Northern
Formed 1874. Wound up 1896.
Founder member of Scottish Division Two 1893. Failed re-election 1894
Kit History
1876-1877 b
1877-1891 a b
1891-1896 b
Background
Northern were formed in September 1874 as an offshoot of the Northern Cricket Club. They played at the cricket ground on Possil Road in the West End of Glasgow before moving to their own ground, Hyde Park in the industrial Springburn district of the city (also home to rivals Cowlairs FC) in February 1875. The facilities consisted of a pavilion at one corner of the ground and earth banking along the south side of the pitch.
Northern's first colours registered with the Scottish FA were scarlet and royal blue two inch hooped jerseys. The following season the team adopted halved tops in light and dark blue.
In late March or early April 1883 Northern merged with Petershill FC, also from the Springburn district.
Northern became founder members of the Scottish Alliance in 1891 and joined the Scottish League two seasons later when the Alliance was incorporated as the new Second Division. They finished in equal eighth position (out of ten), level on points with Greenock Morton and failed to be re-elected (the bottom three clubs had to apply at this time).
The club rejoined the Scottish Alliance but struggled under the burden of mounting debts. Unable to raise a team to play Wishaw Athletic on 30 December 1895, the directors asked for the match to be postponed but this was refused. The referee turned up for the game and the Wishaw players walked the ball into their opponents goal unopposed to claim the win. On 24 January Northern submitted their resignation from the Alliance, stating that the club was no longer able to pay its way and the committee members, already personally out of pocket, were not prepared to underwrite the club any further.
It appears that the club remained registered with the Scottish FA and they were entered into the draw for the 1896-97 Qualifying Cup but their opponents, Wishaw Thistle were awarded a walkover. A year later Northern were struck off the SFA roll for non-payment of their subscription.
Sources
- (a) The Scottish Football League - Past Members IV (Norman Nichol 1994)
- (b) Alick Milne
- (c) North British Daily Mail (22 September 1874) submitted by Stewart Mathers
Additional research by Stewart Mathers.