Sport in Glasgow
Encyclopedia
Glasgow, Scotland
has a long sporting history, with the world's first international football
match held in 1872 at the West of Scotland Cricket Club
's Hamilton Crescent
ground in the Partick
area of Glasgow
. The match was between Scotland
and England
and resulted in a 0–0 draw.
stadia: Celtic Park
(60,832 seats), Ibrox Stadium
(51,082 seats) and Hampden Park
(52,670 seats), which is Scotland's national football stadium. Hampden Park holds the European record for attendance at a football match: 149,547 saw Scotland beat England 3-1 in 1937, in the days before British stadia became all-seated
(though old Wembley had been reputed to hold over 200,000 unofficially).
Glasgow has three professional football clubs: Celtic
and Rangers
, which together make the Old Firm
, and Partick Thistle
. A fourth club, Queen's Park
, is an amateur club that plays in the Scottish professional league system. Prior to this, Glasgow had six other professional clubs: Clyde, which moved to Cumbernauld
, plus Third Lanark
, Cambuslang F.C, Port Glasgow Athletic F.C.
, Cowlairs F.C.
and Clydesdale F.C.
, who all went bankrupt. Senior teams such as St. Mirren
, Hamilton Academical
, Clyde
, Albion Rovers, Airdrie United and Motherwell
play in Greater Glasgow
, as well as the long defunct Abercorn F.C.
The history of football in the city, as well as the status of the Old Firm
, attracts many visitors to football matches in the city throughout the season. Hampden Park and Ibrox have been awarded UEFA 5 star status, meaning that they are capable of hosting the final of the Champions' League. Hampden Park has hosted the final on three occasions, most recently in 2002 and hosted the UEFA Cup
Final in 2007. The Scottish Football Association
, the national governing body, and the Scottish Football Museum
are based in Glasgow, as are the Scottish Football League
, Scottish Premier League
, Scottish Junior Football Association
and Scottish Amateur Football Association
. The Glasgow Cup
was a once popular tournament, were all professional teams from the city would compete, however, now only Junior teams do.
Here is a list of Junior teams from the Glasgow area which have played in the West Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association
. More could be included if the complete Greater Glasgow
conurbanition was taken into consideration:
team, the Glasgow Warriors
, which play in the Celtic League
alongside teams from Scotland, Ireland
and Wales
.
In addition, Glasgow is home to several amateur teams who compete at all levels throughout Scottish Rugby.
These include:
Sports Centre. In 2003 the National Academy for Badminton
was completed in Scotstoun. In 2003 Glasgow was also given the title of European Capital of Sport.
Smaller sporting facilities include an abundance of small outdoor football pitches, as well as golf clubs such as Haggs Castle and artificial ski slopes.
Befitting its strong Highland connections as the City of the Gael Baile Mòr nan Gàidheal, Glasgow is also one of five places in Scotland which hosts the final of the Scottish Cup of Shinty
, better known as the Camanachd Cup. This is usually held at Old Anniesland. Once home to numerous Shinty clubs, there is now only one senior club in Glasgow, Glasgow Mid-Argyll, as well as two university sides, Strathclyde University and Glasgow University
Glasgow was also the birthplace of Scotland's American football
scene, which although not as strong as in its early years continues to the present day. The Glasgow Lions
were the first team to be formed in Scotland in 1984. Between 1998 and 2004,the Scottish Claymores
played some or all of their home games each season at Hampden and the venue also hosted World Bowl XI
.
Glasgow is also host to Scotland's only professional basketball
team, the Glasgow Rocks.
Speedway
racing is staged at Saracen Park in Hawthorn Street, on the north side of the City. During March to October the Glasgow Tigers
race in the British Premier League
.
Glasgow Green
has been home to Glasgow's rowing
clubs since the mid-nineteenth century. Crowds of spectators turned up to watch regattas in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although the crowds now watch football instead, rowing on the Clyde continues to this day. Glasgow University Boat Club
thrives alongside other academic and public clubs and there are a number of competitions held on the river every year.
Glasgow is currently bidding to host the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics
.
beat the bid from Abuja
in Nigeria
. It will be based around a number of existing and new-built sporting venues across the city, including; a revamped Hampden Park
with a Commonwealth Games village planned for the East End. It was Glasgow's first bid for the Games, and will be Scotland's third Games, the previous two held in Edinburgh
in 1970 and 1986.
Although London
has won the 2012 Olympic Games, because the Home Countries are classed as separate nations within the Commonwealth
, this issue did not adversely affect Glasgow's bid.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
has a long sporting history, with the world's first international football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
match held in 1872 at the West of Scotland Cricket Club
West of Scotland Cricket Club
The West of Scotland Cricket Club is a large cricket club based in Glasgow, Scotland. Their ground is Hamilton Crescent located in the Partick area of Glasgow's West End...
's Hamilton Crescent
Hamilton Crescent
Hamilton Crescent is a cricket ground located in the Partick area of Glasgow, Scotland. It is the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club.Hamilton Crescent is famous for holding the first ever international football match, played between Scotland and England...
ground in the Partick
Partick
Partick is an area of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde, just across from Govan. To the west lies Whiteinch. Partick was a Police burgh from 1852 until 1912 when it was incorporated into the city.-History:...
area of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. The match was between Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
and England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
and resulted in a 0–0 draw.
Football
The city is home to Scotland's largest footballFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
stadia: Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
(60,832 seats), Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
(51,082 seats) and Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
(52,670 seats), which is Scotland's national football stadium. Hampden Park holds the European record for attendance at a football match: 149,547 saw Scotland beat England 3-1 in 1937, in the days before British stadia became all-seated
All-seater stadium
An all-seater stadium is a sports stadium in which every spectator has a seat. This is commonplace in football stadiums in nations such as the United Kingdom, Spain, and the Netherlands. Most soccer and American football stadiums in the United States and Canada are all-seaters, as are most baseball...
(though old Wembley had been reputed to hold over 200,000 unofficially).
Glasgow has three professional football clubs: Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
and Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, which together make the Old Firm
Old Firm
The Old Firm is a common collective name for the association football clubs Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, Scotland.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers. However, author,...
, and Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
. A fourth club, Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
, is an amateur club that plays in the Scottish professional league system. Prior to this, Glasgow had six other professional clubs: Clyde, which moved to Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld is a Scottish new town in North Lanarkshire. It was created in 1956 as a population overspill for Glasgow City. It is the eighth most populous settlement in Scotland and the largest in North Lanarkshire...
, plus Third Lanark
Third Lanark A.C.
Third Lanark Athletic Club was a football club that originally existed between 1872 and 1967, 95 years in existence, based in Glasgow, Scotland. Third Lanark were known as Thirds, the Warriors, the Redcoats and the Hi Hi's...
, Cambuslang F.C, Port Glasgow Athletic F.C.
Port Glasgow Athletic F.C.
Port Glasgow Athletic were a senior Scottish Football club formed in 1880. It was originally named Broadfield before changing its name in 1881....
, Cowlairs F.C.
Cowlairs F.C.
Cowlairs Football Club was a 19th century football club from Glasgow, Scotland. One of the founder members of the Scottish Football League in 1890, the club was based in Cowlairs, in the Springburn area of the city.-History:...
and Clydesdale F.C.
Clydesdale F.C.
Clydesdale F.C. were a nineteenth-century Glasgow-based soccer club, who were attached to Clydesdale Cricket Club during the 1870s. In 1873, Clydesdale was one of the teams to found the Scottish Football Association....
, who all went bankrupt. Senior teams such as St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
, Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
, Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
, Albion Rovers, Airdrie United and Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
play in Greater Glasgow
Greater Glasgow
Greater Glasgow is an urban settlement in Scotland consisting of all localities which are physically attached to the city of Glasgow, forming with it a single contiguous urban area...
, as well as the long defunct Abercorn F.C.
Abercorn F.C.
Abercorn Football Club was a football club based in Paisley, Scotland, which played in the Scottish Football League from 1890 until 1915. The team's strip colours were blue and white stripes. Abercorn were founder members of the Scottish Football League, but eventually could not compete with...
The history of football in the city, as well as the status of the Old Firm
Old Firm
The Old Firm is a common collective name for the association football clubs Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, Scotland.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers. However, author,...
, attracts many visitors to football matches in the city throughout the season. Hampden Park and Ibrox have been awarded UEFA 5 star status, meaning that they are capable of hosting the final of the Champions' League. Hampden Park has hosted the final on three occasions, most recently in 2002 and hosted the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
Final in 2007. The Scottish Football Association
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
, the national governing body, and the Scottish Football Museum
Scottish Football Museum
The Scottish Football Museum is the Scottish Football Association's National Museum of football, located in Hampden Park in Glasgow.-The Museum:...
are based in Glasgow, as are the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
, Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
, Scottish Junior Football Association
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
and Scottish Amateur Football Association
Scottish Amateur Football Association
The Scottish Amateur Football Association is the organising body for amateur football across Scotland. An affiliate of the Scottish Football Association, the SAFA has in turn 50 regional associations affiliated to it and some 67 different league competitions organised by these associations...
. The Glasgow Cup
Glasgow Cup
The Glasgow Cup is a knockout football tournament open to teams from Glasgow. It was competed for annually by senior Glasgow clubs from 1887 until 1988. It is now competed for between the youth teams of Rangers, Celtic, Clyde, Partick Thistle and Queen's Park.It is dominated by the Old Firm of...
was a once popular tournament, were all professional teams from the city would compete, however, now only Junior teams do.
| Club | Sport | League | Venue | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celtic Celtic F.C. Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the... |
Association Football | Scottish Premier League Scottish Premier League The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland... |
Celtic Park Celtic Park Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,... |
60,832 |
| Partick Thistle Partick Thistle F.C. Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908... |
Association Football | Scottish Football League Scottish Football League The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League... |
Firhill Stadium Firhill Stadium Firhill Stadium or Firhill Arena is a football, rugby union and rugby league stadium located in the Maryhill area of Glasgow, Scotland. As of 2010 it is the home ground of football club Partick Thistle F.C... |
10,887 |
| Queen's Park Queen's Park F.C. Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest... |
Association Football | Scottish Football League Scottish Football League The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League... |
Hampden Park Hampden Park Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland... |
52,500 |
| Rangers Rangers F.C. Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses... |
Association Football | Scottish Premier League Scottish Premier League The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland... |
Ibrox Stadium Ibrox Stadium Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082... |
51,082 |
Here is a list of Junior teams from the Glasgow area which have played in the West Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
. More could be included if the complete Greater Glasgow
Greater Glasgow
Greater Glasgow is an urban settlement in Scotland consisting of all localities which are physically attached to the city of Glasgow, forming with it a single contiguous urban area...
conurbanition was taken into consideration:
- Arthurlie F.C.Arthurlie F.C.Arthurlie Football Club are a Junior Scottish football team based in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, near Glasgow. They play at Dunterlie Park, on Carlibar Road, adjacent to Barrhead railway station. They currently play in the Stagecoach Super League, Premier Division...
- Bellshill Athletic F.C.Bellshill Athletic F.C.Bellshill Athletic Football Club is a Scottish football club, historically based in the town of Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, though currently groundsharing with fellow Junior club Vale of Clyde in Glasgow...
- Benburb F.C.Benburb F.C.Benburb Football Club are a Scottish football club, based in Govan, Glasgow. Formed in 1900 they are members of the Scottish Junior Football Association and currently compete in the SJFA Central Division One....
- Cambuslang Rangers F.C.Cambuslang Rangers F.C.Cambuslang Rangers Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire. Nicknamed The Lang or the wee Gers, were formed in 1899, they play at Somervell Park and wear blue strips ....
- Clydebank F.C.Clydebank F.C.Clydebank Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, near Yoker. The present club, formed in 2003, is a member of the Scottish Junior Football Association, and currently plays in West Super League Premier Division...
- Glasgow Perthshire F.C.Glasgow Perthshire F.C.Glasgow Perthshire Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Possilpark, in the North of Glasgow. Nicknamed the Shire, they were formed in 1890 and play at Keppoch Park, not far from the Saracen Park home of Ashfield...
- Linthouse F.C.Linthouse F.C.Linthouse were a football club from Linthouse, Glasgow, Scotland. Formed in 1881 from an Athletics club, the played their home matches at Langlands Park until closing in 1900. The team played in navy blue....
- Maryhill F.C.Maryhill F.C.Maryhill Football Club are a football team based in the Maryhill area of Glasgow, Scotland. Members of the Scottish Junior Football Association, they currently play in the West Region, Central Division Two....
- Parkhead F.C.Parkhead F.C.Parkhead Football Club was a founding member of the Scottish Junior Football League but the team no longer exists. It played at Helenslea Park in Parkhead, Glasgow. In the early years of the Scottish Junior Cup, Parkhead Juniors appeared in 9 finals and won the cup 5 times. Many of its players went...
- Petershill F.C.Petershill F.C.Petershill Football Club are a Scottish football club from Springburn in the north of Glasgow. Nicknamed the Peasy, they were formed in 1897 and are traditionally one of the stronger clubs at their level, although they have not been as successful in recent years as they have historically.The play...
- Pollok F.C.Pollok F.C.Pollok Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Newlands in the southside of the city of Glasgow. They are one of the biggest football clubs operating in Scottish Junior football, regularly attracting crowds of around 550, more than many clubs in the third division and even some in the...
- Port Glasgow F.C.Port Glasgow F.C.The Port Glasgow Juniors F.C. are a Scottish football club, currently based in the town of Greenock, Inverclyde.Nicknamed the Undertakers, they were formed as Port Glasgow Athletic Juveniles F.C. in 1948 as an offshoot of Clune Rock Juveniles. They stepped up to the Junior ranks a year later and...
- Renfrew F.C.Renfrew F.C.Renfrew F.C. are a Scottish football club from the town of Renfrew. Formed in 1912, they play in the Western Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association.The club play home games at Western Park...
- Rutherglen Glencairn F.C.Rutherglen Glencairn F.C.Rutherglen Glencairn Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Rutherglen,...
- Shettleston F.C.Shettleston F.C.Shettleston Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Shettleston, in the East End of Glasgow. Nicknamed the Town, they were formed in 1903 and are based at Greenfield Park...
- St Anthony's F.C.St Anthony's F.C.St Anthony's Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Cardonald, Glasgow. Nicknamed the Ants, they were formed in 1902 and are based at McKenna Park...
- St Roch's F.C.St Roch's F.C.St Roch's Football Club is a Scottish football club, based in Provanmill,Glasgow. Nicknamed "the Candy Rock", they were formed in 1921 and play at Provanmill Park. The team is currently managed by David Greig, assisted by Joe McCall and Patrick Parker. A revamped team for the 2009/2010 season has...
- Thorniewood United F.C.Thorniewood United F.C.Thorniewood United Football Club are a Scottish football club, based in Viewpark, Lanarkshire near Glasgow. Nicknamed the Wood, they were formed in 1924 and play at Robertson Park, having moved from Thorn Park in nearby Tannochside in 1957 when the giant Caterpillar Tractor Company acquired the...
- Vale of Clyde F.C.Vale of Clyde F.C.Vale of Clyde Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Tollcross, in the East End of Glasgow. Nicknamed Tin Pail, they were formed in 1873 and are based at Fullarton Park...
- Yoker Athletic F.C.Yoker Athletic F.C.Yoker Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Clydebank near Glasgow. Yoker is an area of Glasgow adjacent to Clydebank, however Yoker's stadium lies just outside the Glasgow boundary. Nicknamed the Whe Ho, they were formed in 1886 and are based at Holm Park...
Rugby
Glasgow also boasts a professional rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team, the Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow Warriors
The Glasgow Warriors, formerly Glasgow Rugby, are one of two professional rugby union teams in Scotland, Edinburgh being the other. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12 and their home ground is Firhill Stadium, also the home of Partick Thistle Football Club.-History:Glasgow Rugby were created to...
, which play in the Celtic League
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
alongside teams from Scotland, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
In addition, Glasgow is home to several amateur teams who compete at all levels throughout Scottish Rugby.
These include:
- Glasgow HawksGlasgow HawksGlasgow Hawks are an amateur rugby union team in Glasgow, Scotland. They were Premiership Division One champions for 3 consecutive seasons from 2003/04 to 2005/06.-The short history of Glasgow Hawks RFC:...
- West of Scotland
- Glasgow Hutchesons' Aloysians
- Hillhead JordanhillHillhead Jordanhill RFCHillhead-Jordanhill Rugby Football Club, nicknamed "Hills", is a Premier Two rugby union club who play their home games at Hughenden in the heart of the West End of Glasgow. Despite its name it is not located in either the Hillhead or Jordanhill, although the pre-merger clubs did have historical...
Other Sports
Major international sporting arenas include Kelvin Hall and ScotstounScotstoun
Scotstoun is a historic district of Glasgow, Scotland, west of Glasgow City Centre. It is bounded by Yoker and Knightswood to the west, Victoria Park, Broomhill and Whiteinch to the east, Jordanhill to the north and the River Clyde to the south...
Sports Centre. In 2003 the National Academy for Badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
was completed in Scotstoun. In 2003 Glasgow was also given the title of European Capital of Sport.
Smaller sporting facilities include an abundance of small outdoor football pitches, as well as golf clubs such as Haggs Castle and artificial ski slopes.
Befitting its strong Highland connections as the City of the Gael Baile Mòr nan Gàidheal, Glasgow is also one of five places in Scotland which hosts the final of the Scottish Cup of Shinty
Shinty
Shinty is a team game played with sticks and a ball. Shinty is now played mainly in the Scottish Highlands, and amongst Highland migrants to the big cities of Scotland, but it was formerly more widespread, being once competitively played on a widespread basis in England and other areas in the...
, better known as the Camanachd Cup. This is usually held at Old Anniesland. Once home to numerous Shinty clubs, there is now only one senior club in Glasgow, Glasgow Mid-Argyll, as well as two university sides, Strathclyde University and Glasgow University
Glasgow was also the birthplace of Scotland's American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
scene, which although not as strong as in its early years continues to the present day. The Glasgow Lions
Glasgow Lions
The Glasgow Lions were the first amateur American football team to be founded in Scotland. They were founded in 1984, and disbanded after the 1996 season owing to a competitive imbalance in their league....
were the first team to be formed in Scotland in 1984. Between 1998 and 2004,the Scottish Claymores
Scottish Claymores
The Scottish Claymores were an American football team from Scotland. The franchise played in the World League of American Football between 1995 and 2004, initially playing all home games at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh and latterly sharing home games with Hampden Park, Glasgow...
played some or all of their home games each season at Hampden and the venue also hosted World Bowl XI
World Bowl XI
World Bowl XI was NFL Europe's 2003 championship game. It was played at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland on June 14, 2003. The game was between the 6-4 Rhein Fire and the 6-4 Frankfurt Galaxy. The Fire was hoping to avenge last year's loss to Berlin, while the Galaxy was looking for their first...
.
Glasgow is also host to Scotland's only professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team, the Glasgow Rocks.
Speedway
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
racing is staged at Saracen Park in Hawthorn Street, on the north side of the City. During March to October the Glasgow Tigers
Glasgow Tigers (speedway)
The Glasgow Tigers are a motorcycle speedway team from Glasgow, Scotland. Formed in 1928, the club adopted the Tigers nickname in 1946 and compete in the British Premier League...
race in the British Premier League
Speedway Premier League
The Premier League is the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom and goverened by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . The Premier League was founded in 1995 when it replaced the British League as the first division...
.
Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green is a park situated in the east end of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde. It is the oldest park in the city dating back to the 15th century.In 1450, King James II granted the land to Bishop William Turnbull and the people of Glasgow...
has been home to Glasgow's rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
clubs since the mid-nineteenth century. Crowds of spectators turned up to watch regattas in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although the crowds now watch football instead, rowing on the Clyde continues to this day. Glasgow University Boat Club
Glasgow University Boat Club
Glasgow University Boat Club is one of the oldest institutions at the University of Glasgow, in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, with a rich tradition stretching back to its foundation in 1877. Although traditionally all-male, in 2004 the club underwent an historic transformation with the acceptance...
thrives alongside other academic and public clubs and there are a number of competitions held on the river every year.
Glasgow is currently bidding to host the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics
2018 Summer Youth Olympics
The 2018 Summer Youth Olympics will be the third Summer Youth Olympic Games, a major international multi-sport event and cultural festival to be celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games, in 2018 during the XXXI Olympiad. It will be the fifth Youth Olympic Games overall, with the Winter...
.
Bid
Glasgow's bidGlasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games bid
The Glasgow bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games was the successful bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games by the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It beat the Abuja 2014 Commonwealth Games bid to host the games, which will be held over 11 days, with the opening ceremony on 23 July 2014, and the last day...
beat the bid from Abuja
Abuja 2014 Commonwealth Games bid
The Abuja bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games was an unsuccessful bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games by the city of Abuja, Nigeria. The bidding race was won by the Glasgow 2014 bid after a 47-24 vote by the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly 9 November 2007 in Sri...
in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. It will be based around a number of existing and new-built sporting venues across the city, including; a revamped Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
with a Commonwealth Games village planned for the East End. It was Glasgow's first bid for the Games, and will be Scotland's third Games, the previous two held in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in 1970 and 1986.
Although London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
has won the 2012 Olympic Games, because the Home Countries are classed as separate nations within the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
, this issue did not adversely affect Glasgow's bid.