Elgin City F.C.
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox football club
Elgin City Football Club (also known as City or The Black and Whites) is a professional senior football club based in Elgin, Moray.
Elgin was founded in 1893 and originally played their football in the Highland Football League. The club was granted league status in 2000. They currently compete in the Scottish Professional Football League in Template:Scottish football updater.
History
The present Elgin City club was formed on 10 August 1893 by the amalgamation of two Elgin sides, Rovers (Formed 1887) and Vale of Lossie (Founded 1888). However the name Elgin City was used by two clubs prior to this. The first was formed in October 1879, but lasted for only a short time. The second Elgin City was formed in October 1884 and lasted until early 1887.
The present club's first major honour came in the 1898–99 season when they became the first team outside Inverness to win the North of Scotland Cup, beating Clachnacuddin 2–1. However, they failed to record any more success aside from the Elgin District Cup until 1924 when they again won the North of Scotland Cup a second time. Since then they have won honours with relative frequency.
In 1968 the club reached the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup, the furthest into the tournament that a Highland League club has ever progressed.
The club was granted league status in 2000 when the SPL was expanded to twelve clubs leaving two places to be filled. Peterhead joined them in the Third Division from the Highland League.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Since joining the SFL, Elgin have struggled with consistency, and to this date have neither been promoted or relegated, but in season 2003–04 they recaptured the North of Scotland Cup.
In December 2005, assistant manager Kenny Black saw a takeover bid thwarted at the eleventh hour. Many fans saw his bid as the best chance to move upward through the leagues, but a controversial sale of shares in the club meant Black's bid was defeated. David Robertson, manager at the time, also chose to leave the club. Former Lossiemouth manager Graham Tatters was subsequently named as Elgin's new chairman.<ref name="Robertson resign">Template:Cite web</ref> Club captain at the time Jamie McKenzie was appointed caretaker manager and a run of good results was rewarded with the Manager of the Month award for December 2005; at the time he was the youngest serving manager in the UK. <ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Early in 2006, former Aberdeen, Ross County and Scotland international, Brian Irvine was appointed manager.<ref name="Irvine appointment">Template:Cite web</ref> However, following a very poor start to the 2006–07 season, he left the club despite having forged a good relationship with the fans.<ref name="Irvine resign">Template:Cite web</ref>
After a brief spell under interim manager Graham Tatters (during which they lost to Highland League Deveronvale in the Scottish Cup Third round), former Clachnacuddin manager Robbie Williamson was appointed in January 2007.<ref name="Williamson appointment">Template:Cite web</ref> Williamson quit on 20 December 2008, before a game with Berwick Rangers. He left the team bottom of the Third Division after just two wins from 15 matches.<ref name="Williamson resign">Template:Cite web</ref>
On 23 January 2009, former player of Everton, Norwich City, Dundee, Dunfermline Athletic and Kilmarnock, Ross Jack was named as the club's new manager, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract.<ref name="Jack appointment">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was a former player-manager of Montrose and former assistant coach at Ross County.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 5 January 2013, Elgin City became the first club to take a point from Rangers at Ibrox in the season, with the game finishing 1–1.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Ross Jack left the club on 22 January 2014 after five years in charge, with the club lying in second bottom position of the division.<ref name="Jack resign">Template:Cite web</ref> In his time at the club, the high point was reaching the divisional play-offs at the end of season 2011–12.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Former player and assistant manager Barry Wilson was appointed as manager on 28 January 2014 and announced his intention to have a squad of north-based players.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Barry Wilson resigned as manager on 17 November 2014<ref name="Wilson resign">Template:Cite web</ref> and was replaced by Jim Weir 10 days later.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Weir appointment">Template:Cite web</ref> On 30 April 2016, they sealed the runners up spot in Scottish League Two and entered the promotion Play-offs. However, they lost 5–1 on aggregate to Clyde and remained in League Two. The club finished fifth in 2017, missing out on a play off spot by one point.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 2018 saw another mid-table finish, as the club ended the campaign in sixth place on 49 points.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2019, the club finished in eighth place, 24 points clear of the playoff spot.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Ground
Elgin City have played at Borough Briggs since 1921 when it replaced Cooper Park. The ground currently has a capacity of Template:SPFL-stadiums (478 seated)<ref name="capacity">Template:Cite web</ref> and is the most northerly football league ground in the United Kingdom.
Kit history
| Years | Kit Manufacturer | Kit Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 1895–1986 | Unknown | None |
| 1986–1988 | Template:Flagicon Umbro | Template:Flagicon Bitoben |
| 1989–1990 | Template:Flagicon William Wilson Plumbing | |
| 1990–1991 | Unknown | |
| 1991–1992 | GO Wear | Norco |
| 1992–1993 | Unknown | Sportscoup |
| 1993–1994 | Unknown | None |
| 1994–1998 | No Records | |
| 1998–1999 | Template:Flagicon Uhlsport | Template:Flagicon Gordon Williamson |
| 1999–2000 | Prostar | |
| 2000–2003 | Template:Flagicon Erreà | |
| 2003–2005 | Template:Flagicon John Fleming | |
| 2005–2006 | Template:Flagicon Robertson Homes | |
| 2006–2007 | Template:Flagicon Diadora | |
| 2007–2008 | Template:Flagicon Hummel | Template:Flagicon GSH |
| 2008–2009 | Template:Flagicon H&R Insurance | |
| 2009–2010 | Unknown | |
| 2010–2011 | Template:Flagicon Edgar Road Properties | |
| 2011–2012 | Template:Flagicon Clark Thomson Insurance | |
| 2012–2013 | Template:Flagicon Robertson Homes | |
| 2013–2018 | Template:Flagicon EC 1893 (own brand) | Template:Flagicon McDonald & Munro Ltd |
| 2018–2020 | Template:Flagicon EV2 Sportswear | |
| 2020– | Template:Flagicon Joma | |
First-team squad
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On loan
Template:Fs start Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs end
Club officials
Board
- Chairman: Alan Murray
- Vice-chair: Isla Benzie
- Directors: Chris Foot, Stephen Hopes, Cecil Jack, Kenny Stewart
Staff
- Manager: Allan Hale
- Assistant manager: Stefan Laird
- First team coach: Connor Yeats
- Goalkeeping coach: Gordon Milne
- Performance analyst: John Walker
- Club doctor: Duff Bruce
- Physiotherapists: Andrew Jones, Catherine Graham
- Joint heads of youth academy: Darren Main, Steven Rattray
Honours
- Highland League
- Champions: 1931–32, 1934–35, 1952–53, 1955–56 (After Play-off), 1959–60, 1960–61 (After Play-off), 1962–63, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1973–74, 1989–90 (14)
Elgin City had won the 1992–93 season but were stripped of title for bringing forward their final match of the season, so that two players due to serve a suspension could play.
- Highland League Cup
- Winners: 1959–60, 1966–67, 1982–83, 1990–91, 1997–98 (5)
- Scottish Qualifying Cup (North)
- Winners: 1935–36, 1937–38, 1959–60, 1964–65, 1967–68, 1970–71, 1989–90 (7)
- North of Scotland Cup
- Winners: 1898–99, 1923–24, 1936–37, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1982–83, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2003–04 (18)
Club records
Win: 18–1 v Brora Rangers on 6 February 1960 (North of Scotland Cup)
Defeat: 1–14 v Heart of Midlothian on 4 February 1939 (1938–39 Scottish Cup)
Home attendance: 12,608 v Arbroath on 17 February 1968 (1967–68 Scottish Cup)
Away attendance: 46,406 v Rangers on 5 January 2013 (Scottish League, Third Division)
Most Scottish League Appearances: Brian Cameron 342 (39) (2008–)
Most Individual Goals in a Scottish League Match: 4 by Craig Gunn v Berwick Rangers, 6 August 2011 at Borough Briggs (Won 4–1)
Most Individual Goals in a Scottish Cup Match: 4 by Shane Sutherland v Hawick Royal Albert, 26 November 2016 at Borough Briggs (Won 8–1)
Most Scottish League Goals in a Season: Craig Gunn 21 (2015–16)
Most Scottish League Goals: Craig Gunn 114 (2009–2017)
Most Highland League Appearances: Neil MacLennan 438 (1979–1980, 1983–2000)
Most Individual Goals in a Highland League Match: 8 by Charlie Cormack v Nairn County, 29 August 1936 at Borough Briggs (Won 12–2)
Most Highland League Goals in a Season: Matt Armstrong 52 in 30 Appearances (1947–48)
Most Highland League Goals: Gerry Graham 259 in 257 Appearances (1965–1974)
Most Goals in a Season: Willie Grant 66 in 40 Appearances (1960–61)
Record Goalscorer: Gerry Graham (371) (1965–1974)
Managers since entry to the SFL
- Template:Flagicon Alex Caldwell (24 February 2000 – 9 December 2002)<ref name="Caldwell sacked">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Template:Flagicon Harry McFadden (9 December 2002 – 2003, caretaker)<ref name="Caldwell sacked"/>
- Template:Flagicon David Robertson (2003 – 2 December 2005)<ref name="Robertson resign"/>
- Template:Flagicon Jamie McKenzie (2005 – 2006, caretaker)
- Template:Flagicon Brian Irvine (26 January 2006 – December 2006)<ref name="Irvine appointment"/><ref name="Irvine resign"/>
- Template:Flagicon Graham Tatters (2006 – 2007, caretaker)
- Template:Flagicon Robbie Williamson (11 January 2007 – 21 December 2008)<ref name="Williamson appointment"/><ref name="Williamson resign"/>
- Template:Flagicon David McConnachie (2008 – 2009, caretaker)
- Template:Flagicon Ross Jack (23 January 2009 – 22 January 2014)<ref name="Jack appointment"/><ref name="Jack resign"/>
- Template:Flagicon Barry Wilson (28 January 2014 – 17 November 2014)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Wilson resign"/>
- Template:Flagicon Jim Weir (27 November 2014 – 1 October 2017)<ref name="Weir appointment"/>
- Template:Flagicon Gavin Price (1 October 2017 – 8 April 2023)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Template:Flagicon Ross Draper (9 April 2023 – 5 September 2023)
- Template:Flagicon Barry Smith (6 September 2023 – 13 November 2023)
- Template:Flagicon Allan Hale (5 December 2023 – present)
References
External links
- Template:Official website
- Supporters' trust website (archived)
- Detailed history at fitbastats.com
Template:Elgin City F.C. Template:Navbox Template:Scottish Football League Template:Highland Football League Template:Authority control