Edinburgh City F.C.

Edinburgh City Football Club is a semi-professional senior Scottish football club which plays in Scottish League One, the third tier of the Scottish Professional Football League. The club play at Meadowbank Stadium, returning to the rebuilt arena in 2022 after five years at Ainslie Park.

For the 1928−1955 club, see Edinburgh City F.C. (1928).

Edinburgh City
Full nameEdinburgh City Football Club
Nickname(s)The Citizens
Founded1966 (1966) as Postal United F.C.
1986 (1986) as Edinburgh City F.C.
GroundMeadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh
Capacity1,320 (500 seated)
ChairmanJohn Dickson
ManagerMichael McIndoe
LeagueScottish League One
2022–23Scottish League One, 6th of 10
WebsiteClub website

A club known as Edinburgh City was first formed in 1928. It participated in the Scottish Football League in the 1930s and 1940s, but went out of business in the 1950s. The present club adopted the Edinburgh City name in 1986. It applied to join the Scottish Football League in 2002 and 2008, but failed to win election. Edinburgh City became members of the new Lowland League in 2013. The club won the Lowland League championship in 2015 and 2016 and won promotion to the Scottish Professional Football League in 2016.

In 2022, Edinburgh City were promoted to reach Scottish League One for the first time in club’s history after winning 3–2 in the play-off final against Annan Athletic. Following this promotion, on 16 June 2022 the club rebranded, changing its name from Edinburgh City Football Club to Football Club of Edinburgh and unveiling a new badge. Following the sale of the football club to John Dickson in 2023, the club successfully applied to the Scottish Football Association to return to the Edinburgh City name.

History

The original Edinburgh City was founded in 1928. The club adopted amateur status, with the aim of becoming the Edinburgh equivalent of Queen's Park. Edinburgh City joined the Scottish Football League in 1931.[1] The club played in the Lothian Amateur League during the Second World War and were only admitted to the C Division in 1946, by then the club had adopted professional status.[2][3] After three more years of struggle, the club left the Scottish Football League in 1949.[2][3] It switched to junior status and played in the Edinburgh & District Junior League.[2][3] The club ceased activity completely in 1955,[2] when the local council refused to renew its lease on its home ground, City Park.[3]

A club called Postal United F.C. was founded in 1966 and joined the East of Scotland League. Their best league finish was third in 1985–86, having won the Qualifying Cup in 1982–83 and King Cup in 1984–85.

The Edinburgh City Football Club Ltd.,[4] which had continued trading as a social club since the football club stopped playing, gave their approval in 1986 for Postal United to use the Edinburgh City F.C. name.[3] The club has participated in the Scottish Cup since the mid-1990s, when it became a full member of the Scottish Football Association.[3] In the 1997–98 Scottish Cup they defeated SFL club, East Stirlingshire, before losing 7–2 to Dunfermline Athletic, then of the Premier Division.

The club applied to join the Scottish Football League in 2002,[5] after Airdrieonians had gone bankrupt, but Gretna won the vote instead. Edinburgh City applied again following Gretna's liquidation in 2008,[6] but this time lost out to Annan Athletic.[7]

Edinburgh City won the East of Scotland Football League Premier Division title for the first time in the 2005–06 season and became members of the new Lowland League in 2013.[8] The club won the Lowland League title in 2014–15 and 2015–16. They then gained promotion to the Scottish Professional Football League by defeating East Stirlingshire in a play-off with a penalty four minutes from time by Dougie Gair.[9] The victory also meant that it was the first time that a non-league club had been promoted to the professional league.[10] The club finished in seventh place during their first Scottish League Two season of 2016–17.[11] They avoided the relegation play-offs in 2018, finishing eight points ahead of bottom placed Cowdenbeath,[12] and fared better in 2018–19, finishing third and qualifying for the League One promotion play-offs;[13] however, they were knocked out by Clyde in the play-off semi-finals, losing 4–0 over two legs.[14] Edinburgh City sat second in the table after 27 games when the truncated 2019–20 season was brought to an early finish in April 2020.[15]

Despite finishing 4th in the 2021–22 season, Edinburgh City navigated through the League One play-offs and earned promotion to the Scottish League One, the 3rd tier in Scottish football, for the first time in their history.[16]

In June 2022 the club changed their name to FC Edinburgh, as they no longer felt the 1986 permission from the Edinburgh City social club to use the name was sufficient, and wished to own their own name outright. When the social club refused to surrender the name, the football club changed to "Football Club of Edinburgh".[17][18] The club clarified in October 2022 that it should be known as Edinburgh, rather than its full name of FC Edinburgh.[19]

In June 2023 it was announced that ownership would be transferred from Tom Tracy to a fan based consortium led by John Dickson. It was also announced that the club would revert back to being called Edinburgh City pending SFA approval.[20][21][22] Later in June 2023 SFA approval was confirmed.[23]

Colours

The club colours are white and black.[3] Postal United F.C. played in all-red, but switched to the traditional colours when it adopted the Edinburgh City identity in 1986.[3]

Stadium
Ainslie Park, where the club groundshared with Spartans from 2017 to 2022

The original club played its home matches at Powderhall Stadium and City Park during its time in the Scottish Football League.

The present club initially played their home fixtures at the Saughton Enclosure, which is now home to Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale, before switching to Paties Road, where Edinburgh United currently play. Edinburgh City then moved to City Park and then Fernieside. Edinburgh City moved to Meadowbank Stadium, which had been vacated by the move of Meadowbank Thistle to Livingston, in 1996, and gained some additional supporters via those Meadowbank fans who opted to continue watching a local side rather than the relocated team.[3][10]

In February 2013, the City of Edinburgh Council started a new consultation process about the future of Meadowbank Stadium.[24] Three options for redeveloping Meadowbank were put forward for consideration by Edinburgh Council in December 2013.[25] A planned design was made public in November 2016[26] and work began after the 2016–17 season ended.[27] Edinburgh City reached an agreement with Spartans to use their Ainslie Park ground for three seasons while Meadowbank is redeveloped.[28] The club announced in March 2021 that they would return to Meadowbank for the 2021–22 season, with the ground now having a 4G artificial playing surface and a 500-seat stand.[29] Due to construction delays because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the club remained at Ainslie Park for the 2021–22 season.[30]

City returned to the re-developed Meadowbank Stadium in July 2022.[31]

First-team squad
As of 6 September 2023[32]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
3 DF Scotland SCO Kieran MacDonald
4 DF Scotland SCO Lee Hamilton
5 DF Scotland SCO Scott Mercer
6 DF Scotland SCO Ben Stirling
7 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Robbie Mahon (on loan from Motherwell)
8 FW Scotland SCO Robbie Leitch
9 FW Scotland SCO Ryan Shanley
10 MF Scotland SCO Danny Handling
11 FW Scotland SCO Kieran Offord (on loan from St Mirren)
13 MF South Africa RSA Kyle Jacobs
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 FW Scotland SCO Russell McLean
16 MF Scotland SCO Lewis Spence
17 DF England ENG Liam Fontaine (captain)
18 DF Scotland SCO Kelsey Ewen
20 DF Scotland SCO Jack Wilkie (on loan from Dundee)
21 GK Scotland SCO Cameron Quate
23 MF Scotland SCO Innes Murray
25 GK Scotland SCO Aidan McAdams
29 DF Scotland SCO Sam Gormley
30 DF Scotland SCO Callum Crane

On loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
22 DF Scotland SCO Ciaran Brian (on loan at Tranent)
24 DF Scotland SCO Quinn Mitchell (on loan at Gala Fairydean Rovers)

Coaching staff
Position[33]Name
ManagerMichael McIndoe
Assistant managerKirk Crichton
Goalkeeping coachLiam Robertson
U20s head coachAdam Cairnie
First team physioScott Anderson
First team sports scientistAndrew Somerville
Kit coordinatorIan McIntyre

Managers

Honours

Scottish League Two

  • Runners-up (2): 2019–20, 2020–21

Lowland Football League

East of Scotland Football League

  • Winners: 2005–06
  • Runners-up: 2003–04

East of Scotland Football League First Division

  • Winners: 1995–96
  • Runners-up: 1989–90

SFA South Region Challenge Cup

  • Runners-up (3): 2007–08, 2010–11, 2015–16

East of Scotland League Cup

  • Winners (3): 1992–93, 2001–02, 2012–13[34]
  • Runners-up (4): 2000–01, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2011–12

King Cup

  • Winners (2): 1998–99, 1999–00
  • Runners-up: 2004–05

References
  1. (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 294)
  2. (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 295)
  3. "Edinburgh City". Historical Football Kits. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  4. "THE EDINBURGH CITY FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED". Archived from the original on 10 December 2018.
  5. Lindsay, Clive (17 June 2002). "Airdrie may edge out Gretna". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  6. "Edinburgh City will apply to SFL". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  7. "Annan voted into Scottish league". BBC Sport. BBC. 3 July 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  8. "Scottish Lowland Football League clubs selected". Scottish FA. SFA. 17 June 2013.
  9. McLauchlin, Brian (14 May 2016). "East Stirlingshire 0–1 Edinburgh City". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  10. Livingston return to Meadowbank '“ where it all began, The Scotsman, 19 July 2016
  11. "Scottish League 2, 2016/2017 Season". skysports.com. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  12. "2017/2018 LEAGUE TWO". spfl.co.uk. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  13. "Scottish League Two table 2018/19". skysports.com. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  14. "SCOTTISH LEAGUE ONE - PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL - 2ND LEG 3 0". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  15. "Scottish League 2 2019/20 Season". skysports.com. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  16. "Edinburgh City promoted | SPFL". spfl.co.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  17. "SPFL side forced to change name due to social club rights dispute". HeraldScotland.
  18. "Edinburgh City change name to FC Edinburgh" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  19. "Club Statement". fcedinburgh.com. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  20. "Club Statement". F.C. Edinburgh. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  21. McGlade, Neil (2 June 2023). ""We've all heard the rumours and this would have the full backing of the support"". Edinburgh News. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  22. "Chairman's Statement". F.C. Edinburgh. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  23. @FC_Edinburgh (29 June 2023). "Edinburgh City FC change" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. "Future of Meadowbank Stadium unclear as council opens negotiations". www.news.stv.tv. STV. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  25. "Three options considered for Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh". BBC News. BBC. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  26. "New Meadowbank Stadium design plans unveiled". BBC News. BBC. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  27. Temple, Alan (28 April 2017). "Pitch invasions, Manchester United & DIY: Emotional Edinburgh City prepare for Meadowbank farewell". Deadline News. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  28. Pilcher, Ross (29 March 2017). "Edinburgh City and Spartans confirm three-season groundshare". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  29. McGlade, Neil (31 March 2021). "Edinburgh City set for Meadowbank return in 'major step' for club". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  30. Delaney, James (3 May 2022). "Meadowbank Stadium 'finishing line in sight' as delayed arena to open". STV News. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  31. McGlade, Neil (16 July 2022). "FC Edinburgh return home to Meadowbank as boss Alan Maybury looks for the positives as Arbroath seal victory". Edinburgh Evening News.
  32. "Edinburgh City squad". Edinburgh City FC. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  33. "Management Team". Edinburgh City FC. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  34. "Previous East of Scotland League Cup finals". Retrieved 12 May 2019.
Sources
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