Union Football Club was a 19th-century football club based in Glasgow.
History
Report on the 1877 Cup defeat by Partick, from the North British Daily Mail
The club was founded in 1873.[1] The first recorded match against another side was at Govan in October 1875.[2]
It was not a major club; it did not play any of more prestigious clubs in Glasgow at the time, such as Queen's Park, Clydesdale, or Rangers. It had fielded a second XI in 1875–76,[3] but by 1877 its membership was 21, the smallest recorded in Charles Alcock'sFootball Annual for the year. The club's secretary, James Murdoch of Prince Edward Street in Crosshill, was a commercial traveller and nearing his forties when the club was founded.[4]
The only major fixtures in which the club participated were in the Scottish Cup. In 1877–78, Union lost 2–0 at the original Partick club.[5] In 1878–79, Union won its first round tie against fellow Glaswegian club Rosslyn, at the latter's Merkland Park, the only goal being scored by R. Wallace.[6] The club went out in the second round to Parkgrove by the same score, at Trinidad Park in Govan, having been pressed all match and Parkgrove having two goals disallowed; goalkeeper Borland received praise from the press,[7] and, perhaps not coincidentally, is reported as playing for Parkgrove later in the season.[8]
The club scratched when overmatched with 3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers in the first round in 1879–80.[9] The club did continue playing in the season, the last recorded fixture being a 1–0 win over the obscure Eldon club.[10]
Colours
The club played in blue jerseys, white knickerbockers, and blue stockings.[11]