Hampden Park acts as the home of Scotland’s national football team. A stadium was built on this site by Queen’s Park FC in 1903 with a capacity of 100,000 – at the time it was the largest football stadium in the world! Queen’s Park had already moved their home ground twice before playing here and there have been three pitches known as Hampden Park.
Rudy took a walk from Crosshill to Mount Florida less than a mile away but with a short detour managed to visit all three Hampdens on the way.
First Hampden
In 1873 Queen’s Park FC left behind their pitches at Queen’s Park and built the UKs first enclosed stadium with turnstiles. Their new ground hosted the very first Scottish Cup Final in 1874 as well as several Scotland international matches. After ten years here plans by the Caledonian Railway to build the Cathcart Lines through the area forced a move.
The remaining part of the site is now home to the Hampden Bowling Club who commissioned a mural in 2019 to celebrate the early history of Scottish Football. The mural suffered from vandalism in February 2020 but by our visit in September the final touches were being made to it’s restoration. Ashley Rawson says the mural “pokes gentle fun at supporters as they rattle by on the train towards the current Hampden Park”. You can visit their site at https://ashleyrawson.com/murals
Site of the first Hampden Park Rudy is definitely not allowed to run around on bowling greens! Hampden Bowling Club
Second Hampden
The second football ground known as Hampden Park was just across Cathcart Road from the first. Queen’s Park again spent only ten years playing here before another move, this time after being refused extra land to expand. Another local club, Third Lanark, stepped in to take over the lease in 1903 and renamed it New Cathkin Park. Queen’s Park took their grandstand and pavilions with them and Third Lanark had to rebuild!
By 1967 Third Lanark had faded and the club folded. The football terraces are still here, mostly very overgrown with mature trees giving it an almost spooky feel if only it wasn’t such a beautiful sunshine day when we visited! Amateur League football is still played here pre-pandemic and there are various plans to redevelop the park including a 2000 seat grandstand and a football history museum. Until then it’s a great little park for dog-walkers with some satisfying Glasgow history amongst the trees & terraces.
Hampden Park
After taking a wrong turn leaving Cathkin Park, Rudy did eventually make it to the current Hampden Stadium! Originally built over three years and opening in October 1903 it was the largest football stadium in the world with space for over 100,000 fans. It grew even larger over the next few decades until 149,415 fans watched a Scotland v England match in 1937. As safety became stricter and comfort more important several rounds of renovations have reduced it to about 52,000 capacity now. Rudy visited on a non match day so had plenty time to take a few tourist selfies!
