Broxburn United F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = Broxburn United


fullname = Broxburn United F.C.
nickname =
founded = 1912
ground = Sports Park Park
capacity =
chairman =
manager =
league = Scottish League
season =
position =
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=970045|body1=970045|rightarm1=970045|shorts1=FFFFFF|socks1=000000

Broxburn United were a Scottish football club based at Sports Park [D. Pickering, "The Cassell Soccer Companion", London: Cassell, 1995, p. 49] Broxburn, West Lothian formed by the amalgamation of the town's two senior clubs Broxburn and Broxburn Athletic in 1912. The club were former members of the Scottish Football League.

Broxburn F.C.

Broxburn F.C. were founded in 1883 as Broxburn Thistle, adopting their regualr name in 1889. The club was the more senior of the town's two teams and first came to attention as members of the Eastern League in 1891-92. The club went on to appear in many of the top competitions below the Scottish Football League in subsequent seasons, appearing in the Central Football Combination, the Scottish Football Alliance, the Scottish Football Union and the Central Football League.

Broxburn Athletic F.C.

The less successful of the town's clubs, this team appeared in the Eastern Football League in 1905-06 and the Central Football League 1909-10. They should not be confused with the current junior side Broxburn Athletic F.C.

Development of United

Broxburn United emerged in 1912 when it became clear that a small town like Broxburn could no longer support two senior sides. United became members of the Central Football League (apart from a spell in the Eastern Football League from 1915 to 1917) and along with much of the membership of this group they were admitted to the newly expanded Scottish Football League Second Division in 1921. However the club's interest in the League seemed limited and they were censured in 1922 for fielding only two first team players against St Bernard's F.C. as they were more interested in cup competitions. [B. Crampsey, "The First Hundred Years", Glasgow: Scottish Football League, 1990, p. 76] It was thus unsurprising that the club struggled in the League and finished bottom during the 1925-26 season. Facing re-election, they were rejected in favour of Forfar Athletic and dropped out of the League.

During their League career the club became embroiled controversy when Stenhousemuir F.C. player Joe Shortt reported to the League that he had been offered £50 by the representatives of a bookmaker from Glasgow to play poorly in a match against Broxburn United. Ultimately the club were exonerated of all involvement, although the incident hardened the League's attitudes towards gambling and helped to bring about their moves to drive animal racing away from League grounds, a move which cost a number of clubs their main source of income. [Crampsey, op cit, p. 79]

Non-league

Broxburn United joined the Scottish Football Alliance for the 1926-27 season but found this level to be too financially taxing and soon joined the ranks of Scottish junior football by joining the Midlothian Junior League. The club continued until 1932 when financial troubles finally claimed them.

Broxburn United - Formed 1912. Defunct 1932.

Ground: Sports Park.

Colours: 1912-1920 Black & white striped shirts, white shorts. 1920-1932 Maroon shirts, white shorts.

References

External links

* [http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Scottish_Football_League/Broxburn_United/broxburn_united.htm Club history and kits]

4. www.broxburnfootball.co.uk