Armadale F.C.

Armadale Football Club were a football club based in Armadale, West Lothian in Scotland. The club was a member of the Scottish Football League from 1921 to 1932 and played at Volunteer Park

For the Australian club, see Armadale SC.
Armadale
Full nameArmadale Football Club
Founded1910
Dissolved1935
GroundVolunteer Park, Armadale

History

The club was formed in 1910 and played in the Eastern Football Alliance before joining the Central Football League in 1911. It became one of the strongest teams in this competition, winning the Central League in both 1913–14 and 1914–15. The club went on to play in the Eastern Football League, winning that competition in 1915–16, before returning to the Central League.

Football became very popular in the West Lothian mining towns in the period after the First World War.[1] Armadale was established as a strong side: having lost narrowly to eventual winners Kilmarnock at the quarter-final stage of the Scottish Cup in 1919–20,[2] they took the runners-up of that year, Albion Rovers, to a third replay in the 1920–21 competition.[3]

Armadale was admitted to the newly expanded Second Division in 1921, following the absorption of the Central League.[1] The club performed well in its first season, finishing in third place.[1] This was not to last and Armadale consistently finished in the bottom three positions.[1] Struggling for income at a time of high unemployment, the club suggested allowing a reduced rate of 6d for the unemployed to enter matches, but the plan was vetoed by the League.[4] The club's form on the pitch was weak as well, with a league game against Arthurlie on 1 October 1927 seeing Owen McNally set a Scottish League record (since equalled) of scoring eight goals in a match.[5]

To generate revenue, Armadale used Volunteer Park for greyhound racing.[6] The League management committee issued guidance that greyhound racing tracks should not interfere with the football pitch.[6] League officials found that the racing track covered all of the Volunteer Park pitch.[6] The League ordered the club to cease greyhound racing, which had become their greatest source of income.[7] Failure to provide match guarantees to visiting teams saw the club expelled from the League after 17 matches of the 1932–33 season.[1] Their record for that season was expunged.[1] The club soon disappeared, replaced in the town by junior club Armadale Thistle.[1]

Full league record
SeasonPldWDLGFGAPtsPos
1921–2238205136448453rd
1922–23381511126352416th
1923–24381661656633811th
1924–25381551855623515th
1925–263814519821013315th
1926–273812101670783415th
1927–28388822531122420th
1928–2936872147992319th
1929–30381352056913115th
1930–31381322374992818th
1931–323810523681022518th
1932–33N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A

Key: Pld = Games played; W = games won; D = games drew; L = games lost; F = goals scored (for); A = goals conceded (against); Pts = points (2 for a win, 1 for a draw); Pos = final position in the table.[8]

Note: Armadale did not complete the 1932–33 season and their results were expunged from the records.[1]

References
  1. Bob Crampsey (1990). The First 100 Years. Scottish Football League. p. 291. ISBN 0-9516433-0-4.
  2. "Killie Win Their 1st of 3 Scottish Cups". KillieFC. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  3. C. Nawart & S. Hutchings, The Sunday Times Illustrated History of Football, London: Hamlyn, 1996, p. 23
  4. Crampsey, p85
  5. Glenda Rollin & Jack Rollin (2003) Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2003–2004, Headline, p18
  6. Crampsey, p94
  7. Crampsey, p95
  8. M. Robinson, Football League Tables, 1888–2003, Cromwell Press, 2003
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