Kilsyth Rangers F.C.
Kilsyth Rangers Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire. Nicknamed The Wee Gers, they were formed in 1913 and play at Duncansfield Park, which used to be one of the bigger non-league football grounds in Scotland. They wear blue tops and shorts, the away strip (uniform) being red tops, black shorts and black socks, and currently compete in the West Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association.
| Full name | Kilsyth Rangers Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Gers | ||
| Founded | 1913 | ||
| Ground | Duncansfield Park, Kilsyth, Scotland | ||
| Capacity | 500[1] | ||
| Chairman | William Dunbar | ||
| Manager | Gary Kelly | ||
| League | West of Scotland League Conference C | ||
| 2019–20 | SJFA West Championship, 7th of 16 | ||
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History
The club played in its first Junior Cup Final at Hampden Park in 1954–55 against Duntocher Hibs before a crowd of 64,976. The game ended 1–1 and Kilsyth won the replay 4–1 before a crowd of 30,000, all four goals being scored by the club's most prolific ever striker Alex Querrie. This feat is still a record to this day. Kilsyth lost the 1957 final against Banks O'Dee (1–0) after being hot favourites. The last final success was in 1967 when they beat Rutherglen Glencairn 3–1 after a 1–1 draw in the first game at Hampden which was played in front of 22,000 fans.
Recent years have brought the first league and cup trophies for many years with the club winning the Central League Division One title (2002–03), followed by the Superleague First Division title (2004–05) and the Evening Times Cup Winners Cup 2002–03.
Some famous players to have played for the team are Drew Jarvie (Airdrieonians, Aberdeen, St. Mirren), William Wallace (Heart of Midlothian, Celtic), Frank McGarvey (St.Mirren, Liverpool, Celtic), David Stewart (Leeds United), Pat McMahon (Celtic, Aston Villa), George Mulhall (Aberdeen, Sunderland), Jim Storrie (Airdrieonians, Aberdeen, Leeds United), Gary McStay (Falkirk) plus many more.
Six players from Kilsyth Rangers have gone on to represent Scotland at full international level:James Dougall (One cap 1932), George Mulhall (Three caps 1960–64), Drew Jarvie (Three caps 1971), David Stewart (One cap 1977), Frank McGarvey (Seven caps 1979–84), Willie Wallace (seven caps 1965–69).
In recent years Kilsyth Rangers have had several players stepping up to Senior Football. Chris Gentile and Paul McQuilken went to Dumbarton. Stephen Low signed for Elgin City, Martin Fellowes went to Huntly and William Stewart went to play for Forfar Athletic. John Gallacher left to take the post of assistant manager at Dumbarton.
The club launched a nostalgic DVD "Glory Days" at Garrell Vale on 28 May 2011, which also coincided with the club winning the Central League Division One title for a second time.
From August 2017, team were managed by former Dunfermline Athletic player, Chris McGroarty.[2]
On 1 May 2018, the club appointed former Queen of the South captain Jim Thomson and ex-Stenhousemuir and Junior Scotland coach Kevin McGoldrick to take over as Kilsyth Rangers' new management team. With both Thomson and McGoldrick moving on, Kilsyth appointed former player Gary Kelly as manager on 28 September 2019, assisted by Stuart Livingston, also a former player.[3][4]
Rivalries
The club's biggest rivals are Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, who play in nearby Kirkintilloch. There were two league derbies in season 2014–15 as Rob Roy were relegated into the same league as Kilsyth. However, while Kirkintilloch Rob Roy immediately returned to the Super Premier Division, and finished second in season 2016-17, Kilsyth Rangers still languish in the lower divisions. There will again be no league derbies in the 2018-19 season.
Rob Roy are currently ground-sharing at Guy's Meadow with Cumbernauld United.
Stadium
The record attendance at Duncansfield Park is 8,740 for a game against Broxburn Athletic in a 1951 Scottish Junior Cup tie.
Currently the capacity is around 2000, capacity of the enclosure which runs the length of the pitch is officially 500.[1]
Honours
- Winners: 1954–55, 1966–67
- Runners-up: 1956–57
West Superleague First Division
- Winners: 2004–05
- Winners: 2002–03, 2010–11
Other Honours
- West of Scotland Cup winners: 1953–54, 1967–68
- Central League champions: 1947–48, 1953–54, 1956–57
- Central League Division One: 1982–83
- Scottish Junior League: 1926–27
- Glasgow Dryburgh Cup: 1953–54, 1967–68
- Evening Times Cup Winners Cup: 2002–03
- Stirlingshire Junior Cup: 1894–95, 1918–19,1937–38, 1945–46, 1952–53 to 1959–60 (8 times) and 1961–62
- Pompey Cup: 1956–57,1957–58
- Glasgow Junior Cup: 1930–31
- Victory Cup 1923–24
References
- "Kilsyth Rangers". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- Temlett, Michael (9 August 2017). "Hunt is on for a new manager at Wishaw Juniors after Chris McGroarty leaves club". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- https://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/kilsythrangers/115926/Home
- https://www.facebook.com/thescottishsunjuniors/