The Spartans F.C.

The Spartans Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Edinburgh. They were formed in 1951 by ex-players of Edinburgh University and the original intention was to field a team of graduates of the university. However, the club is now 'open' with players from many backgrounds. Spartans play at Ainslie Park and wear white shirts, red shorts and white socks.[1]

Not to be confused with Sparta F.C., AC Sparta Prague, or Sparta Rotterdam.
For the English team known as 'Spartans F.C.' between 1880 to 1883, see Swindon Town F.C.

The Spartans
Full nameThe Spartans Football Club
Founded1951 (1951)
GroundAinslie Park, Edinburgh
Capacity3,612 (534 seated)
ChairmanCraig Graham
ManagerDouglas Samuel
LeagueScottish League Two
2022–23Lowland League, 1st of 19 (promoted via play-offs)
WebsiteClub website

The senior team plays in Scottish League Two, and are managed by Dougie Samuel. They joined the Lowland League in 2013, after playing in the East of Scotland Football League, where it had become one of its most successful clubs from the 1970s onwards. Spartans have been allowed to play in the qualifying rounds of the Scottish Cup since 1978 and qualified for the cup proper on several occasions during their junior days.

Spartans entered their top amateur side into the SJFA East Region junior setup in 2009, but withdrew in 2013. Spartans also have an Under-20 squad in the Lowlands U20s Development League, a Saturday amateur side, a Sunday amateur side and several women's teams, including The Spartans W.F.C.

Spartans chairman Craig Graham was appointed MBE in 2017 for his service to the community of North Edinburgh.[2]

In 2023, Spartans were promoted to Scottish League Two after overcoming Albion Rovers in the play-offs.

History

Scottish Cup

The Spartans' most successful Scottish Cup run was in 2003–04, when they defeated Buckie Thistle 6–1 in front of a crowd of 450 in Edinburgh in the first round, before defeating Alloa Athletic 5–3 in a replay (the first game had been drawn 3–3) in Edinburgh in the second round. They then defeated Arbroath (who had been in the SFL First Division only the year before) 4–1 at Gayfield Park in the third round, before being beaten 4–0 at home by Scottish Premier League team Livingston in front of a full house of 3,000 fans at City Park.

Two seasons later in 2005–06, Spartans defeated Berwick Rangers, Lossiemouth and Queen's Park in the first three rounds of the Scottish Cup. They drew 0–0 with First Division side St Mirren in the last sixteen in front of 3,326 fans at City Park, earning a replay at Love Street, where they lost 3–0.

In the 2008–09 Scottish Cup, Spartans' cup run sent them to Pollok, winning through a replay, they then beat Annan Athletic 2–1. In the next round they beat Elgin City 2–1, before being knocked out by Airdrie United in the fourth round.

Spartans, along with four other clubs, submitted an application for entry into the Scottish Football League following Gretna relinquishing their league status on 3 June 2008.[3] Spartans lost out to Annan Athletic.

In November 2008, Spartans moved to a new purpose-built home at Ainslie Park, situated 500 yards from City Park in the Crewe Toll district of Edinburgh. The new facility includes a 504-seater stand and floodlights surrounding the main stadium pitch and an adjacent, full size artificial pitch with floodlights. Ainslie Park is now used daily by youth and adult Spartans teams, along with the general public. The club also won the league title this season.

In the 2009–10 season, Spartans won the quadruple, consisting of the East of Scotland Premier Division, the SFA South Challenge Cup, the King Cup and the League Cup. The 2009–10 league title gave Spartans back to back title wins for the first time since 2005.

During the 2010–11 season, Spartans won their third league title in a row. The next season they lost the league title on goal difference to Stirling University, while in the 2012–13 season, they finished third in the league.

Lowland League

Spartans joined the newly formed Lowland Football League for the 2013–14 season, winning the inaugural title. They finished as runners-up in 2015–16 and won the League Cup a year later, before becoming Lowland League champions for a second time in 2017–18. This allowed Spartans to take part in the Pyramid play-off, however they lost 5–2 on aggregate to Cove Rangers.

The club progressed to the fifth round (last 16) of the 2014–15 Scottish Cup, defeating Clyde and Morton en route.[4]

In the fifth round of the competition, Spartans forced a replay with Berwick Rangers on 7 February 2015, thanks to an injury time equaliser from Ally MacKinnon to level the tie at 1–1, the game being played in front of 2504 supporters at Ainslie Park.[5][6]

In the 2022–23 season, Spartans won the Lowland League title for a third time. During that season's Pyramid play-offs they defeated Highland League champions Brechin City 4–3 on penalties before defeating Albion Rovers 2–1 on aggregate in the final to progress to Scottish League Two.

Stadium
Main article: Ainslie Park

Ainslie Park on Pilton Drive in north Edinburgh is the home ground of Spartans. The stadium has a capacity of 3,612 (504 seated). Ainslie Park is only part of the new project that Spartans have invested into their new ground, a wider development of the Spartans Community Football Academy. The new facility incorporates a fully enclosed stadium which meets SFA and SPFL criteria, with an artificial pitch, floodlights, seating for 504 spectators and an overall capacity of 3,612. Another full size, floodlit artificial pitch sits adjacent to the main playing area and the accommodation incorporates six changing rooms, a club room, committee room and a physio room. The Club ground holds a P.A system and a bar for spectators.

In March 2017, Edinburgh City reached an agreement with Spartans to use Ainslie Park ground for three seasons while Meadowbank Stadium was being redeveloped.[7]

Senior squad
As of 25 August 2023[8]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Scotland SCO Blair Carswell
2 MF Scotland SCO Kieran Watson
3 DF Scotland SCO Mikey Allan
4 DF Scotland SCO Kevin Waugh (captain)
5 DF Scotland SCO Jordan Tapping
6 MF Scotland SCO Gavin Morrison
7 MF Scotland SCO Jamie Dishington
8 MF Scotland SCO Sam Jones
9 FW Scotland SCO Blair Henderson
10 FW Scotland SCO Sean Brown
11 MF Scotland SCO Cammy Russell
12 GK Scotland SCO Jacques Heraghty (on loan from Queen's Park)
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 MF Scotland SCO Danny Denholm
15 DF Scotland SCO Ayrton Sonkur
17 MF Scotland SCO Alan Brown
18 MF Scotland SCO Bryan Mwangi (on loan from Dundee United)
19 DF England ENG Harvey Swann
20 MF Scotland SCO Sam Newman
21 GK Scotland SCO Adam Meek
26 MF Scotland SCO Rhys Armstrong
28 MF England ENG James Craigen
33 MF Scotland SCO Bradley Whyte
44 DF Scotland SCO Paul Watson

Out 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
— DF Scotland SCO Christopher Inglis (on loan at Caledonian Braves)
— DF Scotland SCO Josh Laing (on loan at Penicuik Athletic)
— MF Scotland SCO Ben Lamont (on loan at Berwick Rangers)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF Scotland SCO Mackie Scott (on loan at Tynecastle)
— FW Scotland SCO Jamie Penker (on loan at East Stirlingshire)

Coaching staff
PositionName
ManagerDouglas Samuel
Assistant managerDarren Cameron
First team coachDerek Riddell
Goalkeeping coachStephen Ellison
PhysiotherapistsCraig Samuel
Sophie Marr

Honours

League

Lowland Football League

East of Scotland Football League

  • Winners (9): 1971–72, 1983–84, 1996–97, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
  • Runners-up (7): 1977–78, 1984–85, 1992–93, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2006–07, 2011–12

Cup

SFA South Region Challenge Cup

  • Winners (4): 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2022–23

Lowland League Cup

  • Winners: 2016–17

East of Scotland Qualifying Cup

  • Winners (10): 1983–84, 1989–90, 1995–96, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2010–11, 2016–17, 2018–19[9]

East of Scotland City Cup

  • Winners (3): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07

East of Scotland League Cup

  • Winners (5): 2003–04, 2004–05, 2009–10, 2010–11[10]

King Cup

  • Winners (12): 1973–74, 1977–78, 1987–88, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13

Notable players

The former Scotland international Eamonn Bannon had a spell playing for Spartans in the 1990s.

Women's football
Main article: Spartans W.F.C.

Spartans Football Club Women's and Girls is a women's football team that plays in the Scottish Women's Premier League, the top division of women's football in Scotland. Spartans F.C. Women is part of Spartans F.C. in North Edinburgh and play and train at the club's training facilities.

See also

References
  1. Club history page, "spartansfc.com"
  2. "Spartans Chairman awarded an MBE". www.spartanscfa.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  3. Gretna relinquish league status, BBC Sports. Retrieved on 3 June 2008
  4. "Spartans FC 2–1 Morton". BBC Sport. BBC. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  5. "Spartans 1–1 Berwick Rangers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  6. "Ally Ally Ally oohhh… MacKinnon's late strike secures Scottish Cup replay – The Spartans FC Official Website – Live together. Play together. Win together". Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  7. Pilcher, Ross (29 March 2017). "Edinburgh City and Spartans confirm three-season groundshare". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  8. "Squad". www.spartansfc.com. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  9. "Spartans take down Camelon to lift Footbal Nation Cup Qualifying Cup once again". 19 May 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  10. "Previous East of Scotland League Cup finals". Retrieved 12 May 2019.
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