| Founded | 1884 (senior) 1892 (junior) | |
|---|---|---|
| Dissolved | 1889 (senior) 1908 (junior) | |
| Ground | Westburn Park Cambuslang South Lanarkshire | |
Cambuslang Hibernian F.C., also known as theCambuslang Hibs, was afootball club based in the town ofCambuslang, Scotland which was originally founded in 1884. They competed in regional competitions and theScottish Cup during the 1880s before dissolving in 1889 after being expelled from theScottish Football Association over a payments dispute. They reformed in 1892 as aScottish Junior Football Association club, and won theScottish Junior Cup in 1896.[1] Overlooked for a place in some of the more lucrative competitions organised over the next decade, they became defunct in 1908.
Cambuslang Hibernian (established in 1884, some years afterCambuslang F.C.) were one of several teams formed in the late 19th century to represent, or raise funds for, thelocal Irish immigrant communities in Scotland;[2] the main survivors of these early outfits are the major clubsCeltic F.C. fromGlasgow andHibernian F.C. ofEdinburgh, whileDundee United F.C. changed their name from 'Dundee Hibernian' in the 1920s aiming to broaden their appeal.
Cambuslang Hibernian entered the (senior)Scottish Cup four times between 1886 and 1889 (there was no national league competition in place at the time of their formation). Their best result was in1886-87 when they defeatedCowdenbeath andHamilton Academical before losing toVale of Leven.[3]
Due to Cambuslang's location just outside Glasgow withinLanarkshire, the club could enter both theGlasgow Cup and theLanarkshire Cup. They reached the semi-finals of the Lanarkshire competition three times in a row between 1885–86 and 1887–88, losing the first two ties toAirdrieonians and the third toMotherwell.[4] Their only attempt at the Glasgow version was the following season, 1888–89, where they were drawn against the leading club of the era,Queen's Park, in the second round and went down 4-0 at home.[5]
The club was expelled from the Scottish andGlasgow Football Associations at the start of 1889, for "overcharging" Queen's Park andClyde (the latter in the Scottish Cup), i.e. putting down too much in expenses in order to reduce the share of the gate to which the visitors were entitled.[6] The club appears to have been wound up as a senior outfit after this, withCambuslang St Bride's F.C. forming as a local replacement.
Cambuslang Hibernian relaunched as aJunior club in 1892, around the same time as St Bride's ceased operations at senior level. After competing in local district competitions in the preceding years (winning theLanarkshire Junior Cup in 1895),[7] they entered theGlasgow Junior League (GJL) for its inaugural season in1895–96 and won it. The same season they also won theScottish Junior Cup, beatingStrathclyde in the semi-finals andParkhead in the final.[8]
The 1896 success was to prove the pinnacle of the club's achievements. They never won the GJL again, although they were runners-up in 1897 and 1899.[9] After finishing bottom of the league in 1904 they were not re-elected (Clydebank Juniors were picked instead) and although the number of teams was increased for the next season, Hibs were overlooked again in favour of emerging neighbours Cambuslang Rangers (as well asShettleston).[10]
Cambuslang Hibs played for one season in the second division of the GJL, but that was then disbanded and they moved with the other rejected teams to theGlasgow District League. They completed one season there, but failed to complete a second in 1906–07 and were 'suspended'. Many of the District teams were then re-absorbed by the GJL, but Cambuslang Hibs were not among them and the club folded altogether soon after.[11]
Hibs also failed to recreate their 1896 success in the Scottish Junior Cup, their best attempt being in 1900 when they reached the semi-finals only to be beaten byKilmarnock'sRugby XI club.[8] They did manage to win the less prestigiousGlasgow Junior Challenge Cup in 1897 and theGlasgow North Eastern Cup in 1901.[12][13]
Other teams who completed the 'double' of Scottish Junior Cup and Glasgow Junior League were Strathclyde (1897),Rutherglen Glencairn (1902 and 1919),[14] Parkhead (1903) andAshfield (1910).
The club wore green jerseys, white knickers, and green hose.[15]
Cambuslang Hibernian played at Westburn Park, situated to the north of the railway lines and main road through the town, which is now occupied by housing in theCircuit neighbourhood.[16] They shared the ground with Cambuslang F.C. until the older club decamped toWhitefield Park, andCambuslang Rangers also played at Westburn before their move to Somervell Park in 1904.
In their short history, Cambuslang Hibernian acted as a stepping stone for several players who went on to play for senior clubs:
55°49′04″N4°09′24″W / 55.81773°N 4.156748°W /55.81773; -4.156748
