Renfrew F.C. (1875)
{{short description|Former association football club in Scotland}}
{{distinguish|Renfrew F.C.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
Renfrew Football Club was a Scottish football team located in the town of Renfrew.
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Renfrew
| fullname = Renfrew F.C.
| nickname =
| founded = 1875
| dissolved = 1890
| ground = Glebe Park
| mgrtitle = Secretary
| manager = James Syme{{cite journal |title=Renfrew Football Club |journal=Paisley Daily Express |date=10 December 1881 |page=2}}
|capacity =
|pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=|pattern_so1=_hoops_blue|leftarm1=000080|body1=000080|rightarm1=000080|shorts1=|socks1=
|}}
History
The club was founded in 1875, with 30 members in its first season.{{cite book |last1=Alcock |first1=Charles |title=Football Annual |date=1876 |page=166}} The club's first recorded match was a 1–0 home win against Arthurlie in February 1876.{{cite journal |title=Football |journal=North British Daily Mail |date=15 February 1876 |page=7}}
Renfrew entered the Scottish Cup every season from 1876–77 to 1889–90. The club's second entry, in 1877–78, saw it reach the fifth round, albeit in unusual circumstances. The club won its first round tie at Pollokshaws by default, the home side walking off the pitch while 2–0 down in protest at a refereeing decision.{{cite journal |title=Association matches |journal=Paisley Daily Express |date=8 October 1877 |page=2}} In the second round the club won 4–0 at Glenkilloch of Neilston,{{cite journal |title=Association Cup ties |journal=North British Daily Mail |date=29 October 1877 |page=3}}; one other source gives the result as 2–1 but was seemingly knocked out in the third by Barrhead,{{cite journal |title=Association Cup Ties |journal=North British Daily Mail |date=12 November 1877 |page=6}} which then beat Partick in the fourth round.{{cite journal |title=Partick v Barrhead |journal=Paisley Daily Express |date=10 December 1877 |page=2}} However Barrhead was disqualified from the competition and both Renfrew and Partick were placed in the fifth round, which that season consisted of the final 12 clubs. Renfrew's run came to an end with a 2–0 loss to Mauchline.
The club was soon overtaken by other clubs in the district. The Renfrewshire Cup started in 1879–80 but the club did not enter until 1881–82; it lost 3–0 to Arthurlie in the semi-finals. The club entered the competition for the next 8 seasons but never reached so far again.
By 1889. the club was in financial difficulties, and was dependent on Abercorn from Paisley - a much larger town than Renfrew - agreeing to play a friendly free of charge later in the season in order to replenish funds.{{cite journal |title=Football |journal=Paisley Daily Express |date=30 April 1889 |page=2}} The club entered both the Scottish Cup and the Renfrewshire Cup for 1889–90, but withdrew from both competitions without playing a match, not being able to get up an XI even for the cannon-fodder of Greenock Abstainers in the national competition.{{cite journal |title=Greenock Abstainers v Renfrew |journal=Greenock Telegraph |date=9 September 1889 |page=4}} The club was formally struck off the Scottish FA register in August 1890.{{cite book |title=Scottish FA Minutes 1887–90 |date=19 August 1890 |publisher=Scottish Football Association |location=Glasgow |page=273}}
Colours
The club wore navy shirts, white knickers, and blue and white hose until 1887.{{cite book |last1=McDowall |first1=John |title=Scottish FA Annual 1886–87 |date=1886 |publisher=Hay Nisbet|page=62}} In 1887 the club changed to all navy,{{cite book |last1=M'Dowall |first1=John |title=Scottish Football Annual 1887–88 |date=1887 |publisher=Hay Nisbet |location=Glasgow |page=60}} and from 1888 all white.{{cite book |last1=M'Dowall |first1=John |title=Scottish Football Annual 1888–89 |date=1888 |publisher=Hay Nisbet |location=Glasgow|page=80}}
Ground
The club played at Glebe Park,{{cite journal |title=Football Match |journal=Paisley Daily Express |date=28 September 1877 |page=3}}{{cite journal |title=Football Match |journal=Paisley Daily Express |date=10 December 1886 |page=3}} on the Paisley Road.{{cite book |last1=Alcock |first1=Charles |title=Football Annual |date=1876 |page=166}} There was an incident of hooliganism at the ground at the start of the 1887–88 season, when one Wm. Hughes of Glasgow refused to pay the admission fee for a friendly with Dykebar, and threatened to knife anyone who tried to charge him; he was fined £1.{{cite journal |title=Violent Orangeman Punished |journal=North British Daily Mail |date=6 September 1887 |page=3}}
Notable players
- Jimmy Douglas, who played for Renfrew from 1879 to 1880, during which time he earned an international cap,[https://www.londonhearts.com/scotland/clubs/renfrew.html Scotland Football Records {{!}} Clubs played for {{!}} Renfrew], London Hearts Supporters Club. Retrieved 21 February 2022 and later won the FA Cup with Blackburn Rovers{{cite web |title=Jimmy Douglas |url=https://sites.google.com/site/renfrewseniorscottishcup/james-jimmy-douglas |website=Renfrew FC |access-date=30 January 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.londonhearts.com/scores/sc/renfrew.html Scottish Cup results]
- [http://sfha.org.uk/renfrewshirecup.htm Renfrewshire Cup results]
{{Defunct Scottish football clubs}}
Category:Defunct football clubs in Scotland
Category:Football in Renfrewshire
Category:Association football clubs established in 1875
Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 1890
Category:1875 establishments in Scotland