Lochgelly United F.C.

Lochgelly United were a Scottish football club based at Lochgelly's Schools Park (to 1901) and Reids Park (to 1910), before moving to the Recreation Ground in nearby Cowdenbeath. Nicknamed the 'Happylanders', the club were former members of the Scottish Football League.^[1]

The club was formed in 1890 by the merger of two local clubs, Lochgelly Athletic (formed 1886) and Fifeshire Hibernian (formed 1889). They spent their time variously in the Northern and Central leagues, and even had a spell between 1898 and 1902 when they played only cup games and friendlies. They were admitted to the Scottish Football League Second Division in 1914 although this competition was suspended in 1915 due to the First World War. They continued in the Eastern and Central Leagues and returned to the Second Division when it was reinstated in 1921. However the club suffered a traumatic season in 1923–24 which set two unwanted records for the old Second Division i.e. most defeats in a season with thirty^[2] and fewest league goals in a season with twenty.^[3] The Happylanders home form that season had been noted for low scores with the club and their visitors sharing only 22 goals in 18 of the 19 matches. However in one match, played against King's Park on 16 February 1924, the club lost 8–3, half the total of all the others put together.^[4]

They were relegated to the new Third Division in 1924 and when this was abandoned the following season they joined the Scottish Football Alliance. They remained in this league until 1928 when they were wound up.

References

External links

• Club history and kits