Glasgow's 'Other' Sports Teams

Football is the lifeblood that runs through the city and aside from Celtic and Rangers, there are other football teams steeped in as much history. One such club is from the Maryhill area, Partick Thistle. Formed in 1876, the ‘Jags' as they are otherwise known, play their fixtures at the Firhill Arena in Scotland's First Division. Although not as successful as their rivals, they won the Scottish Cup in 1921 and the League Cup in 1972 with a famous 4-1 victory over Celtic. Many internationalists have donned the red and yellow of Partick including Scottish World Cup goalkeeper Alan Rough and former Liverpool captain Alan Hansen.

Playing on the other side of Glasgow is Scotland's oldest football club, Queens Park. Established in 1867, the Spiders are senior football's only amateur team and their motto is ‘Ludere Causa Ludendi' - for the sake of playing. Competing in Scotland's Third Division, they play their home games at the national stadium, Hampden Park. Queens Park also holds the distinction of being the only Scottish team to play in England's FA cup losing in the final twice.

Aside from football, rugby is of major sporting interest in Glasgow and the biggest team is the Glasgow Warriors. Formed as part of a massive overhaul of Scottish rugby, they play their home games at the Firhill Arena in the Magners Celtic League against sides from Ireland and Wales. The Glasgow Warriors also regularly compete against top European sides in the Heineken Cup, with limited success however. Current Scottish national team captain, Chris Cusiter, plays for the Warriors and past players include former Scotland internationals, Kenny Logan and Euan Murray.

Glasgow is also home to two of Scotland's oldest cricket teams. Firstly, Clydesdale Cricket Club, located in the south side of Glasgow, was formed in 1848 and is the third oldest in Scotland. It has a history of Scottish internationalists, including current member JG Williamson, who holds 153 caps for his country. Their ground at Titwood is Scotland's national facility for the sport. Across the city is the other, West of Scotland Cricket Club, which was established in 1862. Home to three senior level teams, the WOS side play their home ties at the Hamilton Crescent ground. This, however, is perhaps more famous as hosting the first ever Scotland versus England football match in 1872 which finished nil all. Ex-Scotland cricket captain, Craig Wright, is a product of the West's youth system.

The Glasgow Rocks basketball team is Scotland's only professional team and currently compete in the British Basketball League. Formed in 1998, originally in Edinburgh, the team became officially tied to Glasgow in 2008. Playing their fixtures out of the Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena, the Rocks were finalists in the British Basketball League playoffs in 2006/7 and also reached the final of the British Cup in 2007. They have a mix of British and American talent with three Scottish players in their ranks. Their tallest player is Randall Hanke at 6ft 11in.

Ice Hockey is a sport that has been played in Glasgow since the years after World War II. Glasgow was once a hotbed of ice hockey talent, with the Paisley Pirates being one of the top teams in the country. The Pirates were formed in 1946 and are one of Scotland's oldest teams. Playing their home matches at the 4,000-seat Braehead Arena, they currently play in the Scottish National Ice Hockey League, winning the prestigious Spring Cup in the 2006/7 season.

Speedway, a sport originating from Australia in the 1920's, consists of motorbikes with no brakes racing round an oval track and is competed widely throughout the world. The Glasgow Tigers, established in 1946, race in the British Premier League. Their most successful period came in 1993/94 when they completed the ‘double double', winning both the Premier League and the Knockout Cup two years consecutively. Made up of mainly Australian riders, their home track is at Saracen Park in the north of the city.

Read more Glasgow hostel news

< Return to news