Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

Clubhouse, Hampden Bowling Club, Glasgow

This evening I am posting information on the historic development of football ( soccer) in Glasgow.

It is apparent that Scotland was at the forefront of the development of football, with Glasgow playing a prominent role. The game was the sport of the working classes and easy to arrange at modest cost. Today, Glasgow is home to the two top teams in Scotland both of which have won honours at the European level in the past. In essence, therefore, Glasgow’s role in the football continues at a high level.

The image above shows the clubhouse at Hampden Bowling Club. This structure may have originated as a very early football building and subsequently relocated to its current site. Conversely, the bowling green may have originated as a football pitch with the clubhouse remaining in situ.

The image below is of Cathkin Park. This was formerly the home of the now defunct Third Lanark club (1903-1967) but may have been the venue for the first international football match in the world (between England and Scotland). The extended oval is a feature of the Scottish game.

Cathkin Park, Glasgow, Scotland

The pitch below is that of Lesser Hampden. The white building in the  middle distance may be the world’s oldest football structure.

Lesser Hampden, Glasgow, Scotland

The next two images show Scotland’s National Football Stadium, at Hampden, Glasgow.

Hampden Football Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland

Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland

Here is the stadium of Celtic F.C. in Glasgow’s east end. Celtic has a strong following in the Roman Catholic community. The club was  founded by a Catholic priest in 1888.

Celtic Football Club, Parkhead, Glasgow

Celtic Football Stadium, Parkhead, Glasgow

The following two images show Rangers Football Club stadium. This club is based near Govan and has  a strong following in the Protestant comunity. It was founded in 1872.

Rangers Football Stadium, Ibrox, Glasgow

Rangers Football Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland

Today, football (soccer) remains strongly supported in Glasgow.

Trophy Cabinet, Celtic Football Club, Glasgow

This morning i joined a tour of Celtic Football (soccer) Club at Parrkhead in the east end of Glasgow.

Celtic has a long tradition as one of Scotland’s leading clubs and invariably vies with arch-rival Rangers for league and other honours in Scotland.

Celtic has a strong following in the Roman Catholic and Irish Nationalist community in Glasgow. This is because (a) the club was founded (in 1887) by one Brother Wilfred as a Catholic club and (b) the club has always enjoyed strong support from local descendants of Irish immigrants with support base now extended to global reach.

Celtic made an impressive start from the early years and reached the final of the Scottish Cup in the club’s inaugural year. In the 1890s the club were Scottish League Champions four times in six seasons.

During its existence Celtic has achieved the following wins:

• Eropean Cup- once
• League Championship: 42 times
• Scottish Cup: 35 times
• League Cup: 14 times.

Clearly, the club has a long and proud tradition.

The facilities at Parkhead are of a high standard. The stadium is an all seater bowl with a capacity of 60,355, one of the largest in Britain.

The two images below show the main entrance with statues of founder Brother Wilfred and legendary manager, Jock Stein.

Jock Stein Statue, Celtic Park, Glasgow

Brother Wilfred Statue, Celtic Park, Glasgow

Here is the pitch and stadium interior.

Pitch and Stands, Celtic Park, Glasgow

Here is the players’ entrance tunnel.

Players Entrance Tunnel, Celtic Park, Glasgow

Unusual, supporters ‘bricks’ . For a payment a dedication can be permanently recorded.

Supporters Bricks, Celtic Park, Glasgow

 Players’ changing room

Players Changing Room, Celtic Park, Glasgow

This show case remembers famous players including Henrik Larsson ( Sweden).

Henrik Larsson Display, Celtic Park

A worthwhile and interesting tour.

Pitch at Rangers F.C., Glasgow

 This morning I joined a tour of Rangers F.C.  at Ibrox, near Govan, Glasgow. Historically, Rangers has been supported by members of the Protestant community whilst the club’s arch-rival Celtic is on the Catholic side of the  city’s sectarian divide. These two Glasgow clubs dominate Scottish football and are collectively known as the ‘Old Firm’. Despite the competition the two clubs have a symbiotic relationship which proves mutually beneficial and helps propel the game forward.

A brief history of Rangers F.C.:

• Founded with very modest beginnings in 1872 on Glasgow Green.
• From Glasgow Green the club moved to Burnbank then Kinning Park in 1876.
• On August 20th 1887 the first stadium at Ibrox (Govan) was opened but due to the team’s increasing popularity this proved inadequate.
• The club moved to its present site in 1899 which has capacity for 51,000.

A brief summary of Rangers achievements on the pitch:

• Won 54 league championships.
• Won 27 Scottish League Cup titles.
• Won Scottish cup 33 times.
• Reached UEFA final in 1961.
• Won European Cup Winners Cup in 1972.

Here are some images from today’s tour:-

Trophy Room

Tropy Cabinet at Rangers F.C., Glasgow

 Members Club room

Members Club at Rangers F.C., Glasgow

 Blue Room (used by Directors)

Detail from Blue Room at Rangers F.C., Glasgow

 Players changing room.

Players Changing Room at Rangers F.C., Glasgow

 Players Tactics Board

Players' Tactics Board, Rangers F.C., Glasgow

 View of Ibrox Stadium

Rangers F.C. Football Stadium, Ibrox, Glasgow

 Memorial to fan fatalities at Ibrox, 92 died in two major disasters.

Memorial to Crowd Disaster Victims, Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow

 Entrance tunnel to the pitch.

Players Entrance Tunnel, Rangers F.C., Glasgow

Overall, a worthwhile tour which I would recommend to others.