Campaign kicks off to make first Hampden a World Heritage Site
IT IS nearly 150 years since the first match between Scotland and England – the game held on November 30, 1872, at the current West of Scotland Cricket Club ground, is recognised by Fifa as football’s inaugural international.
Just a year later, the original Hampden Park opened on October 25, 1873, and became home to Queen’s Park FC and the Scotland national team until 1883.
It closed due to the building of the Cathcart Circle railway line.
Last month, archaeological experts finally proved that what is now known as Hampden Bowling Club is the site of the first national stadium.
Now a campaign is to be launched with the hope of securing Unesco World Heritage status for the site.
Tomorrow, a virtual meeting of experts and enthusiasts will come together to discuss the history and legacy of the first Hampden.
The evidence to back up records discovered by Graeme Brown, of the Hampden Collection initiative, came just weeks after the site was given a reprieve when it was feared the bowling club itself might have been in jeopardy.
Members managed to elect a new committee and secure time to be able to carry out a structural report for repairs to the clubhouse.
Had they been unable to elect a committee the lease would have been lost with the site reverting back to armslength council organisation City Property.
Mr Brown , who will bring together a panel of guests for the event, said: “The next stage of the footballing journey is to get the entire first Hampden site recognised as the epicentre of world football. In our opinion, this is the way to stamp Scotland’s claim, and also brings a huge amount of opportunity to tell this story.
“The campaign to make it a Unesco World Heritage Site will be launched this week which will be one year to go until the 150th anniversary of the world’s first international football match.”
Carrying out a geophysical survey, as well as excavating six trenches in the Queen’s Park Recreation Ground and Kingsley Gardens site, the archaeologists revealed evidence of the foundations of the first Hampden Park pavilion.
They also found tantalising evidence of the original playing surface, sealed beneath over a century of earth and grass, as well as numerous artefacts dropped by the early supporters including beer bottles, juice bottles and clay pipes.
Dr Paul Murtagh, senior project officer at Archaeology Scotland who managed the 1st Hampden Dig Team, said the project was unique in more ways than one as it brought people together.
Dr Murtagh said: “This was a project which was part of Archaeology Scotland’s New Audience Project, funded by Historic Environment Scotland, and brought people from different backgrounds and nationalities together.
“Football was the hook for this and while it may not be their own country’s heritage they were helping to establish footballing heritage.
“We were very lucky to have records to got on but it was when we dug the trenches and with the use of geophysics we could really pinpoint the site.
“The findings, which included artefacts from people who would have stood on the terraces, really give you something tangible from that moment in time.”
Colin Taylor, the great grandson of former Queen’s Park and Scotland player Joseph Taylor, said: “I saw an opportunity this year after lockdown to go to Scotland for a few days and visit Joseph’s grave and visit Hampden. I was intrigued by the three Hampden’s story and the discovery of the very first Hampden.
“I joined a walking tour in September and I achieved my ambition of seeing Joseph’s grave, seeing the original Hampden where he played, and Queen’s Park where he also played and practised.
“I could feel goosebumps looking at the old pavilion at the bowling club and imagining Joseph not only playing there but also being instrumental in some major decisions as he was president of Queen’s Park for a year after he finished playing in 1878.”
I could feel goosebumps looking at the old pavilion at the bowling club