History Wishaw Juniors F.C.

1 history

1.1 origins
1.2 wishaw thistle
1.3 wishaw juniors
1.4 recent history

history
origins

the club traces origins mid 1880 s , team called wishaw thistle. @ point in development of football there no leagues , football clubs played challenge matches against other clubs or in cup competitions. local newspapers , other sources refer 2 football teams named wishaw swifts , wishaw thistle playing in town. older team swifts recorded participating in scottish football association scottish cup . @ time common club second string teams play under different name , appears wishaw thistle originated offshoot or second string side of swifts. many years accepted thistle began playing in 1885 recent research suggests may have been earlier. there no definitive records available , outwith scottish football association records, local newspaper, wishaw press, main source of reference. in scotland, football became more established playing , spectator sport terms senior , junior appear have developed means distinguish older better established clubs (with more supporters) newer ones. thistle appear have been regarded being juniors outset , playing less illustrious opponents whilst swifts regarded being senior , participated in sfa scottish cup. swifts disappeared records later in decade , place in sfa scottish cup taken thistle.

wishaw thistle

wishaw thistle understood have started playing in 1885. league football still in future , football friendlies against teams neighbouring communities. however, lanarkshire 1 of first counties set junior fa , thistle dominate newly established lanarkshire junior cup winning in 1885/86, 1886/87 , 1887/88. scottish junior fa formed in 1886 wishaw thistle being founder members. new national governing body promptly instituted own national cup competition , wishaw strong favourites win new competition. not , club had wait until following year before lifting scottish junior cup. thistle decided club s future lay rapidly growing senior game ans club turned senior . wishaw missed out in formation of scottish football league in 1890. however, in 1891/92 thistle (along lanarkshire neighbours motherwell , albion rovers) founder members of scottish football federation second senior football league established in scotland.

when scottish football league expanded 2 divisions wishaw did make several unsuccessful attempts seek election scottish football league division 2 losing out in 1895/96 long-defunct linthouse single vote after 3 ballots. (note - local rivals , neighbours motherwell fc successful in same ballot , history of 2 neighbouring lanarkshire clubs took different paths thereafter). wishaw remained senior club competing in scottish football alliance, scottish combination , scottish union leagues single season in scottish reserve league in 1910/11 (playing against second string sides of rangers, hearts, aberdeen, partick thistle etc. club competed in various senior cup competitions including scottish cup reaching 4th round on 1 occasion. successful in winning lanarkshire senior cup on several occasions competing against motherwell, airdrionians, hamilton accademicals , albion rovers amongst others. larger scottish league clubs forced changes scottish cup requiring smaller clubs qualify competition , clubs size of wishaw found being squeezed out. possibly wishaw s notable success after defeating arbroath fc 2 - 1 in consolation cup final.

the first world war had dramatic effect on football club managed continue operate time, fielding guest players , i.e. service personnel had been players top english sides such tottenham hotspur , manchester city, stationed locally. wishaw thistle s club captain, william angus of carluke had turned out glasgow celtic, see action in france on in war , awarded victoria cross described heroic deed ever british soldier in rescuing officer, lt william martin (also carluke) on 12 june 1915 @ givenchy-lès-la-bassée. william angus badly injured in course of rescue , although retaining keen interest in football throughout life - later being president of carluke rovers - unable resume playing. after being presented medal king george v, injured angus returned scotland national hero , presented packed attendances @ parkhead (glasgow celtic) , ibrox park (glasgow rangers) receiving standing ovations @ each stadium.

when football recommenced @ end of world war wishaw thistle attempted unsuccessfully restart senior club re-invented junior club in form of wishaw ymca juniors bringing end on 30 years of senior football in town.

during senior years, wishaw thistle won number of trophies , played host visiting english clubs liverpool, everton, stoke, sunderland , notts county in friendly matches. took part in invitation football tournament @ international exhibition held edinburgh city council commemorate opening of world-famous forth railway bridge , played against many of today s current senior scottish clubs in s.f.a. scottish cup including, on 1 occasion hosting glasgow celtic in wishaw. number of club s players went on play more illustrious clubs. 1 player, david calderhead, later become manager of chelsea f c, position held 25 years; credited turning london side being relatively small club major force in english game.

wishaw thistle well-supported club in era when football growing rapidly spectator pastime , high four- , five- figure crowds not uncommon major matches.

wishaw juniors

wishaw s football club started second incarnation junior club under name of wishaw ymca juniors in 1919/20 members of scottish junior league, enjoying success in winning scottish junior league victory cup , hozier cup (named after lady hozier, wife of sir winston churchill). second hozier cup added following season. name shortened wishaw juniors in 1924 , club switched lanarkshire junior league.

the club 1 of large number of rebel clubs broke away scottish junior fa in bitter contract based intermediate dispute in late 1920s - playing several seasons in east division of western intermediate league before returning junior fold once again after dispute resolved in 1930/31 members of lanarkshire junior league club remained until world war ii.

world war ii had major impact on football across country many clubs , leagues closing down - many never return. however, wishaw managed continue in operation, competing in short-lived lanark , lothians league lasted during war years number of lanarkshire teams joining counterparts in west lothian. during period wishaw reached final of east of scotland cup , have unusual claim team have played in scottish, west , east cup finals. club won st michael s cup 1 of prestigious trophies played east junior clubs. after end of war, wishaw returned lanarkshire junior league when reformed.

re-organisation of scottish junior football in 1968 saw end of lanarkshire junior league had been losing clubs junior football declined remaining lanarkshire clubs joining greater glasgow area form central junior league. although wishaw did start out in top division of new central junior league, being 1 of stronger lanarkshire sides - various reasons club unable sustain position , dropped bottom c division remained number of years.

further re-organisation of junior football saw central league amalgamate ayrshire junior league form s.j.f.a. west region in 2002. club once again found stranded in bottom tier of expanded regional structure playing in central district division 2. after struggling of next dozen seasons, wishaw achieved promotion out of bottom division in 2013/14 under manager john mckeown. mckeown leave shortly thereafter take on manager of top ayrshire side cumnock juniors.

it has been many years since wishaw tasted success despite club s current lower league status has nevertheless managed reach sectional league cup semi-finals in each of seasons 2014–15, 2015–16 , 2016–17 , semi-final of prestigious west of scotland cup in 2015–16.

the club managed john brogan assisted colin mitchell , scott gemmell.

recent history

beginning in late 1960s, wishaw suffered prolonged period in junior football wilderness during club not lost home ground , of support base came close folding on several occasions. club s home town suffered 1970 s onwards high rates of unemployment following demise of traditional industries locally particularly of steel making , heavy engineering. small group of enthusiastic volunteers took on running of club in part of current century , despite restricted budgets, slow steady progress made in rebuilding club on , off pitch. after moving new home @ beltane, wishaw secured promotion out of bottom tier of s.j.f.a. west region in season 2013/14 under manager john mckeown left club shortly thereafter take on manager of cumnock juniors. club moved secure replacement , october 2014 until august 2017 managed former dunfermline athletic midfielder, chris mcgroarty.

despite losing several key players, chris successful not in keeping club in 1st division in first season in building attractive team mount serious challenge further promotion in season 2015/16, miss out on single point. team started season 2016/17 , having been drawn against cumnock juniors @ home in 1st round of scottish junior cup defeated premier league side 2 goals nil. however, club failed end season in promotion position. in august 2017 chris mcgroarty , assistant glen weir , coach mark daly left club join kilsyth rangers. wishaw again moved appoint former professional footballer john brogan new manager. brogan played scottish senior clubs st johnstone (where clubs record goal scorer), hibernian , hamilton academicals , had extensive appropriate managerial experience having managed several other junior football clubs. brogan assisted colin mitchell , scott gemmell.