Clydebank Football Club are a football club from Clydebank in Scotland. The club was a member of the Scottish Football League from 1966 until 2002, playing their home games at New Kilbowie Park Clydebank (till 1996).

The club had previously been a Junior club but joined the Senior ranks in 1965, after one season in which the club had been taken over and merged by East Stirlingshire F.C. - playing as ES Clydebank F.C. in the Scottish Football League's Division Two. However East Stirling fans were unhappy with this and challenged the merger through the courts, a challenge in which they were successful, forcing the splitting of ES Clydebank back into the two original clubs. None the less, both retained their Senior status and East Stirling remained members of the Scottish Football League. Clydebank had to wait a year in the Combined Reserve League competing against Jordanhill Training College, Glasgow Transport, and the Third XI's of the Old Firm.

Between 1996 and 2002, Clydebank FC spent 6 years playing "home" games at Boghead Park (Dumbarton) followed by Cappielow Park (Greenock Morton). In 2002, following a period of administration, Clydebank FC were put up for sale by the administrators acting on behalf of the owners and creditors. Clydebank supporters backed by Mick Oliver raised a substantial 6-figure sum in a matter of days, and developed a business plan which would increase supporter engagement in the club and work towards returning the club to a football stadium of its own within the burgh of Clydebank. Unfortunately - fate made an unwelcome intervention. Airdrieonians FC went bankrupt in 2002 - owing over £6 million. From the ashes of their old club, a new Limited Company called "Airdrie United" was created - with the specific purpose of becoming a new member of the Scottish Football League. Airdrie United effectively outbid the Clydebank supporter-backed bid to purchase the club and - with Scottish Football League support - changed the name of the club to "Airdrie United" and relocated the club to the town of Airdrie. Clydebank FC no longer existed.

During the 2002-03 football season, a number of fans of the former Clydebank FC -United Clydebank Supporters (UCS)- met with the purpose of creating a new Clydebank FC team to support. Airdrie United Ltd agreed to voluntarily transfer their unwanted ownership of the name and insignia of Clydebank FC to the UCS group.

The UCS group re-established Clydebank Football Club in 2003 - entering the Central District League (Second Division) of the Scottish Junior Football Association. Since rejoining the Junior level the club has gained one promotion in the Central league Second Division in 2003-2004. In 2004-2005 Bankies were third in the Central League First Division, missing out on a second successive promotion by one point.

2005-06 has seen record crowds since the re-birth of the club, with up to 1150 watching Clydebank come within penalty kicks of reaching the last 4 of the Scottish Junior Cup - beaten after two 1-1 draws against Tayport. Clydebank fans took great heart in demonstrating that in just 3 short seasons, their club can compete against the very best non-league side in Scotland, and can also attract a support which easily rivals any achieved in the Scottish League Second or Third Divisions.

Clydebank achieved success in their 35 years as a Scottish League club, having 3 seasons in the Premier League. In reaching the Premier League, they became the first Scottish club to play in all three Scottish league divisions since league reconstruction in 1975. Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC and Livingston FC have since surpassed this achievement by playing in all four divisions since further league reconstruction. Clydebank also reached the Scottish Cup semi-final in 1990 while playing in the Scottish First Division.

They were also the first (and last) senior club of the Scottish international Davie Cooper, who went on to play for Rangers F.C. and Motherwell F.C..

The latest Bankie to feature for the Scottish international is Gary Teale, who also went on to play for Ayr United F.C. and Wigan Athletic F.C..

They currently play at Glenhead Park in the Duntocher area of Clydebank, which is the ground of Drumchapel Amateur F.C.. Whilst a senior club they played for most of their existence at Kilbowie Stadium closer to Clydebank town centre. They are currently exploring the possibility of building a new ground.

This club is actually the second Scottish League team to go by this name. The previous side were formed in 1914 and played in the Scottish League from 1914-15 season until disbanding in 1931.

Clydebank's history dates back to 1899.

External links

• Clydebank F.C. - official website
• Clydebank F.C. at footballcrests.com
• Demise of the Bankies - BBC News story from 2002 recounts the history of Clydebank F.C.

Scottish football clubs