St. Cuthbert Wanderers F.C.

Saint Cuthbert Wanderers Football Club are a football club from the town of Kirkcudbright in the Dumfries and Galloway region in south-west Scotland.

History

Formed in 1879 they are named after Cuthbert of Lindisfarne who is the patron saint of the town of Kirkcudbright.^[1]

St Cuthbert Wanderers is one of the oldest clubs in the South of Scotland League. The club was formed in the year 1879 by several members of the congregation of St Cuthberts Catholic Church in the High Street (which became the present St Andrew and St Cuthberts Church, behind the town's Sheriff Court House.)

Prior to going to church one Sunday morning in 1879 around seven or eight male members of the congregation talked about forming a football club. Some men involved in these discussions were Michael Crossan, Tom Branney, William Flannigan, James Crossan, George Murphy and William Murray.

The first meeting took place in St Cuthberts School shelter when each gentleman vowed to save three pounds and return in a month's time to get a club going. The total amount involved to get the club up and running came to fifty pounds, which included several donations from well wishers. After a few fund-raising dances in the Church's St Andrew's Hall, the final meeting to gather a team was called. Office Bearers were elected with Chairman Robert McMonies, Secretary George Murphy and William Flannigan as Treasurer.

After a few trial games it was decided that the club would be called 'St Cuthbert Wanderers'. The club was later admitted to the Southern Counties, following several friendly games with local amateur clubs.^[2]

It was against St Cuthbert on 29 January 1921 that playing for Queen of the South F.C., Hughie Gallacher made his debut in professional football replacing Ian Dickson who had left for Aston Villa. Gallacher scored four goals that day.^[3]

The team competes in the South of Scotland Football League (having played in earlier incarnations of this competition as well) and have won the league title several times.

Stadium

The Saints (as the club is nicknamed) play their home matches at St. Mary's Park, which accommodates around 2,000 spectators, 250 of whom can be seated in the stand that exists at the venue. This is ample enough room for the 100 or so regular supporters of the club.

Notable players

• Bob McDougall from Kirkcudbright who also played for Dumfries, Liverpool, Ayr United, Falkirk and Queen of the South

• Billy Halliday from Dumfries, brother of goal scoring legend Dave Halliday.^[4] Billy ended his career with Saints after listing Queen of the South, Newcastle United, Third Lanark, Exeter City and Stockport County as his previous clubs.

• David Mathieson who went on to play for Queen of the South, while at Queens 3 caps for Scotland under 21s and for Gretna

Honours

• South of Scotland League: 1927–28, 1928–29, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1970–71, 1973–74, 1980–81, 1995–96
• South Qualifying Cup: 1971–72
• Southern Counties Challenge Cup: 1895–96, 1929–30, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1969–70
• Cree Lodge Cup: 1938–39, 1971–72, 1986–87, 1988–89
• Haig Gordon Memorial Trophy: 1969–70, 1972–73, 1997–98
• Potts Cup: 1910–11, 1914–15, 1929–30, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1996–97
• Tweedie Cup: 1935–36, 1936–37, 1948–49, 1954–55, 1963–64 (shared), 1973–74, 1989–90, 2001–02
• South of Scotland League Cup: 1953–54, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1972–73, (1974–75), 1981–82, 1995–96, 2007–08
• Wigtownshire & District Cup: 1911–12, 1926–27, 1928–29, 1934–35, 1937–38, 1947–48, 1949–50, 1958–59, 1969–70
• Wigtownshire Cup: 1936–37, 1945–46
• Wigtownshire & Kirkcudbrightshire Cup: 1925–26, 1926–27, 1928–29, 1938–39, 1953–54
• South of Scotland Cup: 1925–26, 1926–27
• Dumfries & Galloway Cup: 1908–09, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1926–27, 1929–30
• Law–Galloway Cup: 1893–94, 1894–95, 1903–04
• St. Cuthbert's Cup: 1893–94

References

External links

• Official website