Leith
Athletic FC was founded in 1887 in the Port
of Leith, just to the east of Edinburgh. Iin 1891 they replaced Glasgow side Cowlairs
in the Scottish Football League. They played at various grounds before
settling into the old Logie Green
Park in 1904.
The
club’s early colours were sometimes described as “chocolate and
cream” but, according to SFA and SFL records researched by Alick Milne, they were in fact maroon and white: by the
time the club was in the Scottish League, they were wearing black and white.
After a
reasonable start (fourth out of 12 in 1892), Leith
had to apply for re-election in 1894 and 1895 when they received only three
votes and were relegated to the Second Division. They fared rather better in
the second flight, (runners up in 1896, 1897 and 1899) but they could not
muster enough votes to be elected back into the First Division. In 1905,
having failed once again in the end season voting, Leith Athletic was wound
up and a new limited company formed to take over the old club’s assets.
Now playing
as Leith FC, the team comfortably won the Scottish Second Division championship
but yet again, they failed to be elected to Division One (runners up Clyde
and fourth placed Hamilton
being preferred). In 1910 Leith and Raith Rovers
finished level on points and were declared joint champions: Raith were promoted but it appears that Leith
did not contest the elections. Three years later, Leith
were involved in the end-of –season elections
once again but this time they had finished in last position and their place
in the league was at stake. They survived until the competition was suspended
in 1915, when they joined the Eastern League.
In 1916 Leith closed down for the duration and when the club
was reformed in 1919, the old name of Leith Athletic was revived and the club
joined the Western League. Over the next 35 years the club had no fewer than
eight home grounds finally settling to play their home games at Meadowbank stadium, then known as the Leith Athletic
ground. After playing for one season in the Scottish Alliance (1923-24), Leith were admitted to the Third Division, formed the
previous season, where they stayed until 1926 when the competition was
abandoned with fixtures remaining. Leith
then contested the end of season elections for the Second Division and were eliminated on the chairman’s casting vote in
the third ballot.
They rejoined
the Scottish Alliance but in 1927 were back in the Scottish League, replacing
Nithsdale Wanderers. The club’s fortunes were now definitely improving
and in 1930 they won the Second Division championship and with it promotion
to the First Division. Leith survived for
two seasons before they were relegated, remaining a middle ranking Second
Division side until the league was suspended in 1940.
An attempt to
revive St Bernard’s FC through a merger with Leith Athletic in 1945
came to nothing and in 1946 Leith became
founder members of the new Division C (third tier). The following season the
decision was taken to expand the Scottish Second Division from 14 to 16 clubs
and Leith were elected to one of the
vacancies. After one season they were relegated and when the third tier was
split, Leith joined Division C (North &
East).
The C
Divisions were made up largely of reserve sides and Leith
campaigned for the non-reserve teams to be admitted to the Second Division.
They were not successful and were expelled in August 1953 when they refused
to play any more fixtures in Division C. It was too late for the club to join
another competition and in 1955, Leith Athletic went
out of business. In a supreme irony, the two C Divisions were abandoned that
summer and, just as Leith had wanted, the
non-reserve sides went into the Second Division.
Information
and images from: http://www.historicalkits.co.uk
Modern club
A new Leith Athletic was formed in 1996, primarily as a club for boys football, with teams at various age groups between 5
and 21, whilst the club's adult side joined the Central Scottish Amateur
Football League. The club retained the Leith Athletic name and re-instated
the vertical black and white strips and green away strips as the club
colours.
The club were originally named Manor Thistle, having started as a team of
employees of the many solicitors' firms in Edinburgh's Manor Place. Some of the clubs founder
members and players, including Tam Currie, Matty
Hutchison, Henry Corner and Leighton Jones are still heavily involved with
the club to this day.
Since 2005 Leith have had a number of players in the Scottish amateur international
squad including current players Stevie Radzynski and Chris Beaton who
were both involved in last seasons trip to Ireland.
Edinburgh Athletic played at the Civil Service Sports Ground at Marine Drive
playing fields in the north-west of the city near Muirhouse
and were an established side in the East of Scotland
leagues.
In 2008, Leith Athletic absorbed Edinburgh Athletic, taking the club's place
in the East of Scotland Football League.
Hopes for the
clubs future are to have a first class enclosed pitch and club rooms in Leith and to provide a side of quality standard for the
youth teams to progress to.
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Leith Athletic Squad
2007/08
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Club Legends
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Ecky Bernard
Senior players
actually from Douglas, the West and Glespin,
however, are few in numbers. One player who did make the grade was Alex
'Ecky' Bernard from Douglas West. Ecky was a star player for Douglas Water Thistle in the
early 1920's winning a Hozier cup medal in season
1922-23.
Ecky signed for Leith
Athletic, a formidable team in those days and went on to play in the winning
team for
Leith
against Solway Star in the
final of the Scottish Qualifying Cup in season 1925/26
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Tam Currie
As a founder member of the club Tam and his brother Bob played for Leith Athletic at the inception of the new club. Tam was a skillful and tough player with a very useful left foot. |
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Stuart Churchill
Churchie played for the club
almost since their inception in 1996 as a marauding midfielder before the
legs went and he was forced to sit as a central defender and sweeper where
his reading of the game was very valuable. Churchie loved to “get stuck in” and was a self confessed “blood and snotters” player and often popped up with an
important goal.
He went on to manage the club for 5 years,
finishing 2nd in the Central Scottish Amateur league 3 times and
reached the Semi final of the Scottish cup, narrowly getting beaten in
extra-time.
Churchie and
Leith
parted ways after the merger with Edinburgh Athletic in 2008 but he will
always be remembered as a true Leither.
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Mark (Mara) Muirhead
Mara was the stalwart at the back for
Leith
through the start for their amateur years. As a
hard defender he would win everything in the air and most things on the
ground. His partnership at the back with ‘Scouse’
was legendary. Mara is the last Leith Athletic captain to lift a trophy and
now works as a coach for the highly successful under 14’s team.
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Michael Corner
Michael was an ever present for
Leith
through the 90’s and was often on the score
sheet including 5 in one game in the 1998/99 season. As the son of treasurer
Henry Corner he was a true
Leith
man.
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David Parra
The little Spaniard played for the club while
studying English in
Edinburgh
.
Although he only played for 2 seasons it was
enough time to make an impression with everyone at the club due to his
personality. David played as a right midfielder and his skilful, diminutive
style created many problems for defenders and chances for
Leith
’s
strikers. |
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Gary Young
Gary
played for
Leith
for 8 seasons and captained the club for most of
that time including the Scottish cup semi-final game in 2008. A born leader
Gary could play right or central midfield or right and central defence.
Gary’s will to win was infectious and many of the 2006/07
season’s squad will remember a cold night at training after a
disappointing cup exit when all in the season seemed lost.
Gary
roused the troops and
Leith
went on to
narrowly miss out on winning the league on the last day of the season. Never
the less, an amazing come back story.
Gary
moved on to long time
Edinburgh
rivals Spartans during the 2008/09 season and his influence will be sorely
missed at the club.
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Scott McAuley
Scott McAuley celebrated
his 10th season at the club in 2008/09, punctuated
by spells playing football in Australia
and for East Stirling . He
arrived as a 20 year old from Edinburgh Athletic in 1999.
With the clubs all time goal scoring record of 236 goals in
273 games, including 14 hat-tricks, he hung up his boots and
decided Leith Athletic were the only club he would like to
end his career at. |
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Andy
Penman
Peno Joined Leith Athletic in the 2002/03
Season and was an immediate hit. Able to play in Midfield
or as a supporting attacked, he was as famous for his ability
to wind up opponents with his English accent as he was
for his genuine qualities as a player and his dogged work
rate and stamina.
Although
he wasn't always a natural goal scorer, when he did score,
they were often spectacuar and usually important goals.
Peno
was definately the practical joker of the team for the best
part of a decade and his part in a dressing room will never
be able to be replaced.
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