Cowlairs
Formed 1876
Founder member of the Scottish Football League 1890. Expelled 1891.
Founder member of Scottish Division Two 1893. Failed re-election 1895
Kit History
1876 a
1880-1886 b c
1886-1887 c
1888-1893 b c
1893-1895 b c
Background
Cowlairs is a district of Glasgow that lies north of the city centre, dominated by the enormous North British locomotive works built in the Victorian era. Cowlairs FC was formed in 1876 and were considered sufficiently strong to become founder members of the Scottish Football League in 1890. This assessment proved over optimistic - the team finished in last place (having had four points deducted for playing unregistered players) and were then expelled for breaching the regulations on professionalism, their place being taken by Leith Athletic.
The following season the club played only friendly matches and cup ties but in 1892 they joined the newly-formed Scottish Football Alliance, winning the championship at the first time of asking.
In 1893 Cowlairs helped form the new Second Division of the Scottish Football League and finished as runners-up, two points behind champions Hibernian but they were not elected to the Firts Division. The following season, now facing severe financial problems, they finished rock bottom and were voted out.
Cowlairs played a few games in the 1895-96 season but, under pressure from their creditors, they closed down before the season ended and in August 1896, Cowlairs FC was struck off the Scottish FA roll.
Sources
- (a) Brian McColl
- (b) The Scottish League - Past Members (Norman Nicholl 1992)
- (c) Alick Milne (Sourced from "A History of Cowlairs FC 1876-1896" by John Weir)