Helensburgh F.C. (1874)
{{Distinguish|Helensburgh F.C.|Helensburgh F.C. (1882)}}
{{short description|Former association football club in Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{ infobox football club
| clubname = Helensburgh
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| fullname = Helensburgh Football Club
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| founded = 1874
| dissolved = 1882
| ground = Ardencaple Park
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| mgrtitle = Secretary
| manager = Joseph Jamieson{{cite book |last1=Alcock |first1=Charles |title=Football Annual |date=1876 |page=166}}
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Helensburgh F.C. was a nineteenth-century association football club from Helensburgh in Dunbartonshire, Scotland.
History
The club was founded in 1874.{{cite book |last1=Alcock |first1=Charles |title=Football Annual |date=1876 |page=166}} The club's earliest association match reported was a defeat at home to Rangers F.C. in March 1874.{{cite journal |title=Rangers (Glasgow) v Helensburgh |journal=Glasgow Herald |date=24 March 1874 |page=7}}
The club entered the Scottish Cup for the first time in 1874–75, beating the 3rd Edinburgh Rifle Volunteers F.C. in Glasgow in the first round, and losing to local rivals Renton F.C. in the second.
Helensburgh's best run in the Cup came in 1878–79. The club was awarded its tie with Heart of Midlothian F.C. after the Hearts refused to play a replay in accordance with the Scottish Football Association's instructions,{{cite web |title=The 10 Dec 1878 |url=https://www.londonhearts.com/scores/images/1878/1878121002.htm |website=London Hearts |access-date=3 March 2023}} and beat Hibernian F.C. at the Powderhall ground,{{cite journal |title=Football |journal=North British Daily Mail |date=10 March 1879 |page=3}} on its way to the semi-finals, which, that season, had three clubs; unfortunately for the club, Helensburgh missed out on the bye to the final, and lost 3–0 at home{{cite journal |title=Helensburgh v Vale of Leven (Cup tie) |journal=North British Daily Mail |date=31 March 1879 |page=6}} to a Vale of Leven side heavily backed by a local factory and de facto a professional side.
The following season, the club again lost to the Vale, and lost to Vale for the third year in succession - the regional nature of the draws making such repeat ties more likely - in 1880–81, two goals just before half-time contributing to a 4–1 defeat.{{cite journal |title=Vale of Leven v Helensburgh (Cup tie) |journal=Glasgow Herald |date=25 October 1880 |page=7}}
The club's last entry to the competition came in 1881–82, losing in the fourth round to Arthurlie F.C. in a match spoilt by heavy wind.{{cite journal |title=Arthurlie v Helensburgh |journal=Paisley Daily Express |date=21 November 1881 |page=3}} The club folded during the season, thanks to crowds dwindling to the single figures, with competition from the successful Dunbartonshire sides in the vicinity,{{cite web |last1=Webb |first1=Jeff |title=Helensburgh FC |url=https://forgottenclubs.wordpress.com/2020/08/03/forgotten-clubs-foreign-edition-helensburgh-fc/ |website=Forgotten Clubs |date=3 August 2020 |access-date=18 November 2022}} and the club was struck off the register in August 1882.{{cite book |last1=Weir |first1=John |title=The Boys From Leven's Winding Shore |date=1993 |publisher=PM Publications}} The name was later used by at least three other clubs, including one founded in 1896 which became a member of the Scottish League.
Colours
The club originally played in blue and yellow shirts and shorts, with black hose.{{cite book |last1=Weir |first1=John |title=The Boys From Leven's Winding Shore |date=1993 |publisher=PM Publications}} In 1880 the club changed to blue shirts and white shorts.{{cite web |title=Club Directory |url=http://sfha.org.uk/club-directory.htm |website=Scottish Football Historical Results Archive |access-date=27 October 2022}}
Ground
The club originally played at Ardencaple Park, two miles from the railway station.{{cite book |last1=Alcock |first1=Charles |title=Football Annual |date=1876 |page=166}} In 1877 it moved to Kirkmichael Park.{{cite web |title=Club Directory |url=http://sfha.org.uk/club-directory.htm |website=Scottish Football Historical Results Archive |access-date=27 October 2022}}