Cambuslang Hibernian F.C.

Cambuslang Hibernian

Founded	1884
Dissolved	1908
Ground	Westburn Park Cambuslang South Lanarkshire
Home colours

Cambuslang Hibernian F.C., also known as the Cambuslang Hibs, was a Scottish football club based in the town of Cambuslang which was founded in 1884 and dissolved in 1908. They competed in the Scottish Cup during the 1880s and after turning Junior, they won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1896.^[1]

Background

Cambuslang Hibs were one of many 19th century Scottish teams formed to represent, or raise funds for, the local Irish immigrant communities; the main suviviors of these early outfits are the major clubs Celtic from Glasgow and Hibernian of Edinburgh.

They were established in 1884, some years after Cambuslang F.C.

Cambuslang Hibs played at Westburn Park, situated to the north of the railway lines and main road through the town, which is now occupied by housing in the Circuit neighbourhood.^[2] They shared the ground with Cambuslang F.C. until the older club decamped to Whitefield Park , and Cambuslang Rangers also played at Westburn before their move to Somervell Park in 1904.

For most of their history the Cambuslang Hibs colours were green shirts with navy shorts.

Senior years

Cambuslang Hibernian entered the (senior) Scottish Cup four times between 1886 and 1889 (there was no national league competition in place at the time of their formation). Their best result was in 1886-87 when they defeated Cowdenbeath and Hamilton Academical before losing to Vale of Leven.^[3] Their final participation was in 1893-94 when they were knocked out by Clyde, although by that time they had also registered in the Junior setup.

They also competed in the Lanarkshire Cup and reached the semi-finals three times in a row, losing the first two ties to Airdrieonians and the third to Motherwell.^[4]

Junior years

Having competed in local district competitions in the preceding years (winning the Lanarkshire Junior Cup in 1895),^[5] Cambuslang Hibernian entered the Glasgow Junior League (GJL) for its inaugural season in 1895–96 and won it. The same season they also won the Scottish Junior Cup, beating Strathclyde in the semi-finals and Parkhead in the final.^[6]

The 1896 success was to prove the pinnacle of the club's achievements. They never won the GJL again, although they were runners-up in 1897 and 1899.^[7] After finishing bottom of the league in 1904 they were not re-elected (Clydebank Juniors were picked instead) and although the number of teams was increased for the next season, Hibs were overlooked again in favour of emerging neighbours Cambuslang Rangers (as well as Shettleston).^[8]

Hibs played for one season in the second division of the GJL, but that was then was disbanded and they moved with the other rejected teams to the Glasgow District League. They completed one season, but failed to complete a second in 1906–07 and were 'suspended'. Many of the District teams were then re-absorbed by the GJL, but Cambuslang Hibs were not among them and the club folded altogether soon after.^[9]

Hibs also failed to recreate their 1896 success in the Scottish Junior Cup, their best attempt being in 1900 when they reached the semi-finals only to be beaten by Kilmarnock's Rugby XI club.^[6] They did manage to win the less prestegious Glasgow Junior Challenge Cup in 1897 and the Glasgow North Eastern Cup in 1901.^[10][11]

Other teams who completed the 'double' of Scottish Junior Cup and Glasgow Junior League were Strathclyde (1897), Rutherglen Glencairn (1902 and 1919),^[12] Parkhead (1903) and Ashfield (1910).

Notable players

In their short history, Cambuslang Hibernian acted as a stepping stone for several players who went on to play for senior clubs:

• Jimmy Conlin played with Bradford City and Manchester City, capped once for England, died in the First World War
• Pat Gilhooley played for Celtic, the Scottish Football League XI and English teams including Tottenham Hotspur^[13][14]
• Davie Hamilton won six Scottish League titles and four Scottish Cups with Celtic.^[15]
• William McAulay played at several clubs in Scotland and England and was Aberdeen's first official goalscorer.^[16]
• Andrew McCowie was part of the Liverpool team that were runners-up in the 1898–99 Football League.^[17]
• Tommy McDermott played for Dundee, Celtic, Chelsea, Kilmarnock.^[18][19]
• William McLaughlin played for Hamilton Accies, Everton, Plymouth Argyle.^[20]
• Jimmy McMenemy won eleven Scottish Football League titles and six Scottish Cups with Celtic.^[11]
• Edward Mount turned out for Grimsby Town.
• Edward Goldie also played for Grimsby, as well as Motherwell.
• James Sheridan played for Everton, Stoke and the Irish national team.

References

External links

• Photo of Junior cup-winning squad, 1896 (Ed Boyle Cambuslang Photos)

Coordinates: 55°49′04″N 4°09′24″W / 55.81773°N 4.156748°W / 55.81773; -4.156748