Hamilton Academical Football Club

- Youth Initiative Website -

Website Last Updated:
08 April 2008

'Investing in the future'

Website First Published:
10 August 2001

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History of Hamilton Academical FC
(Revised on 10 July 05)

Hamilton Academical FC were formed in late 1874 by the Rector and pupils of the local school, thus the unusual name, but they are known universally as The Accies. The club became members of the SFA soon after and began competing in the Scottish cup and Qualifying cup, and in the early years most games were friendlies' or localised cup ties. Membership of the Scottish Football League came in November 1897 when Renton, one of the major clubs in the early days were forced to resign, and Accies were invited to take over their fixtures.

Although Accies went on to win the Second Division Championship in 1904 they were not promoted to the First Division automatically as promotion was still by invitation at that time. However they did make the set up shortly afterwards. The Scottish Cup Final was reached in 1911 but the club lost to Celtic in a replay. Again in 1935 Accies made the final, losing to 2-1 to Rangers this time. The 1930's saw Accies at their best. The club were amongst the top sides in the country and were regularly in the top six in the old First Division. Two players were to be capped by Scotland while at Douglas Park and others were sold to top English sides. The clubs best ever player, Englishman David Wilson, scored 246 league goals in 11 seasons leading up to the war. Like so many other great players of that era, his career was halted by the hostilities. During the war another 'great' came to play for Accies, England keeper Frank Swift, who would later tragically die in the Munich disaster.

When organised football resumed after the war Accies were relegated to the 2nd Division. They would be promoted back to the top flight in 1953 and 1965, but were relegated after just one season each time. From the late 1960's through to the early 1970's the club were at a low point and frequently at the bottom of the old Second Division. In 1971 Accies became the first British club to recruit players from behind the iron curtain when three Polish internationalists signed for the club amid great publicity.

Success came in the late 1980's when promotion to the Premier league was achieved in 1986 and 1988, going up as First Division champions on each occasion, but like the previous promotions the spell in the top division was for one season only. In 1991 and 1992 the club won the B & Q Cup, the competition for all non-premier league teams, firstly defeating Ayr 1-0 at Fir Park and then Morton 3-2 at Love Street. Promotion back to the Premier was missed on goal difference that season.

In 1994 new ground regulations imposed by the council saw the club vacate Douglas Park, home to The Accies since 1888. The hope for a move to a new stadium did not materialise as planned and the club were forced to ground share with Albion Rovers and Partick Thistle (2 spells) for the next seven years. These years were low ones for the Accies even though they have topped the First Division twice in that period. A relegation to the Second, followed by a much publicised virtual enforced relegation to the Third at the end of season 1999/2000 befell the club. Accies immediately returned to the Second Division as Champions. In season 2001/2002 the club finally returned to Hamilton after Seven years on the road. The new stadium initially two stands seating 5,300 fans opened in the Summer of 2001, just yards from the old site at Douglas Park. New Douglas Park or the 'Ballast Stadium' as it was known for the first season was opened with a high profile match against Sunderland.
Season 2002/2003 has seen the appointment of Accies longest serving player Chris Hillcoat as first team Manager, and the continuance of the Accies Youth Development Programme which started in season 2001/2002 and is sure to be the life blood of the club for the coming years.

Season 2003/2004 again saw major changes at Accies with the club being bought over by local businessman Ronnie MacDonald and the appointment of former Clyde Manager Alan Maitland as 1st team Manager. Accies commitment to youth development continued with the new appointments of Les Gray as Director of Youth Football and John Bean as Head of Youth Development.

At the start of season 2005/2006 former Accies player Billy Reid returned to the club as 1st team Manager, coinciding with the clubs decision to return to full-time status.

 

HAMILTON
ACADEMICAL
FC
New Douglas Park
Cadzow Avenue
Hamilton
ML3 0FT

Tel:
01698 368650
Fax:
01698 285422
E-Mail:
Accies.Youth


 

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