Festival Events 2019

Hampden Memories

Modern football was arguably invented in the Southside of Glasgow. It is the home of Queen's Park (the oldest Association Football club in Scotland, founded in 1867); the first Hampden Park where the first international match (and the biggest recorded crowd) was held. And it was from here that Scots took football to the rest of the world and many of those pioneers of the early game are buried in Cathcart cemetery: Hugh McColl, who founded the Spanish club Seville and who, together with others such as John Harley (also buried in the cemetery) brought the passing game to South America. The cemetery is also home to one of the world’s first international football players, Joseph Taylor.

But these men, their working-class stories and the important part they play in sporting history are all but forgotten – a bit like the cemetery. The Friends of Cathcart Cemetery want to use the Southside’s footballing heritage as a basis for sharing memories of those who can no longer attend games.

Working in partnership with another local group, the Hampden Collection they are hosting a public event at the site of the first Hampden Park (now Hampden Bowling Club). Short talks on the football history of the area and on the cemetery and the famous footballers residing will be interspersed with opportunities for the audience to remember and share memories over a cup of tea.

There will be a stall with information about death and dying, conversation starters and signposts to further support.

Free, but book a place here

For more info, e-mail cathcartcemeteryfriends@gmail.com

Wednesday 6 November 2019, 7pm - 9pm
Hampden Bowling Club, 10 Kingsley Avenue, Glasgow G42 8BU