Here’s how the Victorians let off some steam!
The trio of football fans that found documented proof of the exact location of the first-ever Hampden Park have now unearthed cartoon images of a game played there in 1882.
They indicate that abusing players from the terracing is nothing new!
Following an extensive search of the National Records of Scotland back in April last year, Graeme Brown, Ged O’Brien and Thomas Macnab confirmed that the world’s first purpose-built stadium for club and international football was situated on what is now the Hampden Bowling Club and Kingsley Rose Gardens in Glasgow’s Crosshill.
The owners of the ground, Queen’s Park, moved in during 1883. But they were forced to move out after 10 years due to the building of the Cathcart Circle railway line.
Over the years, the exact location of the pitch was only rumoured until Brown, O’Brien and Macnab unearthed a survey from the 1880s that was held in the National Records.
The first of the three Hampdens hosted six internationals, including a 7-2 win over England in 1878.
But only one photo of the ground is believed to be in existence.
However, an 1882 pamphlet entitled Free Kicks At Football, has now been discovered in the archives at Glasgow University.
It has a number of drawings showing the first Hampden during a charity match in 1882
The game between Queen’s Park and Vale of Leven was, however, perhaps not that friendly.
One image depicts seven fans standing behind a rope and has one of them bellowing for “Johnie” to forget chasing the ball and “tak the legs frae the lang beggar and jump on his kist (coffin)”.
Another image shows a player heading the ball with Queen’s Park Church and Queen’s Drive in the background. Brown said: “It is a terrific find. “We formed the Hampden Collection to highlight the history of the three Hampden Parks, and also to help and secure charitable status for the site of the world’s first international football ground.
“Images like the ones discovered at Glasgow University can only help.”