Restoration Latest...

Pat & I have been working away at the old stadium all weekend. Managed to clear another 25 feet of the south side pitch wall and painted another 50 feet of this section. Really starting to look like a football ground again ! We then moved on to the west terracing, which is still in surpringly good condition. Last restored in 1948, we cleared away the leaves, rubbish and muck and got stuck into the dirty work of scraping away all the undergrowth and moss from the concrete terraces themselves and the first stairway. At the end of a back - breaking session we had completed this entire section. We then made a start on the crush barriers, repainting them in the scarlet of the glorious old Warriors ! Here's a few pics of what we have done so far in January...

January 2011 - Restoration Update

Happy New Year all. We have been working through the bad weather to restore the old place and despite sub zero conditions and a layer of snow and ice again this week, we have managed to get another 20 feet of the pitch wall on the South side of the ground cleared and prepped for painting. This week I have finally made a start on the long neglected West terracing, clearing the sides of the first 21 steps. Thanks to Vice Chairman Pat McGeady for bringing me life - saving coffee early Sunday morning !! More photos to come...

From the Slopes Of Cathkin To The Slopes Of Gallipoli

We have been doing some filming recently for the documentary we are making entitled 'FIELD OF DREAMS'' and took some shots during our walking tour of the History Of Third Lanark. This is the old Drill Hall in Coplaw Street. Built in 1884, they were partially funded by a tournament played at the 2nd Hampden Park(now Cathkin) between 3RD LANARK, COWLAIRS, QUEENS PARK & RANGERS FC. Each played 2 halves of 20 minutes, with Rangers running out the eventual winners.
The 3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers were eventually amalgamated into the Cameronians following the Haldane Military Reforms of 1908, becoming the 7th Terratorial Battalion of The Cameronians(Scottish Rifles). This proud history is commemorated above the entrance with this wonderful carving. A fitting tribute to the likes of Sgt.John Yuill Turnbull VC and 2nd Lieut. John Ferguson, killed at the Somme and whose body was never recovered. The Regiment served with honour in the murderous Gallipoli campaign. This is from The Hellfire Corner Website -"The 7th & 8th Battalions had arrived at Cape Helles

on the 14th june 1915 with 2200 Officers and men, but left on the 9th of January 1916 with a combined strength of 130."It seems that " the last remaining embers that were the 3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers were extinguished on the white-hot slopes of Gully Ravine on the 28th June 1915." (c) Ian Livingston.

If our campaign to return to Cathkin is successful, then it is our intention to build a War Memorial to all of those who served with the 3rd LRV and to remember their sacrifice from The Boer War onwards. Lest We Forget.

December 2010

Merry Christmas everyone from all of us at 3rd Lanark and thank you for all of your support in 2010. Will keep you all up to date with all our plans for the rebirth of the ground and photos of our projects as we go along. Here's a few snow shots of Cathkin recently and the official Club christmas card, taken from the 1959 design, by Pat McGeady(2010). See you in the New Year !

Despite the frozen conditions and heavy snow we have still managed to get along to the ground and continue the work clearing the muck from the pitch wall. Painting is out of the question whilst the weather is so bad, but bit by bit the wall is at last looking so much better. The half-painted pitch wall also now features on the cover of John Litsters new book on Third Lanark !

November 2010 Press

Many thanks to Gregor at the Southside Extra for this lovely piece. Every week we are getting more and more interest in our club and our plans for the redevelopment of the ground. I have been battling through the snow all weekend to clear more sections of the pitch wall, but painting is out of the question at present!! I have been doing a few fact finding missions lately checking out other Junior and amateur grounds in Glasgow and Edinburgh and it has been inspiring to see what can be done with simple grit and determination and a love of football, regardless of budget!! We have over 2000 signatures on the online petition and another 3000 on paper so it is building and building. Look out for some more 'Celebs In Shirts'
coming soon..!
We have also been featured in a couple of English football magazines this month, including
GROUNDTASTIC and have had real support and encouragement from Exeter City FC and Luton Town, as well as good luck messages from almost every football club in Britain. The interest in Third Lanark from football people still amazes me and I think will give us a real change to properly restart this grand old club and to fully renovate it's crumbling, forgotten old stadium.

ANDY GORAM SIGNS FOR THIRD LANARK!!!

Thirds director Pat McGeady recently met up with former Rangers and Scotland legend Andy Goram to discuss his father Lewis Goram's time at Cathkin. Andy was really supportive and keen to help out his dad's old team and happily posed in a retro 3rds jersey. "I would be delighted to help Third Lanark to gain control of their rightful home, Cathkin Park and would be pleased to help in any way I can.
Good luck to the Hi Hi."
Andy also pledged his support of the new Third Lanark Goalkeeping Academy which has been running at the Barlia Sports Centre in Castlemilk this season, under the tutelage of UEFA 'B' Licensed Coach, Jamie Kelly. The Academy is open to keepers from all clubs and is on every Wednesday at 7pm. If you would like to book a place or find out more info, please go to: http://www.thirdlanarkfc.co.uk/default.asp
where you can also follow the progress of our brilliant Under 14 side, under Head Coach Tony McNally, who are having a great season so far!!

October Update!!

Having spent the last few months removing the moss and weeds from the wall it's time to get it painted!! The weather has hampered things yet again but it's important to get the wall covered and protected from the effects of another Scottish winter. The old ground is coming back to life!