Hamilton Academical (Scotland)

Hamilton Academical FC is a Scottish professional football club from the town of Hamilton, Lanarkshire around fifteen miles south of Glasgow who were formed in 1874 by the Rector and pupils of Hamilton Academy school. They gained admission into the Scottish League to replace Renton in 1897.

The club moved into Douglas Park in 1888 prior to winning the Division Two title in 1903-04, before 'The Accies' were admitted into the First Division for the 1906-07 season. The team struggled towards the bottom end of the table but reached the 1910-11 Scottish Cup final, going down 2-0 after a replay.

There was an improvement in league placings for a short period afterwards under manager Alex Raisbeck before the league was expanded. Willie McAndrew was appointed as team boss in 1925 for what would be a spell of twenty-one years.

McAndrew maintained a period of mid table security before a fourth place finish in 1934-35, as well as reaching the final of the Scottish Cup, where Accies lost 2-1 to Rangers with Robert Harrison scoring the consolation goal.

Hamilton’s top flight spell ended in 1947-48 after Jimmy McStay had taken over as manager. A runners-up spot in League Division B took the club back up in 1952-53 under the managership of Andrew Wylie before he was replaced a few months later by former player Jackie Cox.

However, the rise proved too much as Accies dropped back down to the second tier twelve months later. The team narrowly missed out on promotion the following season before a succession of finishes around the middle of the table.

Andy Paton came in as manager and oversaw an improvement before a runners-up place in 1964-65 was enough to win promotion. Again, the team lasted just one season in Division One before Accies finished bottom of Division Two in 1969-70.

Managers came and went, including former Celtic Lisbon Lion Ronnie Simpson for the  1971-72 campaign as Accies became the first British club to recruit players from behind the Iron Curtain when three Polish players signed, gaining the club much publicity.

Eric Smith came in as boss who oversaw a change in fortune taking his side from the lower reaches to third place in 1973-74 prior to securing second tier First Division status after league restructuring.

Davie McParland arrived as manager at Douglas Park in 1978 prior to short spells from John Blackley and Bertie Auld before the appointment of John Lambie in 1984 who took the team to the 1985-86 First Division title before being relegated from the Premier Division just a year later.

Lambie led the side to the First Division title again in 1987-88 before he headed to Partick Thistle to be replaced by Jim Dempsey. Again, Hamilton went straight back down before Lambie returned for another season at the helm prior to Billy McLaren’s appointment.

His team won the Scottish Challenge Cup in 1991-92 with a Colin Harris goal was enough to see off Ayr United. Iain Munro came in as manager in 1992, as Accies retained the Challenge Cup with a 3-2 win against Morton as Chris Hillcoat and a Gary Clark brace saw the team home.

Munro remained in situ until the end of the 1995-96 season when Accies were relegated at a difficult time for the club as they had also departed Douglas Park in 1994 which was requiring maintenance to initially share Firhill Stadium in the north of Glasgow.

Sandy Clark took over as manager as the club moved to share Cliftonhill with Albion Rovers in 1997 after a Second Division runners-up place secured an immediate return to the second level. Player-manager Colin Miller failed to keep his charges up in 1998-99 before he was replaced by Ally Dawson.

Worse was to come for Accies as they went down further in 1999-00. However, it was double celebration at the end of the 2000-01 campaign as the team were crowned as Third Division and the club moved into New Douglas Park, a few hundred yards from their old home.

Attendances increased dramatically as former player Hillcoat had a season in charge of the team before being replaced by Allan Maitland who took Accies to promotion as Division Two runners-up in 2003-04. Former Hamilton player Billy Reid came in as manager in 2005.

Accies lost out 2-1 to St Mirren in the 2005-06 Challenge Cup final while Richard Offiong put away the goals as the team stabilised in the First Division as the club gradually developed their own talent leading to the winning of the title in 2007-08 as the artificial pitch at New Douglas Park was replaced for a time.

This time Accies maintained their top flight status with Alex Neil playing a huge part at centre back until the side. The youth system was paying dividends, but its brightest stars James McArthur and James McCarthy were sold off leading to relegation in 2010-11.

Accies reached another Challenge Cup final in 2011-12, going down 1-0 to Falkirk. Neil was promoted to player-manager as Reid headed off to take the assistant job at Östersund in 2013, before Accies finished the 2013-14 in a play-off position as Anthony Andreu, James Keatings and Mickaël Antoine-Curier scored regularly.

Falkirk were defeated in the semi-finals before Premiership side Hibernian were defeated on penalties in a dramatic second leg at Easter Road. Hamilton were promoted, with Hibs going the other way.

Neil headed to Norwich City in January 2015 as his former centre back partner Martin Canning replacing him as Ali Crawford impressed in midfield. Michael Devlin skippered the side in 2016-17 as Accies found themselves in the relegation play-offs where a Martin Docherty goal was enough to see off Dundee United over two legs.

Dougie Imrie took over the armband with Hamilton narrowly avoiding the drop in 2017-18 which was repeated the following season after Brian Rice had taken over as manager after the mid-season break.

Accies were second from bottom when the 2019-20 season was abandoned owing to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Hamilton Academical FC will play in the Scottish Premiership in the 2020-21 season.

My visit

Hamilton Academical 0 Kilmarnock 0 (Tuesday 26 January 2010) Scottish Premier League (att: 2,018)

I left my very comfy accommodation at the Newton Hotel on Bath Street in the heart of Glasgow’s nightlife to go and watch the evening match between Accies and Killie. The weather wasn’t too bad which was a relief as the make up of New Douglas Park had me concerned regarding cold winds.

The train from the Lower Level of Glasgow Central had me passing the huge continental floodlights of the stadium within twenty minutes. There were other fans on board so I followed them along the purpose built path along the side of the track to find myself outside the Main Stand. I decided to go straight inside as there were no bars or clubhouse to be seen. I opted for a Main Stand seat for £22.

New Douglas Park largely consisted of two stands whose seating decks are raised which offers a decent view. The Main Stand runs down the side of the pitch, with the North Stand which normally houses away fans behind a goal. 

There was nothing behind the other goal on my visit apart from some high advertising boards. there is room for another stand if the money is found to build it. On the far side a temporary stand complete with pillars and red seats sits either side of the half way line. It was the type of structure normally found on a golf course with a roof added.

I came to the conclusion that the high fences behind the unused goal were as an act of mercy to any locals who were desperate enough to watch the fare on offer. It was pretty desperate, but as the Accies boss Billy Reid pointed out to some home fans who showed dissent at full time, the club are rather hamstrung with the size and experience of their squad because of low crowds and a lack of general income.

The fans did have a point though. I’m glad I had my radio with me to keep up with the other games that evening to give me some form of entertainment. The game ended 0-0 in front of a paltry gate of 2,018. The standard was frankly awful. Ex Scarborough loanee, David Elebert was one of those trying but failing. 

Stuart Elliott who was unable to compete in the English Championship owing to illness stood out. The pies and Bovril were top class and kept me going until I got back into Glasgow, where I enjoyed a terrific couple of hours sampling the hospitable and vibrant bars, while warming up!