| Full name | Avondale Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1884 | |
| Dissolved | 1887 | |
| Ground | Alum Work Park | |
| Hon. Secretary | John Carlin[1] | |
| Match Secretary | Wm. J Hart | |
Avondale Football Club was afootball team fromLennoxtown,Stirlingshire.
The club was formed in 1884.[2] It became the third senior club to set up in Lennoxtown, afterCentral andCampsie.
Avondale joined theScottish Football Association a year later, having won 6 of 15 matches in its first season.[3] It entered theScottish Cup in1885–86 and1886–87, losing in the first round both times. In the former year it was unlucky to be drawn away to the much largerKing's Park, but only lost 3–1, having led at half-time, after the K.P. goalkeeper Jimmy Angus misjudged a long shot "which could have been kept out by an infant", "much to the amusement of the onlookers, and the chagrin of the big 'un". The second half however was a different story, Angus able to don an overcoat in the inclement weather; the crowd was around 200, including a "solitary female who bravely faced the elements".[4] In the latter, the club lost 4–3 atSlamannan.
The club had a little more success in local competition. Its first tie in theStirlingshire Cup, in 1884–85, was againstTayavalla and Avondale won 6–3.[5] Tayavalla successfully protested on the basis the referee had not turned up,[6] but scratched anyway before the replay. Avondale beatDunipace in the second round after a "fast and exciting game"[7] but lost atEast Stirlingshire in the third. It suffered double digit defeats in the first round in its two other entries, although in 1886–87 it had originally heldFalkirk to a draw.[8]
Avondale's short existence came to an end in August 1887, when it was struck from theScottish Football Association membership roll for non-payment of subscriptions.[9]
The club played in red and blue jerseys, blue knickers, and red hose.[10]
The club originally played at Alum Work Park, half-a-mile fromLennoxtown station.[11] In 1886 it moved to Lennoxtown Park.[12]
