Beginnings

To talk about football over 100 years or more one needs an imagination, so picture the scene. There were no football public in Arniston at that time, and when it got round that a football match was to be played at Arniston the people who attended the match went out of curiosity more than knowledge. What must they have thought about 22 men running up and down a field kicking a piece of leather about?

During the 1880's in the Arniston district the game of football was new, and after early enthusiasm had waned, Arniston struggled and folded in February 1885. Arniston had played only eight matches.

Who were the pioneers of Arniston Rangers one must ask. The story passed down through the years is - two brothers (McGrady) started the club in 1878 as depicted in the Dominie report of 1971. I have researched three football books, and am convinced that competition was around in the 1870's but did not arrive in our area until season 1883-84. Another conclusion about the Dominie report can be reached which would get support, is that McGrady brothers started an Arniston Colliery side and no more, and when in 1883, decided to play the more organised sides, Arniston performed creditably and had wins over the newly formed Bonnyrigg Rose and Loanhead Sarrafield Thistle at Greenhall Park. My conclusions about the period 1883-1885 Arniston were around, we know that from the published results, but the whereabouts of the McGrady's are another matter. I have looked through various census valuation books plus census books of the period and they cannot be traced. Did they, as the report says, try and bring football to Arniston in 1878, first at colliery level and then again in 1883 on a more competitive level. We will never know for certain, but it makes you think. One thing we do know is Arniston's first football venue, December, 1883 Arniston Rangers v Loanhead Sarrafield Thistle played at Greenhall Park, which means another piece of the Dominie report can be verified. Greenhall Park being near Gowkshill.

Alexander Smith