Queen’s Park Football Club and the Great War 1914 - 1918

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Queen’s Park Football Club and the Great War 1914 - 1918

This account aims to raise awareness and understanding in both

the club and wider community of the impact of the war on the club

and the 220 + members and players who enlisted for military

service, at least 32 of whom died. Their story has remained

virtually unknown until now.

Part One Queen’s Park Responds to War

Queen’s Park 1867 – 1914

On Tour in the Last Summer of Peace

The Call to Arms

Queen’s Park Answers the Call

Queen’s Park and the Scots Battalions

The Home Front

The Debate on Scottish Football

Charitable Work

Queen’s Park Teams and Performance

Written by

Fred Ellsworth

March 1st 2016

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Queen’s Park Responds to War

QPFC 1867 - 1914

Founded on July 9th 1867, Queen's Park Football Club is Scotland's oldest

senior club. In the Amateur era from 1873 to 1890, they enjoyed much success

on the field. Queen’s Park had reached the FA Cup Final twice and won the

Scottish Cup for the ninth time in 1890.

Queen's Park opposed the creation of a Scottish Football League in 1890,

anticipating that a formal league would make professionalism inevitable.

Despite their absence from the new league Queen’s Park won the Scottish cup

for a tenth time in 1893, beating Celtic 2-1 in a final replay at Ibrox Park.

However, finding it increasingly difficult to compile a meaningful fixture list,

Queen’s Park finally joined the League in May 1900.

During the period from 1896 to

1903, Queen's Park purchased the

12 acres of land in Mount Florida,

Glasgow, on which the club

erected the third and greatest

Hampden Park. The facilities

were opened on October 31st 1903

in a home league fixture against

Celtic.

Queen’s Park Season 1889 – 1890

Winners of Scottish Cup and Glasgow Cup Back Row (Left to Right) : J McTavish, J McAra

Middle Row (Left to Right) : W Arnott, R Smellie, G Gillespie,

A Stewart, W Gulliland, D.S. Allan

Front Row (Left to Right) : W Berry, W Sellar, D.C. Brown (President),

T Robertson, J Hamilton

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Hampden Park soon grew in popularity as a neutral venue for cup finals and

international matches, and prior to 1914 held its first crowd of over 100,000.

A new pavilion was built in 1914 in an innovative design that incorporated a

Pavilion within a Stand. When completed in December 1914 the Southern

Press described it as “possibly the most palatial club house in world football”.

Queen’s Park’s first eleven struggled to compete in the First Division of the

Scottish League between 1900 and 1914, with the club losing some of its best

players to professional clubs at the end of each season.

Despite such difficulties, Queen's Park did not stand still. The years between

1909 and 1913 saw a significant development of the club's three junior

elevens. The Strollers (2nd) X1 were to compete in the Glasgow Reserve XI

FA, Scottish 2nd XI FA and the Scottish Reserve League. The Hampden XI

(3rd team) were entered in the Scottish Amateur League, formed in 1909, and

the Victoria XI (4th team) joined the Scottish Football Union.

Queen's Park’s constitution and structure in 1914 was unique. The Club had

set a 350 limit to its membership of current and former amateur players, as

well as non-playing members, with committees having discretion “to admit

any additional applicants who are considered likely to strengthen the playing

element of the club”.

The amateur status of the club

was re-affirmed by the

stipulation that no person who

had been at any time a

professional player, coach or

manager in any form of sport

could either be admitted as a

member, or indeed retain

membership.

In 1914, as today, Queen’s Park was the only fully amateur club in the Scottish

Football League, its amateur status reflected in its Latin motto, "Ludere Causa

Ludendi" – to play for the sake of playing.

Hampden Park in the 1920s

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On Tour in the Last Summer of Peace

Following the end of season 1913 – 1914 Queen’s Park embarked on the club’s

5th continental tour, on this occasion to Denmark and Sweden. The tour party

consisted of 14 players, together with the team trainer, and 6 club officials. On

Thursday May 28th they were seen off from Queen Street by a large crowd of

fellow members and friends before setting sail from Leith.

Deck billiards, deck quoits

and a shovelboard

tournament were played on

board.

After an impromptu

concert “early to bed was

the order of the night and

early to rise and a cold sea

water bath the order of

Friday morning”.

According to the Evening Times the

voyage “was enjoyed most thoroughly by

as happy and brotherly a crowd of boys

as ever wore the world-famous colours of

the old club”.

The same correspondent reported that

Eddie Garvie, seen here sitting on deck with

the lifebelt round his neck, was at the centre

of most activities and “proved himself a

master of a number of wind instruments,

ranging from the bassoon to the flute, and

from the bagpipes to the trombone”.

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The first game, on Monday June 1st, was played in front of a crowd of 10,000

against a team selected from the best 4 clubs in Copenhagen. According to

some observers the select was comparable in strength to the Danish national

team.

The Queen’s team that day, in traditional formation, was Gordon Kerr ;

James West and Robert Young ; Eddie Garvie, Tom Haydock, and John

Roberts; Elijah Cresswell, James Walker, George. Cunningham, A. D.

McLaren, and Ralph Risk. The 3 other players on the tour were Andrew

McCrae, Maurice Wilson and W Kerr.

Queen’s Park were defeated 5-1 as a result of what the Evening Times

described as “wretched shooting by their forwards”.

On Tuesday June 2nd the team sailed on to Gothenburg and the following day,

in front of a crowd of 4,000, defeated Orgryte 2-0, with goals from Andrew

McCrae and Elijah Cresswell.

The tour party arrived back in Leith on

Sunday June 7th. Within two months Britain

was at war with Germany.

11 of the 14 players on tour that Summer

enlisted for service during the First World

War and are indicated with an * in the

group photograph above. Absent from the

photograph was Tom Haydock. Of the 11,

Eddie Garvie, Andrew McCrae and Tom

Haydock were to lose their lives.

Back Row from the left :

Councillor George Samson,

Ralph Risk *, Hugh Logan

(Joint Treasurer), Thomas

Robertson (President)

Middle Row from the left :

J Nutt (Trainer), A MacLean

(Joint Treasurer),

George Bruce Cunningham *,

Maurice Wilson *, James Walker *,

J S Strang (Secretary)

Front Row from the left :

Gordon Kerr, Eddie Garvie *,

Elijah Cresswell *, John Roberts *,

James West *, Andrew McCrae *,

J Fullarton (Club Official),

A D McLaren, Robert M Young *

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The Call to Arms

At the start of the war there were around

700,000 soldiers fit for service in the British

army – a number which included many

territorials and reservists. By modern day

standards this is a staggering figure. However,

by comparison with other major powers in

1914, Britain’s army was small.

Lord Kitchener, Secretary for War, was

entrusted with the task of rapidly expanding

the size of the British army. By the end of

December 1914 well over a million men had

joined up. So successful was his campaign that

it remained unnecessary to introduce

compulsory conscription before January 1916.

Many men saw it as their patriotic duty to fight for their country – even some

of those who came to believe that the war should be brought to an end. Others

joined for more mundane reasons, whether to escape unemployment and low

wages or to fulfil a sense of adventure and excitement in participating in a

war that “would be over by Christmas”.

Enlistment was encouraged by a relentless

propaganda campaign targeted at the conscience

of potential recruits, their families and their

employers

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Queen’s Park Answers the Call

Queen’s Park members and players were among the first to volunteer for

service. By the time Queen’s Park met Third Lanark on Saturday September

5th at Cathkin Park a dozen members and players had already enlisted. In this Evening Times cartoon the Queen’s Park player in the foreground is

Eddie Garvie, one of the club’s most prominent players who enlisted in the 5th

Battalion Cameron Highlanders.

A report on the match against Third Lanark stated “It was pleasing to observe

that the excellent response by the Queen’s Park boys to Lord Kitchener’s call

was not forgotten by the crowd. When Captain Garvie led his men afield the

enthusiasm of the spectators was most pronounced, and right throughout the

game there were outbursts which betokened appreciation better than words.”

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On December 21st 1914, the Evening Times reported that 71 Queen’s Park

members and players were now serving with His Majesty’s Forces, and in

doing so stated that “it is singularly appropriate that the oldest amateur club

now playing what is termed “first class” football, and the premier club of

Scotland, should show a record unequalled by any other club”.



Arthur F Murray *, Clyde Skene, James Strang (Secretary), Robert S McColl *,

James Thomson, Harold McDonald Paul *, James Bryce *


Harry Fletcher *, James Hamilton, R G Burnett, R Purcell, James Bennett *


A Richmond, A D Armour, James Allison (President), W McAndrew, James

Bowie

* Enlisted during the war with names in bold those who subsequently died

Other First XI Players who enlisted during the war : William P Brown , R J

Cameron, Claude Craigie, James Leckie, James McBean, Robert M Young,

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Maurice Wilson *, D G Drummond, James McBean *, F J Porter, T E Forsyth *,

James Anderson *, C B Miller (Secretary)


A Couper, William Walker *, J Clark, J Liddell (President),

Hector McKenzie (Captain) *, Alex Todd, Eddie Garvie *


Other First XI Players who enlisted during the war :

John Barbour, Claude Craigie, James Laughland, William McKenna,

Robert C McKenzie, John Monteith, Arthur F Murray, Harold McDonald Paul,

George Ramsay, J Robertson, Robert M Young

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J Hudson, Peter Purcell, Maurice Wilson *, William Walker *, J S Strang

(Secretary)


Andrew McCrae *, Colin Buchan *, Thomas Miller *, Gordon Kerr, Robert

Rhind *, Robert M Young *, Thomas Robertson (President)


Elijah Cresswell *, John Roberts *, Eddie Garvie *, Alex Todd, Robert M

Morton, Gordon Hoare *, Alan L Morton


Other First XI Players who enlisted during the war :

James B Bennett, Walter Coulter, George Bruce Cunningham, Alex Douglas,

T E Forsyth, Hector McKenzie, T Miller, Ralph Risk, James Walker, James

West

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On December 21st the Evening Times, in noting the number of Queen’s Park

players who had enlisted , suggested “that an eleven could be chosen from

the members now enlisted which would have little difficulty in beating the

eleven that played Heart of Midlothian last Saturday, viz. : M Cameron; J L

West and R M Young; E S Garvie, H McKenzie and J McKechnie; A B McCrae

and J Walker; C L Buchan; R Rhind and H M Paul., while another eleven

could be selected very little under the above in playing strength”.

The official opening of Queen’s Park’s new centre stand and pavilion

coincided with what was described as a “grand recruiting football match”,

played on the afternoon of Wednesday December 23rd 1914, between Queen’s

Park and a team representing the 17th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. The

Queen’s Park team included a number of players from Junior clubs and the

17th Battalion team included 3 Queen’s Park players.

The game was played in front of 2,000 spectators, with proceeds from the

match being donated to the 17th Battalion. The game was played in difficult

conditions as a result of a recent snowfall. According to the Glasgow Herald,

the first half was evenly contested but “after crossing over the Queen’s were

the more aggressive side.” Eddie Garvie scored twice in Queen’s eventual

3 – 2 victory.

The Evening Times correspondent reported that “Garvie was as irrepressible

as of yore, and it was quite apparent that he has not lost touch of the game

during his training at Aldershot.”

In the four years of the Great War, at least 216 Queen’s Park members and

players were on service at some time or another. Of that number, at least 31

were either killed or died from wounds sustained in action. Most were

players or former players but some were non-playing members.

In his book “Football's White Feathers”, John Litster concluded that

“The Scottish club most affected by the war was Queen’s Park - whose

amateur players volunteered for service in numbers unmatched by other

clubs. The club includes former players and non-playing members in

their roll of honour – naming 216 individuals who enlisted in the services

- but, even when they are excluded, the number of contemporary QP

footballers who joined the forces is formidable”.

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Queen’s Park and the Scots Battalions

In the course of the war more than 550,000 Scotsmen enlisted in the British

army. Whilst some enlisted in the Royal Engineers and Royal Artillery, they

mainly enlisted into a battalion of one of the 10 Scottish infantry regiments.

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Gordon Highlanders

Highland Light Infantry

King’s Own Scottish Borderers

Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders

Royal Highlanders (Black Watch)

Royal Scots

Royal Scots Fusiliers

Scottish Rifles (Cameronians)

Seaforth Highlanders

Regimental battalions were composed of 1,000 men, although actual fighting

strength in time of war was often somewhere between 500 and 800.

4 Battalions, generally from different regiments, were then grouped together

in Brigades and 3 Brigades were then grouped into Divisions of nominally

12,000 men. Thus, in most Divisions the 12 Battalions were drawn from

different regiments and different parts of the UK. However, there were some

Divisions where the Battalions were drawn from one broad geographical area.

e.g.

• 51st (Highland) Division

• 52nd (Lowland Division)

• 9th (Scottish) Division

• 15th (Scottish) Division

A battalion commander usually carried the rank of Major or the more senior

Lieutenant Colonel. Below them in rank were Lieutenants or the more senior

Captains, each commanding battalion companies of up to 250 men.

Almost 40 Queen’s Park members and players

enlisted into battalions of 3 of the 4 infantry

regiments which recruited extensively in West

Central Scotland – the Argyll and Sutherland

Highlanders, the Scottish Rifles and the Royal

Scots Fusiliers.

However, 50 Queen’s Park men enlisted in the

Highland Light Infantry alone. This regiment

drew its recruits mainly from the Greater

Glasgow area. The 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th Territorial

Battalions were all recruited in Glasgow itself,

as were the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th “New

Army” Battalions.

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The 9th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry

were commonly known as the “Glasgow

Highlanders”. At least 29 Queen’s Park

members and players initially enlisted in this

battalion at Greendyke Street, Glasgow Green.

The battalion motto was “Motto Nemo Me

Impune Lacessit” (No One Assails Me With

Impunity).

As part of the 2nd Division the battalion fought

at the Battle of Loos in 1915. Transferred to the

33rd Division, the battalion was engaged in

most of the major battles fought on the Western

Front between 1916 and 1918.

Queen’s Park Members and Players *

who originally enlisted in the 9th Battalion Highland Light Infantry

Sergeant Arthur C Baillie

Lieutenant James Baillie *

Lance Corporal John Barbour *

Major Frank Beattie

Sergeant James Bennett *

Private John Brady

Private David F Cameron *

Private MacDonald Cameron *

L/Corporal Donald Campbell

Captain Walter Coulter MC *

Private Alex Douglas *

Private Walter Frier

Captain Alex Gordon *

Private George Lean

Lieutenant Andrew Leslie *

Corporal Robert McBean *

Private James McBeath

Private John McKechnie *

Captain Peter Moodie DSO *

Sergeant Robert Rhind *

Private John Robertson Jnr *

Captain Walter P Scott *

Private David Sorley

Lieutenant William Steele

Private John Stevenson *

Private James Walker *

Sergeant Thomas Walker

2nd Lieutenant James West *

Private Robert Young *

Killed or Died of Wounds

David Cameron

39 First XI appearances at

half back 1914 – 1920.

Robert Rhind

17 First XI appearances at

inside forward 1913 – 1914.

Robert Young

157 First XI appearances at full back

1906 – 1920. Enlisting in the

Highland Light Infantry he was later

commissioned as an officer in the

Scottish Rifles.

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Inter battalion sporting competition does not seem to have become a common

feature of military life until late 1916. Thereafter, during periods when

withdrawn from the front lines in Belgium and France, the Glasgow

Highlanders engaged in sporting competition against other battalions. The

battalion established an enviable reputation, with no defeats recorded in

either cricket, rugby or football. Although no team lists have survived, it is

inconceivable that Queen’s Park players were not involved.

Football Record of 9th Battalion Highland Light Infantry

November 22nd 1916

November 26th 1916

November 29th 1916

December 2nd 1916

August 11th 1917

January 1st 1918

January 2nd 1918

February 4th 1918

February 11th 1918

September 7th 1918

December 17th 1918

Defeated 1st Battalion Queen’s 5 – 0 in Brigade Semi – Final

Defeated 16th Battalion King’s Royal Rifles 2 – 0 in Brigade Final

Defeated 20th Battalion Royal Fusiliers 3 – 0 in 33rd Division Semi -

Final

Defeated 2nd Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 3 – 1 in 33rd

Division Final

Defeated 17th Battalion Highland Light Infantry 4 – 0

Defeated 18th Battalion HLI, 35th Division Champions, 2 – 0

Defeated 2nd Battalion Worcester Regiment 10 - 1

Defeated 20th Battalion Royal Fusiliers 5 – 0 in 33rd Division Semi -

Final

Retained the 33rd Division Championship by defeating the 4th

Battalion King’s Liverpool Regiment 7 – 0

Defeated 5th Battalion Scottish Rifles 6 – 0

Defeated 16th Battalion King’s Royal Rifles Regiment 8 - 0

Glasgow Highlanders at rugby

practice in August 1917 at Ghyvelde

in France.

On August 14th they defeated the 16th

Battalion King’s Royal Rifles 16 – 5

and on September 5th the 2nd Battalion

Royal Welsh Fusiliers 10 –3. “Glasgow Highlander” of the 9th

Battalion Highland Light Infantry

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The 15th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, known as “The Boozy First

Glasgow”, was composed of men from the Glasgow Corporation Tramways

Department.

The 16th Battalion was

composed of men from the

Boys Brigade. Known as the

“Holy Second Glasgow”,

they are seen here parading

in George Square in

September 1914.

Amongst those who served were James Alexander, a committee member and

former Treasurer, and MacDonald Cameron, goalkeeper with the Strollers X1

who represented Scotland in “army” internationals.

The 17th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry was raised by Glasgow Chamber

of Commerce. They were known as the “Saintly Third Glasgow” or

“Featherbeds” due to their alleged superior living quarters whilst in training.

As well as from the city’s

coercial sector many of the

recruits were students at

Glasgow Royal Technical

College, now part of Strathclyde

University, seen here holding a

final meeting before leaving for

military training.

Amongst those who served in the 17th Battalion were

James Anderson, William Brown, Harry Nairn Robertson

and John Roberts who made 79 First XI appearances at

half back for Queen’s Park between 1913 and 1920.

Enlisting in the Highland Light Infantry he was awarded

a Military Medal for gallantry before being commissioned

as a Lieutenant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

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The Home Front

The Debate on Scottish Football

When war broke out there were some who questioned whether it was

appropriate that competitive sport should continue. At a meeting on August

11th 1, the SFA discussed the matter and three days later, the Glasgow Herald

reported that “like the Rugby authorities, the Scottish Football Association

were of the opinion that there was nothing to be gained by vetoing football,

just now at any rate, it being felt that an excitable public would find an outlet

for its feelings by participating in the mimic warfare of the football field”.

By the end of August there appeared to be growing support for a complete

stoppage to football competition. St Johnstone wrote to the SFA proposing

that “the game should now meantime be discontinued”. By contrast, a

prominent MP declared that “for Heaven’s sake, keep your sport going. We

want something to distract the attention of people from the war”.

The War Office recognised the damage that a complete shutdown of football

would cause to clubs and saw the potential of football as a means of raising

money from both clubs and supporters for war charities. At the same time it

realized that professional footballers exempting themselves from enlistment

might well lead to public resentment. Indeed, in some newspapers

accusations of cowardice were already being made against footballers

perceived to be reluctant to sign up.

It was in this atmosphere that some football clubs took the initiative in

supporting the enlistment of players into the armed forces. In Glasgow, as we

have seen, Queen’s Park were at the forefront of this development, with 71

members and players having enlisted by the middle of December 1914.

In Edinburgh the 15th Battalion (1st Edinburgh), Royal Scots was formed by

Robert Cranston, a prominent city businessman and former Lord Provost.

The 16th Battalion (2nd Edinburgh), Royal Scots was formed by Sir George

McCrae, also a prominent businessman and former Member of Parliament.

The Heart of Midlothian team of 1914

won their first 8 games of the 1914 –

1915 season. In November 13 players

enlisted in McCrae’s Battalion. After

signing their papers in the Tynecastle

boardroom, 10 of the players donned

their strips and posed outside the main

stand. As the cameraman prepared to

take this photograph, the club cat

crossed in front of the players and

was grabbed by Annan Ness.

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Whilst the players were still in army training Hearts continued to dominate

Scottish football. On October 24th Queen’s Park had earned a draw at

Tynecastle, the only team to have done so. On December 21st the Scotsman

reported on the return fixture :

Inspired by the lead taken by players from Queen’s

Park and Hearts, others followed, including players

from Raith Rovers and Falkirk - and in doing so

forestalled a movement in Parliament aimed at

formally suspending professional football in Britain.

McCrae’s Battalion in turn encouraged the formation

of similar battalions composed of professional

footballers and sportsmen in England.

By the end of 1914 it was formally agreed that league football could continue,

with the SFA being required to send letters to all clubs urging them to take

every step in their power to encourage recruitment. League football in

Scotland carried on as before throughout season 1914 - 1915 although the

Second Division programme was suspended at the end of the season.

The Scottish League laid down stringent conditions for professional

footballers. The maximum wage was £1 per week for the playing season only,

with a deferred payment of a further £1 a week payable at the end of the

season if the club’s profit was sufficient to finance it. Players had to be in

other employment and clubs were forbidden to pay compensation to a player

for time lost at work through injury sustained while playing football.

At a meeting of the four home football associations in December 1914, it was

decided, in deference to public opinion, that no internationals or national cup

competitions should be held. The Scottish Qualifying Cup competition had

already taken place but the Scottish Cup was abandoned.

“Hearts did not take kindly to the draw at Tynecastle on 24th October,

and in the second meeting took full revenge….It was a well-merited lead

of two goals with which the Hearts opened the second half, and it looked

like being increased when Gracie immediately made for Kerr on resuming.

It was Graham, however, who had the credit of further increasing his

side’s total, and then Wilson added a fourth.

Kerr, who had done well for the Queen’s in goal, overreached himself in a

great attempt to save Wilson’s curling shot and, after he had been carried

off, one of the Hampden backs J.G. Wilson was ordered to the pavilion.

Well beaten as the Queen’s were, they had shown good form at times, and

in the first half especially stood up pluckily to the League leaders.”

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Charitable Work

Immediately after war was declared, there were appeals for donations to

various war charities. The most prominent of these was the Prince of Wales’

National Relief Fund, inaugurated on August 8th 1914.

On Tuesday August 11th 2014 the Scottish Football

Association agreed to donate £1,000 to the National

Relief Fund. Two days later, the Evening Times

reported, “One of the most noteworthy

subscriptions to the War Relief Fund is that of the

Queen’s Park Football Club. Scotland’s premier club

has always been noted for its extreme patriotism,

and now, after giving men to the forces, they have

sent the handsome donation of £250 to the fund”.

The club also made a substantial donation of £150 to the

Belgian Relief Fund and continued to raise funds for a

range of charities throughout the war.

On May 19th 1917, there was a 40,000 crowd at Hampden

Park for the Glasgow Merchants’ Charity Cup Final

between Queen’s Park and Celtic and the sum of £1,000

was raised for Glasgow charities. In April 1918, Queen’s

Park and Ayr United played a benefit match at

Hampden Park in aid of Ayr County Hospital.

Queen’s Park continued to support charitable causes after the war ended. On

January 31st 1919, a preview of the following day’s match against St Mirren

stated, that “a collection is to be taken during the interval for the upkeep of

the “Queen’s Park – St Mirren” bed in the Paisley Barshaw House War

Hospital. It will be recalled that the Hampden and Paisley teams played a

benefit match to form the nucleus of a fund for the purpose.”

Queen’s Park’s benevolence was also seen closer to home. The club made

every effort to keep in touch with members who had volunteered and

arrangements were made to send newspapers, magazines and cigarettes to

the front. On January 25th 1918, the Southern Press reported that “The

amateurs’ annual smoker in the Grand Hotel on Saturday was a brilliant

success, and their boys on active service will each receive a little reminder that

the grand old club is still carrying on and going strong.” Pin it Lik

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/27373510210388538/

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Queen’s Park Teams and Performance

Queen’s Park players began to enlist within days of the outbreak of war. On

Saturday September 19th 1914, the Evening Times reported that “if Queen’s

Park are depleted much further, they will have some difficulty in putting one

team on the field, much less four”.

Early in season 1914 – 1915 the decision was taken to suspend the fixture list

of the club’s two junior sides, the Hampden XI, and the Victoria XI. On

December 21st 1914 the Evening Times reported that 23 Queen’s Park players

that had played in the league side either in the current season or in the

previous season were now serving with His Majesty’s Forces. By January

1915, the Queen’s Park goalkeeper and captain Gordon Kerr was, at 23 years

of age, two years older than anyone else in the team.

The contribution made by Queen’s Park to the war effort was widely

recognised. The Southern Press report on the Falkirk versus Queen’s Park

match on Saturday February 13th 1915 stated that “there was a remarkably

large turnout of men in khaki, and the field had quite a military appearance.

Queen’s Park had a most flattering reception, and as the play proceeded the

enthusiasm of the men in uniform knew no bounds. It is seldom that a visiting

team gets such a warm reception. Those in khaki did not forget that Queen’s

Park have at least three teams doing duty in another field, and every

encouragement was given to the youthful eleven who were representing the

Hampden club on Saturday”.

In that first season of the war 49 different players appeared for the first XI and

in some weeks it came down to fielding whichever eleven men were available

on the day. Inevitably, the drain on the club’s playing resources had an effect

on performances on the field, with only four wins and five draws.

Matters improved somewhat in the following season and, on Saturday May

5th 1916, the Southern Press reported that “Queen’s Park brought their League

engagements to a close on Saturday afternoon. A club which gives nearly 100

of its members and players to a more worthy campaign and can still hold its

own on the football field is entitled to congratulations, which no one will

withhold from Queen’s Park, who have gained 28 points as compared with 13

last season, and risen two places on the League table”.

Whilst Queen’s Park continued to function on and off the field at home in

Glasgow the war itself cast an increasingly dark shadow. From Belgium,

France, Greece, Turkey and the Middle East news increasingly came of those

members, players and supporters killed, wounded or missing.

Queen’s Park Football Club and the Great War 1914 - 1918

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Transcript of Queen’s Park Football Club and the Great War 1914 - 1918