Armadale F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = Armadale


fullname = Armadale Football Club
nickname =
founded = 1910
ground = Volunteer Park
capacity =
chairman =
manager =
league = Scottish League
season =
position =
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=0000FF|body1=0000FF|rightarm1=0000FF|shorts1=FFFFFF|socks1=002060

Armadale F.C. were a Scottish football club based at Volunteer Park in Armadale, West Lothian. The club were former members of the Scottish Football League.

History

The club was formed in 1910 and played in the Eastern Football Alliance before joining the Central Football League in 1911. They established themselves as one of the strongest temas in this competition, taking the title in both 1913-14 and 1914-15. They went on to play in the Eastern Football League, winning that competition in 1915-16, before returning to the Central. They were soon established as a strong side and took league club Albion Rovers to a third replay in the Scottish Cup in 1920-21. [C. Nawart & S. Hutchings, "The Sunday Times Illustrated History of Football", London: Hamlyn, 1996, p. 23]

Established as one of the country's leading non-league sides, Armadale were admitted to the newly expanded Scottish Football League Second Division in 1921. The club finished third in their first season but this was not to last and they soon became on of the weaker teams in the league. Struggling for income at a time of high unemployment, the club suggested allowing a reduced rate of 6d for the unemployed to enter matches but the plan was vetoed by the League and the club's money worries mounted up. [B. Crampsey, "The First Hundred Years", Glasgow: Scottish Football League, 1990, p. 85] They were further hit financially when a League inspection team found that the dog-racing track at Volunteer Park encroached onto the pitch too much and ordered an end to the sport. [Crampsey, op cit, pp. 94-95] The club's form on the pitch was weak as well, with a league game against Arthurlie F.C. on 1st October 1927 seeing Owen McNally set a Scottish League record (since equalled) by scoring eight goals against a hapless Armadale. [G. & J. Rollin, "Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2003-2004", London: Headline, 2003, p. 18] Failure to provide match guarantees to visiting teams saw the club expelled during the 1932-33 season. The club soon disappeared, replaced in the town by Armadale Thistle F.C..

Formed 1879. Defunct 1894. Reformed 1910. Defunct 1935. (1893-1894 Armadale Thistle. 1888-1900 Armadale Volunteers).

Grounds: 1879-1891 Mayfield. 1891-1935 Volunteer Park.

Colours: 1879-1888 Navy blue shirts, white shorts. 1888-1900 Royal blue & white striped shirts, white shorts. 1900-1935 Royal blue shirts, white shorts.

Notable players

*Jerry Kerr
*David Steele
*Allan K Kirkwood

Full Scottish League Second Division record

Key: Pl = Games played; W = games won; D = games drew; L = games lost; F = goals scored (for); A = goals conceded (against); Pts = points (2 for a win, 1 for a draw); Pos = final position in the table. [M. Robinson, "Football League Tables, 1888-2003", Cromwell Press, 2003]

Note: Armadale did not complete the 1932-33 season and their results were expunged from the records.

Club Records in League football

*Most goals scored in a season: 74, 1930-31
*Fewest goals scored in a season: 47, 1928-29
*Most goals conceded in a season: 112, 1927-28
*Fewest goals conceded in a season: 48, 1921-22
*Most wins in a season: 20, 1921-22
*Fewest wins in a season: 8, 1927-28 and 1928-29
*Most defeats in a season: 23, 1930-31 and 1931-32
*Fewest defeats in a season: 12, 1922-23
*Most draws in a season: 11, 1922-23
*Fewest draws in a season: 2, 1930-31
*Most points in a season: 45, 1921-22
*Fewest points in a season: 23, 1928-29
*Highest finish: 3rd place, Second Division, 1921-22
*Lowest finish: 20th place (out of 20), 1927-28

References

External links

* [http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Scottish_Football_League/Armadale/armadale.htm Club history and kits]