The first few years of Blantyre Vics Football Club, were certainly eventful. Starting out as a Junior club with great success, it took until 1894 for a senior club to be formed.
Following the 1894/1895 season, they qualified to play in the Scottish Cup proper despite losing to Arthurlie at Barrhead. By Summer 1895, the new senior team was given the go -ahead to play in recognised professional leagues and the showcase of talent on offer was worrying clubs nearby who were already established.
Reporters in July 1895 said, “We will have at least one newcomer in our midst shortly, one, judging from the locality selected for residence, that evidently means to stay. I refer to Blantyre, the new senior club that has taken the place of the junior Blantyre Victoria. This club will be out and-out professional. The “Go ahead” means a lot to a football club, and apparently there is a lot of that quality about Blantyre, perhaps sufficient to make the management of some of our older clubs uneasy later on. Of course, until such time as the Scottish Association first meeting is held, Blantyre cannot fix their players completely, but they understood to so far hold Copeland, Powers, and Neilson (all of whom played at Airdrieonians at the close of last season. The Brothers Paterson (Leith Athletic), and Ferguson (Celtic) along with the pick of Last season’s Victoria team. Test alone can prove what is in the new Blantyre, but I must confess to nursing the idea that we are to have amongst us a club that may prove a nasty customer for some of the older hands to tackle in the Scottish and County ties. J. Kelly (Celtic), one of the grandest centre halves that ever pounded a ball, is resident in Blantyre, and hie counsel will not be lost. Celtic opens the sew club’s season, and they open Cambuslang’s ground on 10th August”
This Blantyre Victoria Club, like 2 Cambuslang senior clubs of the time, however eventually “went to the wall”. Like it or not the reason for this was through lack of wins on the sportsfield and by 1897, the club was folded. But it certainly wasn’t the end, when they resurrected again in 1900 as a Junior club.
Vics are pictured a little earlier in 1893 with their junior team.
