Telegraphists Football Club was a 19th-century association football club based at
Govan
Govan ( ; Cumbric?: ''Gwovan'?''; Scots: ''Gouan''; Scottish Gaelic: ''Baile a' Ghobhainn'') is a district, parish, and former burgh now part of south-west City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south ...
, now in
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated pop ...
.
History
The club was founded in 1874 for workers at the Telegraph Department of the Glasgow
General Post Office
The General Post Office (GPO) was the state postal system and telecommunications carrier of the United Kingdom until 1969. Before the Acts of Union 1707, it was the postal system of the Kingdom of England, established by Charles II in 1660. ...
, as a winter activity for cricket club members; the Telegraphists cricket club used the same venue for its home matches, and cricket captain Atkinson was one of the club's forwards. In 1876 and 1877 the club had 43 members. The media occasionally referred to the club as Telegraphers but its title as reported to the
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association (also known as the SFA and the Scottish FA; sco, Scots Fitba Association; Scottish Gaelic: ''Comann Ball-coise na h-Alba'') is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for ...
Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green is a park in the east end of Glasgow, Scotland, on the north bank of the River Clyde. Established in the 15th century, it is the oldest park in the city. It connects to the south via the St Andrew's Suspension Bridge.
History
I ...
; all three goals came between the 46th and 60th minutes, as St Andrew's had a strong wind behind them after the break, although the Telegraphists' back play received particular praise.
In 1876–77 the club was hammered 12–0 at Northern, five of the goals falling to Cunningham. In 1877–78, the club gained its only win in the competition, beating the 4th Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers 1–0 in the first round, but losing 4–0 against the 1st Lanarkshire equivalents in the second.
The club's 10–0 defeat at Whitefield in 1878–79 was the club's last Cup tie. Although it entered the 1879–80 competition, it withdrew rather than play Possil Bluebell.
After 1880 the club's activities almost cease, the most notable matches being against telegraphist offices in other towns. The last reference to a match played by the club is a 3–3 draw against Burnbank Swifts F.C. in June 1886. The club may not have continued after this, given the difficulties with its home ground.
Colours
The club's colours were given as white and black (or black and white), probably in hoops, which was the dominant design at the time.
Ground
The club played at Woodville Park in Govan. Towards the end of the 1885–86 season, the ground owner sued the club's committee for the £5 quarterly rent, which the club defended on the basis that constant flooding kept causing the postponement of matches. The committee was ordered to pay half of the rent claimed (£2 10s).