Southfield Rangers Football Club was a Scottish association football club based in the village of Slamannan, Stirlingshire.
| Nickname(s) | the Rangers | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1888 | |
| Dissolved | 1891 | |
| Ground | Townhead | |
| Secretary | Wm. M'Allister | |
| Captain | George Stewart[1] | |
|
| ||
History
editThe 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
editThe club's colours were amber and black.[15]
Ground
editThe 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]
References
edit- ^ "Supper and ball". Falkirk Herald: 7. 8 March 1890.
- ^ "Athletic jottings". Bridge of Allan Reporter: 5. 8 November 1890.
- ^ "Southfield Rangers v Redding Athletic". Falkirk Herald: 3. 5 May 1888.
- ^ "A fatal kick on the football field". Lothian Courier: 6. 2 March 1889.
- ^ "Southfield Rangers v Dunipace (Stirlingshire Cup tie)". Falkirk Herald: 6. 30 October 1889.
- ^ "Supper and ball". Falkirk Herald: 7. 8 March 1890.
- ^ "Football". Falkirk Herald: 3. 3 May 1890.
- ^ "Slamannan Rovers v Southfield Rangers". Falkirk Herald: 3. 5 July 1890.
- ^ "Football". Falkirk Herald: 3. 21 June 1890.
- ^ Scottish FA Minutes 1889–90. Scottish Football Association. 19 August 1890. p. 273.
- ^ "Sports and pastimes". Bridge of Allan Gazette: 2. 6 September 1890.
- ^ "Football notes by Argus". Bridge of Allan Gazette: 2. 13 September 1890.
- ^ "Sports and pastimes". Callander Advertiser: 3. 24 October 1891.
- ^ "Athletic jottings". Bridge of Allan Reporter: 5. 8 November 1890.
- ^ M'Dowall, John (1891). Scottish Football Annual 1891–92. Glasgow: Hay Nisbet. p. 95.
- ^ "Slamannan District Charity Cup". Lothian Courier: 6. 26 April 1890.