Queens Park FC v Third Lanark - September 2011

Ladies & Gentlemen, we have some rather exciting news ! Third Lanark First XI will be playing our illustrious neighbours Queens Park FC in September 2011. The two oldest and most famous Amateur football teams in the world will clash at Lesser Hampden in a fixture that we hope will become an annual early season fixture following our previously successful Challenge Matches over the past 130 years. Our first major tournament finals encounter was in Season 1875/76 in the Scottish FA Cup, when a replay was needed to separate the teams. Queens were the victors in the replay, following a 1-1 draw. Challenge Matches between the Spiders and various 3rd Lanark RV select sides have taken place regularly since the Club went out of business in 1967 and every one of these has greatly helped keep both the name alive and the local interest in both clubs bubbling along. As many of you will remember our Committee Members Matt Curry & Pat McGeady were behind the "40th anniversary of Third Lanark's demise "match at Cathkin in 2007.Well, this is the long-awaited return..! In fact, Thirds owe their very existence to QPFC as the majority of our soldier founders and their Officers were present at the 1872 Scotland v England International match which prompted the founding of our football club in December of that year. We have had some memorable tussles with the Club since our inception and took over their 2nd Hampden Park in 1902/1903, a ground known nowadays as Cathkin Park. We will post the date & time as soon as we have it confirmed and hope to see you all at Lesser Hampden for a very special evening. Following the success of our cup match with St Bernards, there really does seem to be a resurgence in interest in Scotland's footballing origins and the founding of our modern game. We had a great turn out in Edinburgh for that one and would hope to attract as many real Scottish football fans as we can down to this unique annual fixture.We will be playing for a trophy named after Cathkin Park 1884-1903, our mutual home ground. In September of 2011 both sides will contest the 'Old Hampden Cup'. We are looking for companies and individuals to become sponsors of this match, both in the match programme,new website(going live at the end of August!!)and pitchside advertising banners,so please get in touch,if interested. This promises to be a memorable event, so stay tuned!

Sponsorship

The new season is almost upon us and we have three teams primed and ready to begin league and cup business from this Tuesday coming. The Third Lanark Diaspora tradition continues with our teams being scattered around the regions due to the 'unavailability' of our beloved Cathkin Park. We will have teams based in Cambuslang. Netherpollock & East Renfrewshire with training at Toryglen, Knightswood & The Queens Park Recreation Ground whilst the fight to win back our home continues. We have some new people involved in the Club on The Committee and some really special events coming up. We have a wonderful new website going live this month,c/o Mark Downie and are looking for businesses and individuals to sponsor this. We have secured a Shirt Sponsor already(details to come!) but this website is going to be really busy when it goes live and would make a great advertising tool. At our 'Challenge Matches' this season we will be doing trackside advertising and match programme advertising with lot's of press and publicity opprtunities and the Website will have it's own dedicated Sponsors Page. If interested, email The Chairman at thirdlanarkrv@hotmail.co.uk

The Rifle Volunteers Cup 2011/2012

...has been won by Third Lanark by 3 goals to 2 this afternoon in Edinburgh. This historic encounter was played out in blistering sunshine and was a real cracker, easily the best match in the Capital today - including the Royal Wedding happening nearby! We brought through a hardy bunch of fans old and new in the coach from Cathkin Park and were treated to a warm welcome from our brother club in Edinburgh and a full page spread on the game and John Ferguson in today's Scottish Daily Mail. The game was a proper cup final and we were delighted to bring it back to Glasgow. Well done to all involved and a huge thank you to the players and staff of St Bernards Football Club for staging this inaugural event.See you guys next season at Cathkin for the return!!

2nd XI Training Wednesday Nights!

As the First XI gear up for their historical epic on Saturday at Lethem Park,Edinburgh in the inaugural Rifle Volunteers Cup, the 2nd XI and Under 16s will be training hard at the Queens Park Recreation Park from 7pm tomorrow. We are still on the lookout for players for both teams, the perfect club for fathers and sons to join up with ! We will be training in the middle pitches at the Queens Park end so come along and bring your boots! The season kicks off next month and we have some great days to look forward to in 2011/2012.

An Historic Friendly Challenge Match In July !!!

UPDATE!!!!

Match to be played at Lethem Park,Pollock Pavilion,227 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, EH6 4SP.

The ground is near the old St Bernards ground at Logie Green. Kick off 3.30pm. If you wish to travel through to Edinburgh on the Supporters Bus, Tickets can be purchased from Pat on Tel: 0141 427 9317 ot Matt on Tel: 07834 641258. The match has featured in today's press in both The Scotsman & The Daily Record and our thanks go to Craig for the mention on the Scottish Football League's excellent website.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ladies & Gentlemen I am delighted to report that the two most famous Rifle Volunteers are set to do battle once again...Edinburgh's St Bernards FC are to play Third Lanark FC on July 30th 2011. Both clubs were born out of the Territorial Army in the 19th Century and have had a long and close relationship throughout the last hundred and twenty years, St Bernards from the 3rd Edinburgh Rifle Volunteers and Thirds from the 3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers. Both were founder league members, Scottish Cup Winners and shared many,many players over the years. One such player was Inside Right, John Ferguson, a popular University student at the time who would still guest for Saints during his 3rds career. Sadly John was to be the first professional footballer killed in the First World War. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. This historic match will be an 'away game' in Edinburgh and will hopefully become an annual Summer event. There will be a Supporters Association bus leaving from Cathkin Park at 1pm on Saturday 3oth July, with a pick up at Finlay's Bar in Cambuslang at 1.30pm. Venue in Edinburgh TBC but will have news soon. So if you are in the East Coast and want to see a bit of history being made, kick off will be at 3.30pm. More details to follow...!

Restoration Latest - July 2011

This month's word is...'weeding'. All the terracing is overgrown again with bright green shoots bursting through the concrete again. Nature wants this place back but am determined to fight on! Have restarted on the East End track and pitch wall, which already needs a second coat and took advantage of the good weather to start clearing up the place again. Still, it's in better shape than this time last year !! There have been more bonfires on the East Terracing and the pitch wall written on again!

Thirds Under 16 side launching soon !!!

We are pleased to announce that Davie Henderson

has joined the Club as Head Of Youth Development and will be taking charge of our new Under 16 side in Season 2011/2012.Davie comes highly recommended and knows the game inside and out and will be ably assisted by his son, Andy. The team will be joining the ERSDA, the East Renfrewshire Soccer development Asociation and we are looking for players in all positions.So if you are under 16 and looking to don the famous Hi Hi jersey, please call Davie on 07909 733592 or email him on: daviethirdlanark@hotmail.com and leave your contact details and preferred playing position. Training and coaching sessions will begin in a couple of weeks so come along and get involved. We have had lots of interest already and we at Third Lanark are really excited at the prospect of the season ahead. The 2nd XI still have vacancies available as well so if you're free on a Sunday, are reaching (or at!!) the veteran stage of your fitba' career and you fancy one more go, email us at : thirdlanarkrv@hotmail.co.uk and w'll get you in for summer training in the next couple of weeks.