Renfrew (Scotland)

Renfrew FC is a football club from the former shipbuilding town of the same name, which is located on the south bank of the River Clyde around seven miles west of Glasgow. The club competes in junior, non-league football since its formation in 1912.

A previous club; Renfrew Victoria had represented the town until going bust in 1910. The new club took over their Western Park home. The club were crowned champions of Scottish Junior League Division One in 1914-15 and 1915-16.

‘The Frew’ reached the final of the Scottish Cup in 1916-17, three years after reaching the semi-finals. St Mirren Juniors denied their neighbours from lifting the trophy following a 1-0 win after a replay.

Several local honours were collected in cup competition before Renfrew were once again Junior Cup runners-up in 1961-62 after a 1-0 replay defeat to Kirkintilloch Rob Roy. The club won the Central League A Division title in 1969-70.

The club spent the next decade steadily progressing in the West of Scotland junior leagues to find themselves in the West of Scotland Premier Division. Consecutive relegations in the early 1990’s set Renfrew back.

However, the club and team regrouped and won immediate promotion from Division Two, before regaining their Premier Division place four years later, before they finally lifted the Junior Cup in 2000-01.

Renfrew claimed glory with 6-5 penalty win against Carnoustie Panmure after the game ended 0-0 after extra time at Partick’s Firhill Stadium. Skipper Neil Shearer was the hero by converting the winning spot kick.

A tenth place finish in 2001-02 saw the club placed in the West of Scotland Super League First Division after league restructuring. The following season saw Renfrew promoted to the Super League Premier Division.

After surviving a scrape with relegation, the team finished as league runners-up in 2005-06. Renfrew were relegated to the Super League First Division at the conclusion of the 2006-07 campaign.

A further demotion followed in 2013-14 to the Central League First Division. The club arranged affiliation to the Cherrie Youth Football Club as it looked to build its status in the community. Ladies and youth sides were added to the club.

In May 2014 Renfrew vacated Western Park, which was to be developed, and moved in as tenants at Johnstone Burgh’s Keanie Park home while a new ground was developed at Blythswood.

New Western Park opened with a Central League First Division match against Johnstone Burgh on August 8th 2015. Renfrew won the game 2-0 as Alain Kinney scored the first goal at the new stadium.

Renfrew FC will play in the SJFA West of Scotland Central League First Division in the 2017-18 season.

My visit

Thursday 18th May 2017

I’d arrived at Glasgow Airport on an EasyJet flight from Luton on a pleasant morning during the build up to the General Election. I was heading to the Premiership game between Partick Thistle and Celtic that evening, but first I wanted to see some new venues.

The 77 bus took me from the airport to the Glebe Street stop from where I walked ten minutes along Inchinnan Road past a pleasant park to where New Western Park came into view in front of a retail estate.

My luck was in as the venue was staging several school matches on its artificial pitch and the gates to the ground were open to allow me to take some discreet photos, while trying not to offend anyone.

New Western Park was ideal as a sustainable football ground for a community focussed club, with new changing rooms and a clubhouse behind the near goal. The far touchline had a covered seated stand straddling the half way line.

The rest of the venue was open flat standing with access for spectators available on all four sides. It may have lacked the character of the old venue, but all the youth sides connected to the club were based at one ground.

Once I’d had my proper look I walked back to the North Lodge Road stop, from where the number 23 bus dropped me at Burghead Place on the edge of Govan, so I could head to the home of St Anthony’s FC.