Armadale Football History

Our Town, Our Team ARMADALE......! researched by Stuart Borrowman, John Lee and Jimmy Smeaton in aid of Armadale Thistle Supporters' Club, printed by Inprint, published by Armadale Thistle Supporters' Club with financial assistance from West Lothian Council,

available from stuartborrowman btinternet.com or JOHNLEE1940 aol.com, £2.50

The book launch, at the Corrie Bar in Armadale on Monday, 4th December, 2006, was attended by two European medal winners (and former Armadale Thistle men): Colin Stein (Cup Winners' Cup with Rangers in 1972) and Tommy Gibb (UEFA Fairs Cup with Newcastle United in 1969).

Grateful thanks go to Stuart Borrowman for providing the Armadale Thistle statistics on this page.

Colquhoun Postcard

Volunteer Park 2006

Volunteer Park Origins

It was originally the training ground of the Volunteer Army, predecessors of the Territorials, and so the use inspired the name of Volunteer Park. In the 1926, local miners laid hutch rails so that bogies could run and, once the pitch's clay had been removed, the pitch was resurfaced with turf from the Craig Hills. As a result, the pitch could no longer be called by the nickname of 'cabbage patch'!
A new stand and a directors' box were built, but the new stand was destroyed by fire in the 1930s.

Snippets of Armadale Football History

*SCRAN links below will only show small images unless you subscribe!

Armadale United Football Club*

Armadale Football Team 1923*

Armadale Thistle 1955*

ArmadaleThistle 1965*

1870s: Football as an organised sport became very popular in Armadale.

1879: A club was formed, which joined the County Association and became successful in winning the Earl of Rosebery's silver cup on a number of occasions. There was keen rivalry between youths for the opportunity to play for the team. In spite of Football Association rules, many clubs were willing to pay players from other teams to play for them, so great was the competition to win. Eventually this practice was allowed.

1880s: There was enthusiastic rivalry between Armadale club and those of Bo'ness and Durhamtoun Rangers, which led to a boost in attendance figures whenever these rival teams played each other.

1931: Armadale was expelled from the Senior Football League because visiting teams had not had their guarantee paid.

1936: A resurgence of interest ensured that Armadale Thistle joined the East Region Junior League.

1939 -1940 and 1940 - 1941: Armadale was League Champion for both years.

1941: Armadale reached the final of the Scottish Junior Cup, but, after 3 games, was beaten by Glasgow Perthshire 3-1.

1943: Armadale won the East of Scotland Cup for the first time.

1948 - 1949: Armadale won the East of Scotland Cup

1949 - 1950: Armadale was League Champion

1952 -1953: Armadale won the East of Scotland Cup; Armadale was League Champion

1961 - 1962: Armadale won the East of Scotland Cup

More details can be found on the Statistics Tables below and in the book published 2006 mentioned above.

Armadale Thistle FC Statistics

ARMADALE FC HONOURS

Scottish FA Cup quarter finalists 1920

Central League champions 1914, 1915

Eastern League champions 1916

East of Scotland Qualifying Cup 1913

King Cup 1913

Linlithgowshire Cup 1886, 1887, 1891, 1897, 1913, 1914, 1917, 1922

East of Scotland Consolation Cup 1911

Gardeners’ Charity Cup 1886, 1897, 1912, 1917, 1923

Calder Shield 1923

East of Scotland Shield Finalists 1891

Linlithgowshire 2^nd XI Cup 1887

ARMADALE THISTLE HONOURS

Scottish Junior Cup finalists 1941

semi-finalists 1951, 1955

quarter finalists 1940, 1944, 1948, 1954, 1956

Midlothian League 1940, 1941

Lanark and Lothians League 1 1943, 1944

Edinburgh and District League 1950, 1953

West section winners 1968

East Region B Division 1984, 1989

East of Scotland Cup 1944, 1949, 1953, 1962

Lanark and Lothians Cup 1967

St Michael’s Cup* 1942, 1953, 1963, 1965, 2002

Brown Cup 1943, 1944, 1947, 1951, 1951

Thornton Shield 1942

Lanarkshire Hozier Cup 1943

Livingstone Trophy 1954 (shared), 1955

Leith Burgh Cup 1937

Rosebery Charity Cup 1940

Thistle Trophy 1961

Peter Craigie Cup 1992

* an earlier Armadale Thistle won the St Michael’s Cup in 1909

1886-87

West Calder 3-1

Newcastleton 5-1

St Bernard’s 2-5

1887-88

St Bernard’s 2-3

1888-89

CHAMPFLEURIE 12-0

Mossend Swifts 2-5

1889-90

HIBERNIANS 2-3

1890-91

Leith Athletic 2-3

1891-92

BATHGATE ROVS 3-3

Bathgate Rovs 0-3

1892-93

Dunfermline Ath 4-1

Clackmannan 3-4

1893-94

ARGYLL SUTH H 8-1

Grangemouth 2-6

1911-12

PETERHEAD 2-1

Aberdeen 0-3*

1919-20

CLYDE 1-0

HIBERNIAN 1-0

AYR UNITED 1-1

Ayr United 1-0

KILMARNOCK 1-2

HOME GAMES, away games

* home advantage conceded

SCOTTISH FA CUP HAT-TRICKS

Bobby Heigh v Moorpark Amateurs 1928-29

Young v Moorpark Amateurs 1928-29

Jimmy Weir v Montrose 1931-32

1920-21

St Mirren 3-2

Bo’ness 0-0

BO’NESS 2-0

ALBION ROVS 2-2

Albion Rovs 0-0

Albion Rovs 0-0 Hampden

Albion Rovs 0-2 Hampden

1921-22

Hibernian 0-3

1922-23

Johnstone 0-2

1923-24

Coldstream 1-0

Queen’s Park 1-3

1924-25

CIVIL SERVICE STR 3-1

ABERDEEN 1-1

Aberdeen 0-2

1925-26

Arthurlie 4-5

1926-27

Broxburn United 1-2

1927-28

BERWICK R 3-1

KING’S PARK 2-4

1928-29

MOORPARK AMS 9-2

Ayr United 1-5

1929-30

Inverness Citadel 0-1

1930-31

RANGERS 1-7

1931-32

MONTROSE 3-1

Hamilton Acad 2-5

1932-33

DUNDEE UTD 0-2

1935-36

Winchburgh 3-1

LINLITHGOW R 2-0

Tranent 0-4

1936-37

BONNYRIGG R 2-2

Bonnyrigg R 2-2

Bonnyrigg R 1-2

1937-38

Rosewell Rosedale 1-2

1938-39

Tranent 1-4

1939-40

Newtongrange S 1-1

NEWTONGRANGE S 4-1

BOWHILL 4-1

Blantyre V 1-1

BLANTYRE V 2-1

BEITH 3-0

MARYHILL 1-1

Maryhill 0-1

1940-41

LOCHGELLY V 7-0

Polkemmet 2-2

POLKEMMET 3-1

ROSEBERY 4-0

JEANFIELD S 5-0

Haddington 1-1

HADDINGTON 5-0

Winchburgh 3-2 SF Easter Rd

Winchburgh 3-1 SFR Brockville

Glasgow Perthshire 2-2 F Firhill

Glasgow Perthshire 0-0 FR Firhill

Glasgow Perthshire 1-3 FR Tynecastle

1941-42

KELTY OUR BOYS 11-1

POLKEMMET 2-2

Polkemmet 2-4

1942-43

Coatbridge St Pats 1-5

1943-44

COATBRIDGE ST PATS 3-1

ANNBANK UTD 3-1

Ashfield 3-0

MARYHILL 2-3

1944-45

MOUNT ELLEN UTD 5-1

SHETTLESTON 0-4

1945-46

FAULDHOUSE UTD 2-4

1946-47

ST ANDREWS UTD 7-1

Polkemmet 2-1

LOCHEE HARP 4-3

Ashfield 1-4

1947-48

Polkemmet 3-3

POLKEMMET 3-3

POLKEMMET 3-1

Blairhill Colliery 4-1

CAMELON 2-1

ANNBANK UTD 4-1

CUMNOCK 9-2

Shawfield 0-2

1948-49

ST ANDREWS UTD 7-0

Lumphinnans Wands 5-3

Stoneyburn 1-2

1949-50

DALKEITH TH 0-0

Dalkeith Th 1-1

Dalkeith Th 2-1

NEWTONGRANGE S 2-0

ANNBANK UTD 1-2

1950-51

Ormiston Primrose 3-0

LOANHEAD M 1-1

Loanhead M 0-0

Loanhead M 3-0

Annan Ath 7-1

Renfrew 2-2

RENFREW 3-1

Kilbirnie Ladeside 4-1

Petershill 1-3 SF Hampden

1951-52

NEWTONGRANGE S 1-2

1952-53

DUNIPACE 3-1

LOCHORE 6-0

SHETTLESTON 2-1

DUNBAR UTD 3-3

Dunbar Utd 1-2

1953-54

Kilsyth R 1-1

KILSYTH R 2-1

LOCHGELLY ALBERT 1-1

Lochgelly Albert 2-1

CAMELON 3-0

BEITH 3-0

Loanhead M 2-2

LOANHEAD M 1-0 aban

LOANHEAD M 1-0

Baillieston 2-3

1954-55

Grange Rovs 5-0

Preston Ath 3-0

Newtongrange S 3-1

Bridgeton Wav 1-0

DALRY TH 3-2

BROXBURN ATH 3-1

Kilsyth R 1-1 SF Ibrox

Kilsyth R 0-2 SFR Ibrox

1955-56

Thornton Hibs 1-1

THORNTON HIBS 7-1

NAIRN TH 4-2

ARGYLL COLL 4-2

LOANHEAD M 3-3

Loanhead M 5-2

WHITLETTS V 1-2

1956-57

Bonnyrigg R 2-2

BONNYRIGG R 4-3

Linlithgow R 4-3

DALKEITH TH 4-2

DOWNFIELD 7-2

Newtongrange S 1-2

1957-58

THORNTON HIBS 2-2

Thornton Hibs 2-4

1958-59

Kilsyth R 1-8

1959-60

LOCHGELLY A 3-2

WEST CALDER UTD 1-4

1960-61

MUSSELBURGH ATH 3-3

Musselburgh Ath 3-2

FAULDHOUSE UTD 6-1

ST ANDREWS UTD 2-2

St Andrews Utd 1-2

1961-62

Aberdeen East End 2-1

SHOTTS BA 0-0

Shotts B 1-1

Shotts BA 4-1*

SHOTTS BA 3-0

PORT GLASGOW 4-2

Newburgh 3-4

1962-63

Blantyre Celtic 1-2

1963-64

KILSYTH R 1-5

1964-65

Whitburn 2-3

1965-66

GLENAFTON ATH 2-1

KIRKINTILLOCH RR 3-2

Bo’ness Utd 4-3

WHITBURN 1-1

Whitburn 1-2

1966-67

CRAIGMARK B 2-0

GLASGOW PERTHS 1-1

Glasgow Perths 1-2

1967-68

DUNOON ATH 2-1

Johnstone B 0-4

1968-69

TRANENT 3-1

DUNFERMLINE JUB 5-1

KELLO BOYS 2-0

Kirkintilloch RR 0-5

1969-70

GREENOCK 0-6

1970-71

Glasgow Perths 1-3

1971-72

Dunoon Ath 5-0

ALYTH UTD 3-1

Cambuslang R 0-5

1972-73

Craigmark B 2-5

1973-74

Largs Th 3-1

SHOTTS BA 4-3

MAYBOLE 0-1

1974-75

Glasgow Perths 3-1

NEWBURGH 0-2

1975-76

Lochgelly 1-3

1976-77

BENBURB 1-3

1977-78

ARBROATH SC 1-0

HALBEATH 2-5

1978-79

EAST KILBRIDE TH 1-1

East Kilbride Th 0-0

East Kilbride Th 2-4

1979-80

ABERDEEN SUNNYBK 2-1

Dundee NE 2-4

1980-81

Brechin V 1-1

BRECHIN V 0-2

1981-82

St Andrews Utd 2-1

AUCHINLECK T 2-1

Hurlford 0-0

HURLFORD 3-2

BAILLIESTON 1-1

Baillieston 0-0

Baillieston 0-1

1982-83

Coupar Angus 2-1

Wishaw 5-1

Annbank Utd 2-5

1983-84

Port Glasgow 0-3

1984-85

Bathgate Th 2-1

Irvine Meadow 2-3*

Irvine Meadow 1-1

IRVINE MEADOW 4-2

Whitburn 1-2

1985-86

VALE OF CLYDE 3-1

Brechin V 0-2

1986-87

Vale of Leven 2-1

Shotts BA 1-0

Hurlford 1-5

1987-88

KIRKINTILLOCH RR 1-2

1988-89

LOCHEE UTD 4-1

HALBEATH 3-1

Benburb 2-1

BLANTYRE V 0-2

1989-90

Dundee Elmwood 4-0

BO’NESS UTD 2-1

Arthurlie 0-2

1990-91

LESMAHAGOW 0-0

Lesmahagow 0-3

1991-92

BROUGHTY ATH 1-0

Ardrossan Winton Rovs 3-1

Baillieston 2-2

BAILLIESTON 3-0

AUCHINLECK T 1-3

1992-93

Inverurie Loco 2-2

INVERURIE LOCO 1-1

Inverurie Loco 3-0 at Forfar

FORFAR ALBION 2-1

Kilsyth Rangers 1-1

KILSYTH RANGERS 6-1

SHETTLESTON 0-0

Shettleston 0-0

Shettleston 0-3 at Shotts

1993-94

Tayport 2-1

Pollok 2-2

POLLOK 0-1

1994-95

BAILLIESTON 3-1

BEITH 1-3

1995-96

Burghead Thistle 10-0

Beith 0-3

1996-97

Shotts BA 1-3

1997-98

WISHAW THISTLE 3-1

Aberdeen Lads’ Club 5-2

CUMNOCK 1-4

1998-99

BISHOPMILLS 2-0

LOCHEE HARP 1-1

Lochee Harp 1-2

1999-00

Hill o’ Beath Hawthorn 1-4

2000-01

TROON 4-0

Petershill 0-1

2001-02

CARNOUSTIE 0-1

2002-03

Whitehills 2-0

Bellshill Athletic 1-3

2003-04

Bonnyrigg Rose Ath 1-3

2004-05

KELLO ROVS 1-1

Kello Rovs 0-0**

2005-06

ARBROATH SC 0-0

Arbroath SC 4-0

CUMNOCK 1-0

IRVINE MEADOW 0-1

2006-07

Ashfield 0-3

* successful protest

** lost on penalties

SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP HAT-TRICKS

Jim Henderson v Lochgelly Violet 1940-41

Jimmy Sproull v Annbank Utd 1943-44

Jimmy Bathgate v St Andrews Utd 1946-47

Bob Crighton v Annan Athletic 1950-51

Jim Martin v Thornton Hibs 1955-56

John McLean v Thornton Hibs 1955-56

John McLean v Loanhead Mayflower 1955-56

Jim Martin v Loanhead Mayflower 1955-56

Joe Baker v Bonnyrigg Rose 1956-57

Johnny McLeod v Dalkeith TH 1956-57

Johnny McLeod v Dundee Downfield 1956-57
Charlie Napier v Fauldhouse 1960-61

James Doyle v Dunoon Ath 1971-72

Roy Ridd v Alyth Utd 1971-72

Kevin Hepburn v Kilsyth Rangers 1992-93

Stevie Bryce v Burghead Thistle 1995-96

Chris Nye v Troon 2000-01

Darren Mooney v Arbroath SC 2005-06

McDonald, McLean and Martin (all in the 1950s) are the only Armadale players to score ten or more in total in the Scottish Cup.