Burntisland
Shipyard FC is a Scottish non-league football club from the town of
Burntisland, located on the north banks of the Firth of Forth. The club was
formed in April 1919 from the proceeds to the Burntisland Shipbuilding
Company's recreation fund.
The fund
also set up sections for cricket and bowls as well as two football teams. The
juvenile side continued alone playing in the local Fife leagues until the
formation of Burntisland Shipyard Amateur FC in 1925 to compete in the Lothian Amateur
League.
The club
first competed in the qualifying rounds of the Scottish Cup in 1929. In 1935-36
Shipyard reached the first round; going out to Dumbarton after a replay. In 1938-39
the same stage was reached for a visit of Celtic which ended in an 8-3 defeat
in front of 2,000 spectators.
A switch to
the Kirkcaldy and District Amateur League was made in 1959; where they were
champions in 1965-66. The Burntisland Shipbuilding Company went into
liquidation in 1969, with only the dedication of the committee saving the football
club.
In 1971-72
Burntisland defeated Coldstream in the Cup before going down to Elgin City in
the second round. The achievement was rewarded with a civic reception. 1977-78
saw another appearance; this time ending in defeat at home to Berwick Rangers.
Former captain
Jim Thomson managed the side that picked up cup triumphs and created a strong
team. Another appearance in the proper rounds of the Scottish Cup was achieved
in 1995-86; ending in defeat in round three to Huntly.
However, the
previous round victory over St Cuthberts Wanderers created unprecedented media
interest. Rabbie Matthew bagged a hat-trick in the 6-2 win in front of 750
fans. BBC coverage of the game can be viewed here.
Shipyard
became members of the Kingdom Caledonian Football League in 1999-00; where
Burntisland remained until the completion of the 2011-12 campaign. In 2006 a
new clubhouse was built at Recreation Park.
From the
2007-08 season the Cup was reorganised, with all SFA members entering from the
first round stage. After defeating Wigtown and Bladnoch on the road,
'Shippy' went down to Albion Rovers at Cliftonhill Stadium.
Burntisland
Shipyard became members of the East of Scotland Football League from 2011-12
competing in the second tier First Division before joining the extended single
division in 2015-16. From the following season onwards, the club was required
to compete in preliminary rounds of the Scottish Cup.
The side
generally finished in the lower reaches of the league table. In 2018-19
Shipyard were placed in the league’s Conference B; one of three equal divisions
in the sixth level of Scottish football, as further restructuring took place.
The same
campaign saw the team battle through a couple of preliminary ties to reach the
first round of the Cup before bowing out at home to Cumbernauld Colts. Further
league restructuring saw Shipyard placed in the second tier of the East of
Scotland Football League for 2019-20; the seventh level of the league pyramid.
Burntisland
Shipyard FC will play in the East of Scotland Football League First Division
Conference A in the 2019-20 season.
My visit
Friday 24th
January 2020
My first day
around Fife looking to visit football venues was underway at last after a rickety
start. My very sociable evening around Edinburgh had taken its toll after I
woke up in the excellent Frederick House Hotel.
In the nick
of time I sorted myself out and managed to catch the X60 bus towards Kirkcaldy
from Princes Street. I’d purchased the Fife Dayrider Plus ticket for £11:50 and
was enjoying my first view of the Forth Bridge while keeping an eye on Google
Maps.
I needed to
get out at the Ferrytoll Park & Ride just across the road bridge. I grabbed
my gear and told the driver, who confirmed that it was the next stop. As it
happened there was no chance of me missing it, as it was a bus terminal.
Chuffed with
myself I got off to await the next bus that would take me to Inverkeithing so
that I could visit the ground of the Hill Swifts club in the town. It was only
when the X60 pulled away that I realised that I’d left my ticket on my seat.
Retiring to
the waiting room to lick my wounds, I found out that a replacement would set me
back another £9.30. That would teach me. With my impending service due I headed
outside with two vehicles pulling in; both marked for Dunfermline.
The first
one, the 87 service, didn’t hang about as it had nobody getting off; only for
me to realise that was the one I needed. The second bus couldn’t oblige. Fortunately,
another service was due ten minutes later, but it meant that I wouldn’t have
time for my first ground of the day.
Alighting at
Square in Inverkeithing I awaited the number 7 bus. It would be a service that
fed my needs for the next few hours. A pleasant ride along the shore took me
through Dalgety Bay and Aberdour before Burntisland.
The Kirkton
Graveyard stop on Church Street was a just a short stroll from Recreation Park.
I took photos of the ground by peering over the fence on Glebe Place, Kerr
Court and from the playing field behind one end.
It was a
neat and tidy venue with the main structures all behind the west goal, including
the changing rooms and 1919 Bar. A new covered terraced enclosure was in place
on the Kerr Court side. The hills on the north side of the ground offered a
pretty backdrop.
Burntisland was a club who I had been aware of for many years because they had featured on the fixture list and results on Grandstand as I grew up through their fleeting Scottish Cup appearances, so I was glad to have a look at where they played.
Once satisfied
with my photos I had time to kill before the next 7 bus was due. Instead of
loitering I took a walk. The locals seemed a friendly bunch. It always leaves a
good impression of somewhere when people say hello or good morning. It’s not
the norm in London!
The walk
downhill took me to High Street, and the Allan Court stop in readiness for the
number 7 to Kirkcaldy and a chance to have a look at the home of Raith Rovers.
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