In early April I was in Glasgow to watch Queen’s Park play Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Scotland’s National Stadium – Hampden Park. I was on my own for a change and took the opportunity to have a wander around the football heritage in the neighbourhood.
My first stop was at Hampden Bowling Club. It now occupies the site of Queen’s Park’s first stadium, which they used between 1873 and 1883. The club had to move so that the Caledonian Railway could use part of it for a new line.
The mural commemorates the 1882 international match between Scotland and England, played on the ground. Yes, it was a comfortable victory for the home team.
The club moved a very short distance (about 100m) to what is now known as Cathkin Park. Queen’s Park remained at the second Hampden until 1903. It was then taken over by Third Lanark who used it until they went bust in 1967.
The stadium is still recognisable but nature has taken a firm grip. It is quite ghostly. The playing surface is used by a local football academy.
Queen’s Park built the current Hampden Park (capacity 100,000 in 1903) just over the hill and about 400m away. It still holds the attendance record for a European Cup final, with 127,000 turning up to see Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960.
I lived in that part of Glasgow for a few years when I was in my 30s and it holds many happy memories for me, so returning to take in a Queen’s Park game is always a pleasure.
Footballing heritage plays a big part in the story of Queen’s Park, and I suspect I will be returning to it…
©️iain taylor, 2024 🇪🇺🏴