Historical Football Kits

 

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Clydebank

Formed 1965. Reconstituted as Airdrie United 2002.

Elected to Scottish Division Two 1966. Replaced by Airdrie United in 2002

Kit History

clydebank 1965

1965-1967 f l

1967-1968 f

1968-1969 f

buy clydebank 1960s shirt

1969-1970 f

1970-Aug 71 f m

Sept 1971 f n

clydebank fc 1971-72

Sept 71-1972 n

clydebank 1972

1972-1974 a f

1974-1975 a f

Admiral
clydebank 1975

1975-1977 a f k n

Plain white socks worn occasionally
Umbro
clydebank 1977

1977-1979 b d e f

Umbro
clydebank fc 1979-80

1979-1980 n

Umbro
clydebank 1979

1980-1983 b e g h n

Umbro
clydebank 1983-84 kit

1983-1985 g

Spall
clydebank 1985

1985-1986 d e n

New Olympic
clydebank 1986

1986-1987 e n

New Olympic

1987-1989 b n

Matchwinner
clydebank 1989

1989-1990 a e

Matchwinner

1990-1991 e j

Matchwinner
clydebank 1991

1991-1992 e

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Matchwinner

1992-1993 e n

Matchwinner
clydebank 1993

1993-1995 e n

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Mitre
clydebank 1996

1995-1997 e i n

Prostar
clydebank fc 1997-98

1997-1998 i j

Biemme
clydebank fc 1998-1999

1998-1999 i

Prostar
clydebank 1999

1999-2000 e i

Prostar
clydebank 2000

2000-Aug2001 c e i

Sept 2001 e

clydebank 2001-02

Oct 2001-2002 e

 

Background

clydebank fc 1967-68In 1964 the owners of East Stirlingshire FC, the Steedman brothers, negotiated a merger with Clydebank Junior FC (formed in 1899) and moved the club from its Falkirk base to Clydebank's Kilbowie ground. This club played as ES Clydebank during 1964-65 but at the end of the season a legal challenge forced a return to Falkirk and they resumed playing as East Stirlingshire FC. The Steedman brothers chose to remain with Clydebank and established them as a senior clydebank fc crest 1965club. After a season competing in the Combined Reserve League they were elected to the Scottish Football League.

The club enjoyed some success: promotions in 1976 and 1977 took them briefly into the Premier Division for one season.

clydebank fc crest 1972In 1977 the Bankies adopted the coat of arms of Clydebank District Council: the cog wheel represents the towns association with industry, the galleon clydebank fc crest 1977symbolises shipbuilding while the castle represents the Antonine Wall, part of which passes through the district. The figure in the fourth quarter is that of St Patrick who is believed to have born nearby: the red saltire is probably the cross of St Patrick.

The Bankies returned to the top level in 1985 following another league reorganisation. The badge had evolved slightly, losing the clydebank fc crest 1985crown of thistles and replacing the Latin motto with the club's name. Clydebank spent two seasons competing against the top clubs before being relegated.

In 1989 the club introduced what became their definitive crest, with "Clydebank FC" moved to the top and the Latin motto (which translates as "By Work and Knowledge") restored underneath. This clydebank fc crest 1989design was updated slightly in 1995 when it was placed on a larger shield.

In 1990 they reached the semi-final of the Scottish FA Cup. Their most famous player, Davie Cooper began his career at Clydebank, went on to play for Rangers and Motherwell and became a regular in the Scotland side during the 1980s. Cooper returned to Clydebank in 1993 as a player and assistant coach but in March 1995, at the age clydebank fc crest 1995of 39, he died of a brain haemorrhage, a tragedy that shook Scottish football.

Kilbowie became one of the first all-seated stadiums in the UK, albeit because wooden benches were installed on the terraces. In 1996 the Steedmans sold the ground for development an event that marked the beginning of terminal decline. The Bankies spent six years playing their home games at Dumbarton's Boghead and later Morton's Cappielow Park while their support dwindled. Owing to a supporters' boycott, a mere 29 people watched them play their first match in Greenock in August 1999. Various schemes were hatched to relocate the club to Galashiels, Carlisle and even Dublin but these came to nothing.

In 2002 Airdrieonians were declared bankrupt and resigned from the Scottish League. A new club, Airdrie United was formed but their attempt to gain election to the league was rebuffed. Airdrie's owners immediately turned their attention to homeless Clydebank, now in administration and on the verge of extinction. With the support of the Scottish League management committee, Airdrie United bought out Clydebank, moved the club to Airdrie and took over their place in the Scottish Second Division (third tier). Technically Airdrie United are the continuation of Clydebank but most commentators and fans regard this as the moment when Clydebank ceased to exist.

Considerable bitterness was aroused by these machinations but a group of supporters formed the United Clydebank Supporters' trust (UCS) and succesfully reformed Clydebank as a junior club having raised a six-figure sum in a matter of a few days. They joined the Central District League of the Scottish Junior FA and have rapidly established themeslves as on the of the strongest sides competing at this level.

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Sources

Crests are the property of United Clydebank Supporters.