Lochgelly United
Formed 1890
Elected to Scottish Division Two 1914. Membership rescinded circa 1917.
Founder member of the reformed Scottish Division Two 1921. Lost membership when Scottish Division Three was abandoned in 1926.
Kit History
1891-1893 (b)
1893-1895 (b)
1895-1899 (b)
1899-1903 (a,b,c)
1905-1907 (a,b,c)
1907-1909 (b,c)
1913-1914 (b)
1919-1920 (b)
1920-1921 (b)
1923-1925 (a,b)
1925-1928 (a,b)
Background
Based in the small west Fife mining town of Lochgelly (from the Gaelic Loch Ghellaidh), United were formed by the merger of Lochgelly Athletic (founded 1886) and Fifeshire Hibernian (1889) and rejoiced in the nickname of "The Happylanders." They played initially at Schools Park before moving to Reids Park in 1901, finally settling at Recreation Park in 1910. Their great rivals were East Fife (formed 1903). Between 1896 and 1914 they played variously in the old Central League and the Northern League but did not compete in anything except friendly and cup matches between 1898 and 1902.
In 1914, Lochgelly were elected to the Scottish Second Division after a series of elimination ballots (they won through in the third round). This division was subsequently suspended at the end of the season and later abandoned, the members losing their membership of the Scottish League sometime in 1917. The club played in the Eastern League, one of the regional competitions set up by the former Second Division members and then joined the rebel Central League. In 1921 this competition was incorporated into the Scottish League as the new Second Division. In 1924 the club was relegated to the Third Division (formed the previous season).
In 1926 the Third Division was abandoned when it became clear that the financial costs of the competition exceeded the means of its members. Lochgelly spent one season in the Scottish Alliance before being wound up in 1928.
Sources
- (a) The Scottish Football League - Former Members IV (Norman Nichol)
- (b) Alick Milne
- (c) Brian McColl