Vale of Clyde (Scotland)

Vale of Clyde FC are a non-league Junior football club who are based in Glasgow's East End in the Tollcross area. The club has a rich heritage since its formation in 1873, with its most prominent era being around the late 1800's and the turn of the century.

'Tin Pail' lifted the prestigious Scottish Junior Cup in 1891, 1893 and 1904 along with being crowned champions of the Glasgow Junior Football League on four occasions between 1900 and 1920. To compliment this success Vale of Clyde also won the Glasgow Junior Cup four times around the same time.

Honours were thin on the ground at Fullarton Park for many decades until Vale lifted the Central League Cup in 1989-90. Success followed at the end of the next season by way of the Evening Times Cup. In 2004-05 the club were promoted as Central League Division One champions. However, this was tempered with a couple of subsequent relegations.

Vale of Clyde FC will play in the SJFA Central District Second Division in the 2013-14 season.


My visit

Monday 30th September 2013

I found myself in Glasgow's East End travelling past the towering Celtic Park on the train to Carmyle station after a mornings groundhopping work in Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. Not for the first time on my adventures I totally misread distances on a map, only this time I walked well past my destination.

I soon cut back down a lane from Tollcross Road and found myself outside the locked Fullarton Park. Despite my best efforts to gain access, including wading across wasteland, I admitted defeat but still got some decent enough shots of the fairly basic ground. Bellshill Athletic had been tenants in Tollcross since the 2011-12 season following their troubles with their previous owners.

Fullarton Park had a covered terrace on the far side across the half way line. A post and rail fence ran round the playing area. The near side had hard standing and a few portacabins which provided the changing rooms and club facilities. The rest of the arena consisted of open grass, with slight banking in places.

Having got the best photos I could I headed a mile or so north to neighbours Shettleston FC.