# Gordon Highlanders F.C.

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{{short description|Military association football club}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox football club 
| clubname=Gordon Highlanders
| image= 
| fullname=Gordon Highlanders Football Club
| nickname=
| founded=1884
| dissolved=1939
| ground=varied according to stationing
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'''Gordon Highlanders F.C.''' was a British [association football](/source/association_football) club.  It was the footballing side of the [Gordon Highlanders](/source/Gordon_Highlanders) regiment in the [British Army](/source/British_Army).

==History==

The first reference to a Gordon Highlanders football club is from the 1884–85 season, when the regiment was based in [Devon](/source/Devon).  Usually based in [Aberdeen](/source/Aberdeen), the club was a regular entrant to Highland competitions in the amateur era of football.  It entered the [Aberdeenshire Cup](/source/Aberdeenshire_Cup) in 1889–90 and 1890–91<ref>{{cite web |title=Aberdeenshire Cup |url=http://sfha.org.uk/aberdeenshirecup.htm |website=Scottish Football Historical Archive |access-date=12 November 2023}}</ref> and the short-lived Banffshire Cup in 1890–91.<ref>{{cite web |title=Banffshire Cup |url=http://sfha.org.uk/banffshirecup.htm |website=Scottish Football Historical Archive |access-date=12 November 2023}}</ref>
thumb|Irish Cup Final 1889–90, Gordon Highlanders v Cliftonville sides, Northern Whig, 14 April 1890
The club's finest achievements came when the battalion was stationed in [Belfast](/source/Belfast) in 1889–90.  The Gordons won the [Irish Cup](/source/Irish_Cup), surprising [Linfield](/source/Linfield_F.C.) in the semi-final at Ulsterville,<ref>{{cite journal |title=Linfield Athletics v Gordon Highlanders |journal=Belfast News-Letter |date=3 February 1890 |page=3}}</ref> and beating [Cliftonville](/source/Cliftonville_F.C.) in the final after a replay.  The first match (at [Ballynafeigh](/source/Ballynafeigh)) attracted a record attendance for Ireland, and the Gordons took a two-goal half-time lead, but were pegged back to 2–2 by the call of time.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Irish Cup - the Final Tie |journal=Ulster Echo |date=8 March 1890 |page=3}}</ref>  The replay, played in front of 3,000 at Ulsterville, saw the regiment dominate, a goal from Beveridge in the first half and two from Swan - the last right on the whistle - in the second securing the Cup.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Cliftonville v Gordon Highlanders |journal=Northern Whig |date=14 April 1890 |page=7}}</ref>

The club also reached the final of the [1889–90 Belfast Charity Cup](/source/1889%E2%80%9390_Belfast_Charity_Cup), losing 5–3 to fellow army side [the Black Watch](/source/Black_Watch_F.C.).<ref>{{cite journal |title=Football |journal=Belfast News |date=28 April 1890 |page=7}}</ref>  The regiment was re-drafted to [Ceylon](/source/Sri_Lanka) in 1890; the football side was allowed to stay behind with another battalion,<ref>{{cite journal |title=The professional question in Ireland |journal=Manchester Evening News |date=6 November 1890 |page=3}}</ref> and the regiment formed another side to play football in Asia.<ref>{{cite journal |title=By the way |journal=Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) |date=30 August 1892 |page=3}}</ref>

Stationed in [Glasgow](/source/Glasgow) from 1894, the club entered the [Scottish Cup](/source/Scottish_Cup) in 1894–95, and the [Scottish Qualifying Cup](/source/Scottish_Qualifying_Cup) in 1895–96 and 1896–97.  It did not win a tie, but did draw twice with first round opponents. 3–3 with [Northern](/source/Northern_F.C.) in 1894–95 (the replay having to take place at Northern's ground in [Springburn](/source/Springburn)),<ref>{{cite journal |title=Northern v Gordon Highlanders |journal=Dundee Courier |date=10 September 1894 |page=5}}</ref> and 2–2 with [Linthouse](/source/Linthouse_F.C.) the following season; the Highlanders started the replay in a rush, and took an early 2 goal lead, before the superior stamina of professional players saw the Linties win 7–3.<ref>{{cite journal |title=District jottings |journal=Scottish Referee |date=9 September 1895 |page=2}}</ref>  The Gordons also entered the [Glasgow Cup](/source/Glasgow_Cup) in 1894–95 and 1895–96, but lost both ties the club played.<ref>{{cite web |title=Glasgow Cup |url=http://sfha.org.uk/glasgowcup.htm |website=Scottish Football Historical Archive |access-date=12 November 2023}}</ref>

The regiment was redeployed to [Aldershot](/source/Aldershot) after being drawn against [Burnbank Swifts](/source/Burnbank_Swifts_F.C.) in the 1896–97 Qualifying Cup, so was forced to scratch from the competition,<ref>{{cite journal |title=Lanarkshire notes |journal=Scottish Referee |date=28 August 1896 |page=3}}</ref> and it did not renew its [Scottish Football Association](/source/Scottish_Football_Association) membership.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Club membership |journal=Scottish Referee |date=6 August 1897 |page=2}}</ref>  It was replaced at the barracks by the [1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders](/source/93rd_Highland_Regiment_F.C.).<ref>{{cite book |last1=M'Dowall |first1=John |title=Scottish Football Annual 1897–98 |date=1897 |publisher=Hay Nisbet |location=Glasgow |page=65}}</ref>

The Gordons' last major success was via the 2nd Battalion winning the Army Cup in 1897–98, beating the Cup holders [Royal Artillery](/source/History_of_Portsmouth_F.C.) in the final at [Aldershot](/source/Aldershot); the strength of support for the army game demonstrated by a crowd of 25,000 attending, including the [Duke of Connaught](/source/Prince_Arthur%2C_Duke_of_Connaught_and_Strathearn), who presented the trophy and medals.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Army Association Cup |journal=St James' Gazette |date=12 April 1898 |page=12}}</ref>  The club also won the Aldershot League, ahead of the [K.O.S.B.](/source/King's_Own_Scottish_Borderers_F.C.) in second place.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Football - the Army Cup |journal=Aberdeen Press |date=12 April 1898 |page=3}}</ref>  In 1898 the regiment was sent to India, where the club's popular secretary, Lt J. H. Outhwaite, died of an attack of [dysentery](/source/dysentery).<ref>{{cite journal |title=En passant |journal=Athletic News |date=24 July 1899 |page=1}}</ref>

The regiment was sent to [South Africa](/source/South_Africa) in 1899, and suffered an alarming incident when a shell burst on its football pitch during a match; none of the players was injured, and, having filled up the crater, the match duly continued.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Graphic |journal=Tyrone Courier |date=11 January 1900 |page=5}}</ref>  While based in [Egypt](/source/Egypt) in 1912–13, the Highlanders carried off the Large Unit Shield for Egypt and the [Sudan](/source/Sudan), beating the 2nd [Devonshire Regiment](/source/Devonshire_Regiment) 3–2 in the final.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Gordon Highlanders in Egypt |journal=Aberdeen Press and Journal |date=10 June 1913 |page=8}}</ref>

After being stationed in India in the 1920s, the regiment returned to Aberdeen, and the Gordons entered the [Scottish Junior Cup](/source/Scottish_Junior_Cup) a number of times in the 1920s and 1930s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scottish Junior Cup 1930–1940 |url=http://sfha.org.uk/scottishjuniorcup19301940.pdf |website=Scottish Football Historical Archive |access-date=12 November 2023}}</ref> It reached the third round in 1934–35, and apparently beat [Aberdeen East End](/source/Aberdeen_East_End_F.C.) at that stage, but the win was thrown out after a protest and the Gordons lost the replay.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Scottish Cup - Third Round |journal=Wishaw Press |date=23 November 1934 |page=7}}</ref>  The club was still active on the eve of the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War),<ref>{{cite journal |title=Missed a soccer star |journal=Daily Mirror |date=26 July 1939 |page=26}}</ref> but there is no record of the club at any level outside the Army after 1939.

==Colours==

The club wore blue, yellow, and green quartered shirts, and black knickers.<ref>{{cite book |last1=M'Dowall |first1=John |title=Scottish Football Annual 1894–95 |date=1894 |publisher=Hay Nisbet |location=Glasgow |page=196}}</ref>

==Grounds==

The club is known to have played in the following areas:

*1884–85: Devon
*1888–89: Aberdeen<ref>{{cite journal |title=To-day's sporting |journal=Aberdeen Evening Express |date=17 September 1889 |page=3}}</ref>
*1889–90: [Carrickfergus](/source/Carrickfergus)<ref>{{cite journal |title=Our Juniors |journal=Ulster Football and Cycling News |date=8 February 1889 |page=9}}</ref>
*1890–91: [Curragh Camp](/source/Curragh_Camp)<ref>{{cite journal |title=The professional question in Ireland |journal=Manchester Evening News |date=6 November 1890 |page=3}}</ref>
*1891–92: Annandale, [Sri Lanka](/source/Sri_Lanka)
*1894–96: [Maryhill](/source/Maryhill) Barracks<ref>{{cite book |last1=M'Dowall |first1=John |title=Scottish Football Annual 1894–95 |date=1894 |publisher=Hay Nisbet |location=Glasgow |page=196}}</ref>
*1896–98: [Aldershot](/source/Aldershot)<ref>{{cite journal |title=Naval and military |journal=Western Morning News |date=22 November 1897 |page=3}}</ref>
*1898–99: [Dagshai](/source/Dagshai), [India](/source/India)
*1899–1900: Osfontein, [Cape Province](/source/Cape_Province), South Africa<ref>{{cite journal |title=Gordon Highlanders' Football Match |journal=Dundee Evening Telegraph |date=12 April 1900 |page=4}}</ref>
*1912–13: [Cairo](/source/Cairo)
*1914–15: Aberdeen, with matches taking place at [Pittodrie](/source/Pittodrie)<ref>{{cite journal |title=The 3rd Gordon Highlanders |journal=Aberdeen Evening Express |date=19 June 1915 |page=1}}</ref>
*1927–28: [Trimulgherry](/source/Trimulgherry)<ref>{{cite journal |title=Inter-unit Tournament Final |journal=Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) |date=8 October 1927 |page=12}}</ref>
*1928–39: Aberdeen

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Defunct Scottish football clubs|state=collapsed}}

Gordon Highlanders
Gordon Highlanders
Category:Association football clubs established in 1884
Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 1939
Category:1884 establishments in Scotland
Category:1939 disestablishments in Scotland
Category:Football clubs in Glasgow
Category:Military football clubs in Scotland
Category:Association football in the British Army

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gordon Highlanders F.C.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Highlanders_F.C.) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Highlanders_F.C.?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.