sports and pastimes . Callander Advertiser . 24 October 1891 . 3.
  14. Athletic jottings . Bridge of Allan Reporter . 8 November 1890 . 5.
  15. Book: M'Dowall . John . Scottish Football Annual 1891–92 . 1891 . Hay Nisbet . Glasgow . 95.
  16. Slamannan District Charity Cup . Lothian Courier . 26 April 1890 . 6.