Downfield (Scotland)

Downfield FC is a Scottish Junior non-league football club that was formed in 1904 who represent the Downfield area of Dundee. The team has competed in the Tayside Premier League for the majority of its history.

The club is nicknamed The Spiders, after Glasgow club Queen’s Park; also known by the same name donated a set of their thin black and white hooped shirts to the club.

Downfield accumulated many league titles and cups over the years; weighing in only behind Tayport in the honours table. The Tayside League title went on to be won in three consecutive seasons; 1987-88, 1988-89 and 1989-90 after finishing as runners-up two years running.

Downfield continued to go close in their quest for league honours, as they finished runners-up in the Tayside League in 1990-91, 1991-92, 1993-94 and 1995-96. The Junior FA restructured the league set up with ‘The Spiders’ becoming members of the East Region, North Division for the 2006-07 season; finishing third in their debut campaign.

The end of the 2017-18 saw a mass exodus of clubs leaving the Junior FA to join the East of Scotland Football League; which led to Downfield being placed in the SJFA East Superleague for 2018-19; finishing just above the relegation place.

The league was divided into two regional divisions for 2019-20 with Downfield being placed in the North section.

Downfield FC will play in the SJFA East Superleague North in the 2019-20 season.

My visit

Sunday 19^th January 2020

My Scottish Cup weekend was in its final day and I wanted to take in some Junior non-league venues around Dundee before heading to the match between Dundee United and Motherwell later in the day.

I’d already walked to Dundee Violet where I managed to get some reasonable photos despite Glenesk Park being locked. It was time to take a walk along King’s Cross Road and take the 1B bus from the Lundie Avenue stop.

My Daysaver bus ticket, purchased from the driver, would provide excellent value for £3.80 with Xplore Dundee running all the comprehensive services in the city. I alighted at the St Marys Road stop from where it was just a couple of minutes stroll to Downfield Park.

Again, the ground was locked, but the gates by the main buildings on Balgowan Avenue and behind one end on Balgowan Drive offered me ample views of a most tidy venue.

Like most Dundee football grounds, Downfield benefited from natural landscapes with grass banking enclosing the pitch behind a goal and down the far side. The Eric Clark Stand on the far side offered ample terraced cover.

The entrance of the ground had all the club buildings, social club and a gym. A lean to cover on the pitch side offered further shelter to spectators. The other goal consisted of flat open standing.

With photos taken I headed five minutes up the road to Balgowan Square where I took the number 18 bus to have a look at Dens Park in daylight and to grab a glimpse inside Tannadice Park as the TV crews set up for the afternoon game.