A Brief History of Renfrew FC

Renfrew Juniors FC was formed in 1912 after the previous Junior club in the town, Renfrew Victoria, went defunct in 1910. The ‘Vics’ also played at Western Park. During the period between Renfrew Victoria folding and Renfrew Juniors starting, Western Park was used by a juvenile side Orchard Rovers, but local fans, not content with this, decided to form the Junior Club that still exists to this day. The Club name Renfrew Juniors was changed to Renfrew Football Club following the Intermediate Dispute which lasted from 1925 to 1931.

The early years of the Club saw the team reach the semi-finals of the national competition, the Scottish Junior Cup, on a few occasions - in 1914 and 1918, and a few more times throughout the years following, in 1933,1936, 1947, 1978 and more latterly 2005/06. The Final has been reached three times, in 1917, 1962 and 2001. Incredibly , the first occasion saw no goals conceded on the way to the Final, and it was only by a single goal that the final itself was lost, and this after a replay, when St.Mirren Juniors were the victors. Similarly, it was after a replay in 1962 the team lost out to winners Kirkintilloch Rob Roy.

However May 2001 saw Renfrew win their first "Scottish" after defeating Carnoustie Panmure in the final at Firhill Park in Glasgow. After a tense, but somewhat dour 90 minutes of regulation time and 30 minutes of extra time, Renfrew won the match on penalties with captain Neil Shearer scoring the winner. The match itself wasn't the greatest spectacle although the manner in which Renfrew made it through to the final itself showed an amazing resilience, and worthy Champions. In the first round, Renfrew defeated Saltcoats Victoria then defeated Steelend Victoria in the 2nd round. Then, after several postponements due to adverse weather, a 2-2 draw away to Kelty Hearts meant a replay back at Western Park. Goals from Bobby Tourish and John Peacock presented Renfrew with a home tie against Central League Champions Benburb. After another 2-2 draw Renfrew faced the daunting task of travelling to the Bens, and when the team were 3-2 down with seconds remaining, it looked as if the dream was over. However a Neil Farquaharson equalizer and another two in extra time meant that Renfrew made it into the 5th round. Dundonald Bluebell were comprehensively beaten 5-0 meaning that Renfrew were into the Quarter Final for the first time in twenty two years. Formartine United, conquerers of Petershill in the previous round, made the trip from the North Region to Western Park, but left empty handed from their travels. The 2-0 win for the home side, which could and should have been more, meant that Renfrew would travel to Love Street for a Semi Final against greatly fancied Auchinleck Talbot. An Andy Morrison penalty separated the teams although Renfrew hung on to send them to their first Final appearance since 1962.

Over the years, the club has been relatively successful, winning over thirty Cup Finals, including two Central League Cups, and four Championships, with a number of additional runners-up placings in finals and league competitions. The Renfrewshire Cup was won ten times, with the Renfrewshire Consolation Cup being won four times.

More recently, the club started the 1990's in the Premier Division, before being relegated in two successive seasons in the middle of the decade. Only one season was spent in the Second Division, and it took a further four seasons in the First Division before promotion back to the Premier Division was achieved in May 2000. This proved to be a successful campaign with a top five finish to go along with the "Scottish" triumph. To add spice to the 2000/01 season, all other three local sides- Arthurlie, Neilston and Johnstone Burgh were in the same division, leading to a great deal of local interest.

By the close of season 2001-02 Renfrew, who were in 10th place of 12 teams, would find themselves facing life in the newly formed West of Scotland Superleague First Division. Two years later, Renfrew were promoted to the Superleague Premier Division along with Bellshill Athletic, but found themselves in a fight to beat the drop the following season. In the end they survived and then remarkably in 2005-06 missed out on the Championship on goal difference to eventual winners Auchinleck Talbot. Unfortunately, after the disappointment of missing out on the Premier League title, the club yet again found themselves in relegation trouble from the start of the 06-07 season and ended up finishing bottom, dropping down into the first division. The team managed to consolidate their position, remaining in the West SuperLeague's second tier until the end of the 2013/14 season when they were relegated. Since the 2014/15 season the Club has plied their trade in the Central League First Division.

Renfrew Football Club celebrated our centenary in 2012 and finished in 3rd place in the First Division, thereby earning a playoff place against Pollok who finished 3rd bottom of the Premier League. In the first leg at Newlandsfield, the hosts comfortably won 4-0, and despite an improved performance in the home return match, a 1-1 draw wasn't the result the team needed. Determined to find some success to celebrate the Centenary, Renfrew FC made it to the final of the Sectional League Cup where disappointingly the again lost to Pollok this time by 3-0.

At the start of 2013/14 season, local club Cherrie Youth Football Club affiliated to become Renfrew Football Club bringing with them over 150 players and a dozen coaches. The plan saw all players from 5 years old through to the Junior team wearing the same strip and giving the youth teams a belief that they could progress through the different age groups, eventually playing for the first team. With this news receiving a warm reception, the club entered discussions with Viewfield Rovers Ladies Football Club who had indicated a desire to secure a new home within the Renfrewshire area, and so in October 2013 the team announced that from the start of the SWFL season in March 2014, they'd play as Renfrew Ladies Football Club wearing the same strip as Junior and Youth teams. Renfrew Ladies FC finished 3^rd in the League in their inaugural season, but had success in winning the 2^nd Division League Cup Final with a win over Hamilton Caledonian Ladies.

In May 2014 the Junior team played its final league game of the season and started making plans to vacate Western Park, hoping to move to a new purpose built ground at Blythswood, looking to attain Community Club status, and give all affiliated teams the opportunity to train and play at the new stadium and develop boys and girls football in the Renfrew area. While discussions about the new ground continued, the Club agreed a ground share arrangement with Johnstone Burgh which would allow Renfrew to play home games at Keanie Park, while the new ground was under construction. We were then joined by two amateur sides who became Renfrew AFC and Renfrew FC Ams to further aid in providing a pathway for youths to continue and

A new chapter in the history of the club began on Saturday 8th August 2015 when Renfrew FC welcomed Johnstone Burgh to the inaugural match at New Western Park with the hosts winning 2-0. Alain Kinney had the honour of being the first ever scorer at the new stadium when he gave Renfrew a 2nd half lead, before Scott Arthur sealed the win. At a match arranged to mark the opening of the new ground, Renfrew played St.Mirren’s development side, with former President John McIntyre having the honour of kicking off the game to officially open New Western Park.

Our first season at New Western Park was a great success with the largest crowds for many a year, and the side reaching the 4th round of the Scottish, and all the efforts of the committee, management and players was rewarded when the Club won the Central League First Division title, our first Championship since 1991/92. In 2016/17 we consolidated our position in the Superleague First Division, but just a year later the team were promoted for the 2nd time in three seasons, finishing 4th and gaining promotion to the new West Region Premiership, following League reconstruction.

The history of the club is an ongoing project and there will be historical articles posted to this page on an occasional basis