1874/75

Overview - Football in Hamilton: The Early Years

It has so far proved almost impossible to determine the exact date of the club coming into being. A number of years ago, what is now Hamilton Grammar School were contacted asking if it would be possible to access the early records of Hamilton Academy to determine whether they may have shed some light on the birth of the club, however advice was received that due to a fire several years ago, the early information about the premises had been lost.

What is known is that the “Beautiful Game” was witnessed in the Burgh as early as 1862 under the auspices of Hamilton Thistle Cricket and Football Club. Seven years on and Queens Park were the visitors at Hamilton Gymnasium’s Recreation Ground. The latter club may have had a brief life as the last notification of its existence was in April 1892.

Yet another club, Hamilton FC came on the scene and on 12th April 1894 a match was played at South Haugh versus Blythswood which resulted in a 3-0 win for the visitors. The new club was a member of the Scottish Football Association as per the 1874-75 handbook which included the name of William N. Wilson of Hamilton as an SFA committee member.

The first recorded match as per the Hamilton Advertiser of “Hamilton Academicals” was on 12th December 1874 when J. Kerr was the scorer in a 2-1 defeat against the Hamilton FC Second Eleven. The following month, on the 16th, a friendly match was played at South Avenue when the 23rd Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers were in opposition. No further details are available.

The first AGM of Hamilton Academical Cricket and Football Club was held on 27th February 1875 and resulted in the following office bearers: President William J. Halley, Vice-President Robert Wilson, Captain John Kerr, Vice Captain Robert Millar, Joint Secretaries Alexander McIntosh and W.R. Palmer, Treasurer Alexander Cromar. Five Directors were also appointed. This meeting confirmed therefore that the club was formed sometime in 1874.

Overview - Season 1874/75

As stated above the first recorded fixture by the club was against Hamilton FC on 12th December 1874. Following that only two other friendlies were played, against the 23rd Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers, in January 1875 the other versus the Second X1 of Hamilton FC on 17th April 1875 said to be played at home, neither score is recorded.

RESULTS

Click here to view the team sheets for this season.