kit and caboodle exhibition v3

THE STORY OF FOOTBALL IN CAMPBELTOWN

KIT AND CABO ODLE

The Journey of Football: Origins of the Game

Argyllshire Roads Act 1843, Section LXV; ‘Penalty for Offences on the Road’. The Act demonstrates the popularity of an early form of football being played throughout Argyll and the lack of facilities for its provision. The penalty for being caught playing football on the street was a fi xed fi ne of forty shillings.

Photograph: Argyll & Bute Archives.

1824-1825 Membership List for Edinburgh Foot-Ball Club. The club was set up in 1824 by John Hope, a 17 year old trainee lawyer. Most of the members were lawyers and other professionals.

Photograph: National Records of Scotland.

Expenses for Edinburgh Foot-Ball Club, 1824-1825 season. Purchases included bladders for footballs and park rental.


A photograph of the ‘oldest football in the world’. The ball was discovered in the late 1970’s at Stirling Castle and is believed to date from around 1540-70.

Photograph: The Stirling Smith Art Gallery

& Museum.

In the 19th century, industrialisation and population growth threatened the existence of the old football games played on the street. A number of bans were imposed, including the Argyllshire Roads Act 1843. These were the catalyst for standards to be set and rules developed.

The earliest evidence for the modern game is from 1824, when the Edinburgh Foot-Ball Club produced a set of rules. This was 40 years before the establishment of the Football Association in England. The foundation of Queens Park FC in Glasgow in 1867 saw the development of ‘the passing game’, where football started to become a co-ordinated team sport.

A game that was often informal and irregular changed signifi cantly following the fi rst international match between Scotland and England in 1872, culminating in the establishment of the Scottish Football Association in 1873.

1824 Edinburgh Foot-Ball Club rules. The rules prohibited tripping, but allowed pushing and holding the ball.


Sketches from the Graphic Illustrated newspaper relating to the fi rst offi cial international football match in 1872. The Scotland side wore cowls (pointed hoods), and the English side wore caps. The match fi nished in a 0–0 draw and was watched by 4,000 spectators.

Photograph: The Scottish Football Museum.

CAMPBELTOWN PUPILS AFC

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Football has an important place in the culture of many nations. Historically, it has shaped identity, offered a sense of place, and brought people together.

Its origins can be traced to China in 206 BC, with a game called Tsu Chu that involved a stuffed leather ball kicked with the foot. From 644 AD, the Japanese played a game called Kemari, where the main objective was to keep the ball in the air. Other cultures had their own versions of football, including Harpastum, a game used for military training by the Romans.

From the 13th century, a number of ball games evolved, played by large numbers of people at the same time: these were often riotous. They included Shrovetide Football and Mob Football, known as the Ba’ Game in Scotland, and are collectively known as ‘Folk Football’.


KIT AND CABO ODLE

By the end of the 19th century, Campbeltown had twenty-one distilleries, and the whisky industry was the town’s principal employer. The Inland Revenue had a permanent presence to assess and collect the tax due on the whisky produced. In 1879, two of the Tax Officers based in Campbeltown were S. Wylie and Richardson, who had previously played with Queens Park FC in Glasgow. Probably in part due to their presence, on Thursday 2nd January 1879 a game took place between Campbeltown FC and a ‘Scratch Team’ that included Inland Revenue Tax Officers. This was the first football match in Campbeltown played to rules. It introduced the ‘new game’ and significantly boosted the development of football in the town.

The introduction of a Saturday half day holiday created regular leisure time for workers. Locals flocked to the first organised matches. The identity of teams reflected the area’s industries and localities, and football became an escape from everyday matters.

Charitable Beginnings

The introduction of a Saturday half day holiday created regular leisure time for workers. Locals flocked to the first organised matches. The identity of teams reflected the area’s industries and localities, and football became an escape from everyday matters.

Many matches were played to raise money for the unemployed or those in need. In 1887, this led to the creation of the Campbeltown and District Football League Charity Cup.

In 1888 Campbeltown’s Athletic FC, became registered with the Scottish Football Association, allowing the club to compete for the Scottish Cup. They played undefeated against Queens Park Strollers, St Mirren Reserves and Greenock Morton, and placed Campbeltown firmly on the football map. After this, some teams were named after registered clubs, including Campbeltown Rangers and Campbeltown (Dalintober) Hearts.

The 1879 game as reported in the Argyllshire Herald.

Photograph: Argyll & Bute Library Service.

The 1866 Ordnance Survey map for Campbeltown (north sheet), showing the close distribution of 16 distilleries (yellow). There are a further 3 distilleries on the south sheet. Over the next 40 years, this was to grow to a total of 21 distilleries.

© National Library of Scotland. Licensor www.scran.ac.uk

Campbeltown (Dalintober) Hearts in 1890. Many of the men depicted were fishermen by trade.

Photograph: Angus Martin


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KIT AND CABO ODLE

The early 20th century saw investment in sport by politicians, the gentry, religious leaders and industry. In 1900, Campbeltown was presented with the Orr-Ewing Cup by Charles Lindsay Orr-Ewing, Member of Parliament for the constituency covering Campbeltown. The cup was presented in recognition of the benefits that football offered to society.

Campbeltown players began to make their mark in the professional game elsewhere. In particular, the Pursell brothers, Robert and Peter, became local heroes. Peter played with Campbeltown Rangers and Campbeltown Academicals but then moved on to Queens Park, Glasgow Rangers and Port Vale. He played for Scotland against Wales in 1914.

Robert also played for Queens Park before joining Liverpool. In 1914, he became the first Campbeltonian to take part in an FA Cup Final, between Liverpool and Burnley. The game was played in front of a crowd of 72,000 including King George V: this was the first Cup Final attended by a reigning monarch.

The Breakthrough Years

Campbeltown Hearts in 1901. They were the first winners of The Orr-Ewing Cup which can be seen alongside the Charity Cup.

Photograph: Alex McKinven

Campbeltown United at Moy Park in 1912. Jamie Brown of Glasgow Rangers is in the back row, first left.

Photograph: Margaret McKiernan

Peter Pursell wearing the Scottish International Cap he won playing against Wales in 1914.

Photograph: William Pursell

Neil McBain, born in Campbeltown, played for Ayr United before moving to Manchester United in 1921. In 1922, he was part of the Scottish team that beat England 1-0 at Villa Park, Birmingham, and he represented Scotland twice more, against Northern Ireland and Wales. He went on to play for both Everton and Liverpool, and ultimately became the oldest player ever in professional football in Great Britain, when he turned out at the age of 51 years and 4 months.

Campbeltown Rangers during 1909-10 season. Peter Pursell is in the front row, first left.


Liverpool / Everton select team photographed in 1913 before playing a charity match in aid of local hospitals. Robert Pursell is in the back row, second right.


Provost John Colville opens the new season at the Showfield (now the Smith Drive / Castleacres area of the town), around 1920.

Photograph: Mr DL McMillan

Campbeltown United with friends and family during a picnic outing to Southend, Mull of Kintyre in 1912.

Upper Photograph: Campbeltown Heritage Centre

Lower Photograph: Margaret McKiernan


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KIT AND CABO ODLE

After the First World War the Campbeltown & District Junior League was restarted. In 1919 a new club was formed; the Campbeltown Grammar School Former Pupils Association: generally known as “the Pupils”.

Between 1926 and 1928, one regular player with “the Pupils” was Giovanni “Johnny” Moscardini. Johnny was born in 1898 in Falkirk, to Italian parents, and at different times lived in both Scotland and Italy. After serving with the Italian Army during the First World War, he went to live in his parents’ hometown of Barga in Tuscany, where his football skills were soon recognised by the local the professional club, Lucca. He went on to play for Pisa and Genoa, and nine times for Italy during which he scored seven goals. In 1925, Johnny arrived in Campbeltown to manage the Royal Cafe on Hall Street. He joined “the Pupils” and played for them in the local league, but kept his professional football career quiet only revealing his previous achievements after retiring in 1928.

The original members of the Campbeltown Grammar School Former Pupils Association, photographed in 1919. Photograph: Campbeltown Heritage Centre.

A young Johnny Moscardini standing next to one of the many trophies he was to win throughout his career. Johnnie remains to this day the only Scottish born male footballer to have played for Italy.

Photograph: Ronald Togneri.

Local heroes like Johnny Moscardini provided inspiration when times were difficult. The inter-war period was characterised by hardship and unemployment. The Campbeltown & Machrihanish Railway closed, Argyll Colliery ceased production, and there was a decline in the number of distilleries.

In 1930, a government Work Relief Scheme brought about the construction of a new football pitch at Kintyre Park, which remains in use to this day. Junior Football was at its peak, with six local clubs supported by large crowds for national and local games. This was also the period of the ‘Caboodle’: regular gatherings of players and club officials in places like unused or vacant properties, which played an important part in building team spirit.

When the Second World War began, the league was suspended as players and supporters enlisted in the armed forces.

Peace, Poverty and Passion: The Inter-war Years


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The Royal Cafe in Hall Street, in 1936. Left to right: Jack Togneri, Alf Grumoli, Emma Grumoli and Charlie Serafini. From 1925 -1928, Johnny Moscardini looked after the cafe for his uncle, Leo Grumoli.

Photograph: Ronald Togneri.

The ‘Johnny Moscardini Stadium’ in Barga, Italy. The Moscardini family came from Barga, and this stadium was named in his honour in 2000.

Photograph: Massimo Pia

Campbeltown United Juniors in 1927.

Photograph: Margaret McKiernan

Campbeltown United Juniors playing against Cambuslang Rangers, for the Scottish Junior Cup in 1939.

Photograph: Campbell Robertson.


KIT AND CABO ODLE

From the late 1940s, housing improvement schemes steadily altered the character of Campbeltown. Football continued to offer a sense of identity while the town physically changed.

The coal mine at Machrihanish was reopened in 1947, and in 1951 Argyll Colliery FC - known as ‘The Miners’ - was established. This coincided with the launch of the Miners Welfare Cup and the Miners Welfare Boys League, both of which were supported by mine workers and their friends. The industries and residential areas of Campbeltown continued to influence the identity of football teams, as did the places where people spent their leisure time. Former local footballer Charlie McFadyen remembers the Mayfair Cafe as a popular meeting place in Campbeltown. In 1957, some of the cafe’s regulars decided to establish their own team which played in the Kintyre Amateur Football League as “Mayfair Thistle”.

In 1961, a new club was formed to provide a supply of fresh talent to the league. Initially called Campbeltown United Amateurs, this was soon renamed “Campbeltown Former Pupils” in commemoration of the successful local team founded in 1919 and which had played until the outbreak of the Second World War.

Campbeltown United playing against Loanhead Mayflower in the 5th round of the Scottish Junior Cup in February, 1957. The game was played at Kintyre Park watched by over 3,500 spectators, breaking the attendance record for the club.

Photograph: Campbell Robertson

The new “Pupils” were immediately successful in their first season, winning the Civic Cup and the League Championship in 1961-62. They joined the Scottish Amateur Football League in 1977, and went on to win five Scottish Amateur Football League competitions, including the Colin Munro Cup and the Top Score Trophy. In 2000, the club was the first from Argyll to become champions of the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division.

In 1988, the pitch at Kintyre Park was upgraded, with this being celebrated by a game between Campbeltown Pupils AFC and Morton FC, a professional club then in the Scottish First Division. In recent years there has been renewed interest in football in Campbeltown. In 2012, a new All Weather Pitch was constructed at Kinloch Park, which will improve football facilities in the town for many years to come.

Building a better world for the future


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Campbeltown Pupils in 1967, before playing against Viewfield at Lochwinnoch for the Scottish Cup.

Photograph: The Campbeltown Pupils Archive.

Kintyre Park in 2012.

Photograph: The Kintyre Forum.

The colliery at Machrihanish in 1950. Surface buildings were still under construction after the colliery reopening in1947.

Photograph: The Scottish Mining Museum.

Campbeltown Pupils AFC in March 2012.

Photograph: The Kintyre Forum.

Campbeltown United with the Sutherland Cup and Charity Cup in 1957.

Photograph: Lorna Barr.

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