| Third Lanark F.C. www.thirdlanarkac.co.uk |
The Third Lanark Athletic Club came into being in 1872. Like many others in Scotland at that time the young men of the Third Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers had become interested in the growing popularity of football. An interest which grew while watching the Queens Park team of its day spread the good news of this game throughout Scotland.The volunteers in the South side of Glasgow decided to form their own team and took the military uniform colours for their playing kit. The kit, no doubt similar to all others at the time, knickerbockers down below the knees, long socks, heavy boots, red shirt and, of course, cap! Even if the game was dull the players could be said to be resplendent. In due course Third Lanark took their place alongside the original members of the Scottish Football Association. However while they did not become the most successful of sides occasional trophies did arrive. In 1888/89 season the Scottish Cup became theirs after beating Celtic in a replay. 1905 saw the club finish third and winning the cup once more, this time needing a replay to beat Rangers. In 1904 they won the Scottish league championship, In 1930/31 and 34/35 seasons Third Lanark won the second division also. The football season opened two weeks after the declaration of war in August 1914, and among many who enlisted early was one John Ferguson. University educated John joined the 4th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. By October 1916 he found himself with the 2nd Battalion on the Somme near Flers. A seemingly successful attack on 'Zenith trench' led to an attempt to take the trench called 'Orion.' This failed. Often the second trench was more heavily defended and a combination of machine gun and artillery brought such attacks to an end and continued the stalemate at the front. Seigfreid Sassoons poem 'Counter Attack' sums up the feelings of the situation perfectly. John Ferguson, and no doubt most of his men, fell here and disappeared into the earth of France. The Theipval Memorial commemorates this brave man amongst the 72,000 other names found engraved there. Nothing is known of George Lennon another Thirds man who enlisted, possibly in the Cameronians, maybe the H.L.I. Third Lanark themselves continued until 1967. The club, it has been said,was allowed to die by an owner who merely wanted to sell the ground for his own profit. It is thought he himself died a week after the football club folded.The ground, Cathkin Park, is still in use as park of Glasgows municipal parks program. Football clubs today, it seems, are as frail as those players who went to war. Much more detail on Third Lanark and the war can be found on Ian Livingstons excellent page. www.hellfire-corner.demon.co.uk/livingston.htm |
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| Thirds v Hearts at Cathkin Park |