Southfield Rangers F.C.

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Southfield Rangers
Nickname(s)the Rangers
Founded1888
Dissolved1891
GroundTownhead
SecretaryWm. M'Allister
CaptainGeorge Stewart[1]

Southfield Rangers Football Club was a Scottish association football club based in the village of Slamannan, Stirlingshire.

History[edit]

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[edit]

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

Ground[edit]

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]


References[edit]

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