As Meadowbank Thistle the club had very small crowds, but achieved cult status as Radio One DJ John Peel started promoting them and so a London branch of their supporters club was formed. Members regularly went to games via train, returning via the last train back to arrive in London early on Sunday morning. I joined, and went to a few games. One of those trips was (I think ) v East Stirlingshire, and there were over 70 fans from London, which was nearly one third of the total attendance. In a tremendous gesture, the London fans on that trip were all invited into the boardroom after the game, everyone's hands were shook, and we were all given a tot of whisky!
Enjoyable video mate. Livi fan here also. Looks like you got great weather for it. Can't wait to get back to The Vale again. Miss it badly. Anyway! Hopefully, be seeing you at one of our games in the coming year! 🖤🦁💛
Nice one,I was a meadowbank fan in the eighties , they were only denied a premier league spot as the league got reconstructed that year. Their sponsors in 1988 were the Raj restaurant, only got rid of the top a few years ago. We didn’t take ourselves too seriously..
Love that He is walking around Talking about the History of the club with his camera in front of the courts and Main Police station In west Lothian 😄 surprised the police didn't come to talk to Him 🤣
Hey I’m a Livingston fan and I just wanna say even tho we don’t have that much fans we still make an amazing atmosphere and my fav game was when me beat Celtic 2-0
@Beebasnub Plenty of land around the stadium to build a nice training base for the club. Shame the houses went up before all the land could be bought, still, plenty of space for some other pitches etc, just have to compromise on some of the carpark at the side etc.
the nickname of the stadium was actually offcialy printed on the back of the away shirt for the 2019/20 season i guess as a tribute to the fan culutre sorounding the shopping centre club
Good video, looking forward to your Highland Derby video. The town also has another team, Livingston United, who are one of the few junior clubs left in Scotland. They are applying to join the senior East of Scotland League at the end of the year though, so won't be junior much longer but they still get decent crowds.
@Tony H If that's true about Livingston leaving the juniors next season then the Lothian juniors will be really struggling for numbers next year. They might even have to rejoin the Tayside clubs in a Super League. You have to question why Livingston United are only leaving now and didn't do it in 2018 when the rest of the Juniors left.
@@yamilarimoldi1649 Sadly I very much doubt there will be a Lothian Juniors next year as Armadale and Whitburn are both probably going to be leaving as well. Any club that stays behind will not survive. Why these clubs chose to stay in the Juniors in the first place is beyond me. As soon as the first 13 clubs left the East in 2018 everyone knew the Juniors days were numbered. The Tayside clubs at least had the excuse of not knowing whether they are Lowland or Highland but with the death of the West Region, I think even the most hardcore Juniors will now be looking at their options. I think the best way forward is for the East Region Tayside clubs to merge with the North Region Juniors and form a feeder league to the Highland League.
@Tony H Yeah I think you are right about the East Premiership South but I think the fate of clubs in the East Premiership North will probably depend on what happens when Brechin are relegated. If they go to the Lowland League then there is no reason for Tayside clubs not to be able to join the East of Scotland League.
@@tonyh7994 I think those eastern Junior clubs probably stayed for financial reasons. The vast majority of Junior clubs had "basic" facilities and tiny crowds and could not afford the improvements required for membership of the East of Scotland League.
I walked past the old site of where the stadium was in my Edinburgh City video. Just a building site now I think, but if they finish the building I'll definitely return!
Sculpture is called strive been outside the stadium since it was built it's celebrating ordinary people striving to excel for the sake of there community n country there's quite a few different ones in Livingston n west Lothian all have different meanings but well worth the hassle too find them all
Am from Livingston and I was in my 20s when meadowbank moved to livi. I remember thinking, meadowbank changing there name and moving to Livingston to try and get more fans, I never considered that Livingston would become a premier league team or top championship team consistently. Guess they have grown into their ur identity, wish the name the club livi thistle as I think the thistle on the club badge is the only thing that remains from the original team
David Baxter who became for a few years, the Club Secretary of Edinburgh City, was a Meadowbank Thistle fan and was vehemently opposed to the move to Livingston.
I am a life long Livingston supporter, being just one year older than the club when it moved to Livi. My dad and his mates were hooked as fans the minute the club arrived. When I was around 3 my dad started taking me to the games and I remember the stadium only having two stands, then three, then four with the wrapped round corners, it was a bit like Stirling Albion's Forthbank stadium when I first started going! I know a couple current livi fans who supported the club back in the medowbank days who travel to every match. I know that most of the medowbank fans became Edinburgh City fans and harboured a bit of bitterness towards the new livi club. During the change they called our new chairman Mr. Blobby since he was a fat lad and around 20 years later I was at Livingstons first game against City and a City fan brought a Mr. Blobby blow-up doll haha. That lad must have been holding some grudge.
Shame Meadowbank moved, their stadium was virtually next door to Hibs and I used watch either the Hibees or Meadowbank whoever was home midweek as I played sport myself on a Saturday afternoon, handy for me living just off Leith Walk. One or the other would normally be home midweek. small crowds in the Commonwealth stadium unfortunately but they used to play attractive football when I used to watch them in the mid 80s.
Another great video got to visit Livingston in my own tour of Scottish clubs..as a Wimbledon fan always thought this scenario was more like the MK one with a town wanting a football club and then buying and relocating a financial unstable club.. wouldn't be surprised if Meadowbank fans are now supporters of Edinburgh City especially as they now in the league and play at Meadowbank Stadium
I believe quite a few Meadowbank fans started supporting Edinburgh City after the relocation. Don't think the relationship is nearly as acrimonious as say Clydebank towards Airdrie or Wimbledon to MK Dons though.
As an aberdeen fan I was at Easter Road and a hibs steward told me that Meadowbank had to move as the SFA didn't want a 3rd big Edinburgh club! Meadowbank's ground and Easter Road were too close to each other
Meadowbank was always a temporary home, and they tried moving from the start. Their own ground City Park was unacceptable to the Scottish Football League. Ideas included converting Portobello swimming pool to a ground.
I remember the financial fallout of Livingston. It was more about Bank of Scotland and their personal vendetta against Livi Chairman Dominic Keane. Club suffered due to this. I think the club had the least debt in the SPL at the Time? Although I could be mistaken.
Remember bak in 2005 dundee played livi the last game of the season needed to win to avoid relegation thousands dundee fans went through but loads didnt get in because the ground was full so everyone stood on the hill to watch the game( lost and got releagted lol)
Great video and I'm a big Livi fan! 😀We have had loads of ups and downs it's a rollercoaster ride being a Livingston Fan! But we are in semis of league cup final!
To answer a few questions I don't remember the movement from Edinburgh to Livingston because I am 17 but a lot of people who supported meadowbank resent us now. As for the statue outside the ground I think it is a modern art statue it is nothing to do with the club And yeah you are spot on there has been a series of ups and downs supporting livi.
Glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for the other info there as well! Cool to hear about a new generation of Livi fans coming through. Hopefully I can get to a game there one day!
@@biglads4tw You will only get a Meddowbank Thistle shirt from TOFFS. Basically before that it was just a plan black & amber hooped rugby style shirt prior to them becoming Meddowbank Thistle they would not of had a Crest before then. They got there first stripes from a taylors shop in Edinburgh & it was a case of take what they could get & the black & amber hoops was all the taylors shop had left in the way of sports kits.
@@FootyAdventures Impossible to find as it The Ferranti Thistle kits where bought from a taylors shop in Edinburgh & it was a case of take what was left at the time black & amber hooped rugby style kits likey with a white dril style collar I would think. I remember my Dad telling me he got a Manchester City away shirt when he was a teenager back in the 70's he did not even like Manchester City he is a Rangers fans but football shirt ued to be much harder to get your hands on it was a case of take what you could get even when I was growing up in the 90's it was not easy I remember trying to get The Ajax home shirt 94/94 sent away the postal order it got returned because it was out stock thats how it used to be not like it is now you can basically buy whatever club or National teams shirt you like now.
Another great video. Interestingly in the states the. Foco site is redirected to the US version. The assumption being that no one in the states is interested in Scottish Football. Bah. Why won't many of the Scottish clubs other than Celtic and Rangers ship overseas?
Will Meadowbank Thistle reform and play at the old ground or will one of the many Edinburgh clubs change there name to Meadowbank Thistle as Edinburgh City third away strip is yellow top black shorts black socks the colours of Meadowbank Thistle.
Terry Christie , The Duffel, Meadowbank thistle manager Moved to stenhousemuir , then moved to Alloa As manager won two challenge cups with the latter clubs
My head teacher was the manager of them Mr Terry Christie meadow bank this and they were called Ferrari this to I went to the game in my time myself It was for Edinburgh having 3teams in the league at the time some memories of this over the years I am from Edinburgh myself
People were happy to have a professional side in the town and attendances were always decent for the lower leagues. As the club got more successful fans of other clubs from the town became jealous and also the fact the club had ex celtic directors in charge put people off supporting them aswell
I used to go to meadowbank th games ,was ball boy at home games as a kid ,when they moved i would follow hibs ,keep it local ..was not a fan of moving city ..shame .
Another excellent video mate. The only bit of info I have to add to this one is that the bobbly green carpet that passes for a pitch at Almondvale is quite possibly the worst plastic pitch in Scotland - LOL!
Just to clarify, Rangers were wound up and liquidated, then re-formed. Livingston broke some rules around insolvency, but actually paid their debts and paid money to the SFA. Rangers would not be the same entity in a less corrupt league. Airdrie never got to keep their history and stay as the same club, and they had to pay to adopt their old name of Airdrieoneans rather than keep using Airdrie Utd.
👌👌👌 class video ⚽️⚽️⚽️
Cheers mate!
@Joseph Jr McNamara sorry but when did I ask
@Joseph Jr McNamara Christ you are obsessed and an embarrassment.
As Meadowbank Thistle the club had very small crowds, but achieved cult status as Radio One DJ John Peel started promoting them and so a London branch of their supporters club was formed. Members regularly went to games via train, returning via the last train back to arrive in London early on Sunday morning. I joined, and went to a few games. One of those trips was (I think ) v East Stirlingshire, and there were over 70 fans from London, which was nearly one third of the total attendance. In a tremendous gesture, the London fans on that trip were all invited into the boardroom after the game, everyone's hands were shook, and we were all given a tot of whisky!
Loving the content you are bringing us during this festive time hopefully we will get back to attending football matches soon.
Cant wait to see a match with fans! Cheers for watching as ever mate
Enjoyable video mate. Livi fan here also. Looks like you got great weather for it.
Can't wait to get back to The Vale again. Miss it badly.
Anyway! Hopefully, be seeing you at one of our games in the coming year! 🖤🦁💛
good video as always.
I hope you enjoy the final 2 teams up north too.
Thank you Sean!
Nice one,I was a meadowbank fan in the eighties , they were only denied a premier league spot as the league got reconstructed that year. Their sponsors in 1988 were the Raj restaurant, only got rid of the top a few years ago. We didn’t take ourselves too seriously..
Cracking kit too. Loved that sponsor, pure Meadowbank.
Brilliant video, enjoyed watching it as I am a Livi fan
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
Love that He is walking around Talking about the History of the club with his camera in front of the courts and Main Police station In west Lothian 😄
surprised the police didn't come to talk to Him 🤣
Medowbank Stadium was used for the 1970 & 1986 Commonwelth Games my relatives competed in the 1970 Commonwelth Games
Oh cool!
@@FootyAdventures Fencing
Yeah,went to the 1970 Commonwealth Games.Only went on a few days of the 2 weeks,but really enjoyed it.Got a programme,somewhere?
Hey I’m a Livingston fan and I just wanna say even tho we don’t have that much fans we still make an amazing atmosphere and my fav game was when me beat Celtic 2-0
Cant wait to see a game there! Thanks for watching!
Love Livi to bits like. Doesn't matter how small we are because it's like a family
@Beebasnub Plenty of land around the stadium to build a nice training base for the club. Shame the houses went up before all the land could be bought, still, plenty of space for some other pitches etc, just have to compromise on some of the carpark at the side etc.
Brilliant video mate from a killie fan 🔵⚪️
Thanks so much, I'm still desperate to get inside Rugby Park! Only ever been from the outside for a couple of vids.
the nickname of the stadium was actually offcialy printed on the back of the away shirt for the 2019/20 season i guess as a tribute to the fan culutre sorounding the shopping centre club
It's patter 😜
Good video, looking forward to your Highland Derby video. The town also has another team, Livingston United, who are one of the few junior clubs left in Scotland. They are applying to join the senior East of Scotland League at the end of the year though, so won't be junior much longer but they still get decent crowds.
Oh cool, cheers for letting me know I'll have to check them out!
@Tony H
If that's true about Livingston leaving the juniors next season then the Lothian juniors will be really struggling for numbers next year. They might even have to rejoin the Tayside clubs in a Super League. You have to question why Livingston United are only leaving now and didn't do it in 2018 when the rest of the Juniors left.
@@yamilarimoldi1649 Sadly I very much doubt there will be a Lothian Juniors next year as Armadale and Whitburn are both probably going to be leaving as well. Any club that stays behind will not survive. Why these clubs chose to stay in the Juniors in the first place is beyond me. As soon as the first 13 clubs left the East in 2018 everyone knew the Juniors days were numbered. The Tayside clubs at least had the excuse of not knowing whether they are Lowland or Highland but with the death of the West Region, I think even the most hardcore Juniors will now be looking at their options. I think the best way forward is for the East Region Tayside clubs to merge with the North Region Juniors and form a feeder league to the Highland League.
@Tony H
Yeah I think you are right about the East Premiership South but I think the fate of clubs in the East Premiership North will probably depend on what happens when Brechin are relegated. If they go to the Lowland League then there is no reason for Tayside clubs not to be able to join the East of Scotland League.
@@tonyh7994 I think those eastern Junior clubs probably stayed for financial reasons. The vast majority of Junior clubs had "basic" facilities and tiny crowds and could not afford the improvements required for membership of the East of Scotland League.
I used to enjoy watching Ferranti Thistle play at City Park
Oh cool! Thanks for watching
can't wait to give this a watch!
Thanks Liam! Hope you liked it!
Another great Video, well done Sam.
Thanks again!
If you haven't already, will you be doing a video about Meadowbank Stadium, former home of Livingston (Meadowbank Thistle) and Edinburgh City
I walked past the old site of where the stadium was in my Edinburgh City video. Just a building site now I think, but if they finish the building I'll definitely return!
This reminds me of when York City's stadium was called the Kit Kat Crescent! 😂
Good video - Well done!!
Thank you!!!
Loving the videos from over here in Nova Scotia ...........
Thank you!!
Sculpture is called strive been outside the stadium since it was built it's celebrating ordinary people striving to excel for the sake of there community n country there's quite a few different ones in Livingston n west Lothian all have different meanings but well worth the hassle too find them all
Class video aswell learned alot aboot Livingston that I didnt know
Legend cheers!
Am from Livingston and I was in my 20s when meadowbank moved to livi. I remember thinking, meadowbank changing there name and moving to Livingston to try and get more fans, I never considered that Livingston would become a premier league team or top championship team consistently. Guess they have grown into their ur identity, wish the name the club livi thistle as I think the thistle on the club badge is the only thing that remains from the original team
Time to add Ferranti to the name perhaps,. Kept the colours too mind. (ok odd adventures with trendy black)
Another good video thanks for the website getting my dad a Man United Snood
Nice, hope he enjoys it!!
David Baxter who became for a few years, the Club Secretary of Edinburgh City, was a Meadowbank Thistle fan and was vehemently opposed to the move to Livingston.
The man with the clipboard - happy days. Alec Milne, a Meadowbank supporter was Chairman of City.
I am a life long Livingston supporter, being just one year older than the club when it moved to Livi. My dad and his mates were hooked as fans the minute the club arrived. When I was around 3 my dad started taking me to the games and I remember the stadium only having two stands, then three, then four with the wrapped round corners, it was a bit like Stirling Albion's Forthbank stadium when I first started going!
I know a couple current livi fans who supported the club back in the medowbank days who travel to every match. I know that most of the medowbank fans became Edinburgh City fans and harboured a bit of bitterness towards the new livi club. During the change they called our new chairman Mr. Blobby since he was a fat lad and around 20 years later I was at Livingstons first game against City and a City fan brought a Mr. Blobby blow-up doll haha. That lad must have been holding some grudge.
Shame Meadowbank moved, their stadium was virtually next door to Hibs and I used watch either the Hibees or Meadowbank whoever was home midweek as I played sport myself on a Saturday afternoon, handy for me living just off Leith Walk. One or the other would normally be home midweek. small crowds in the Commonwealth stadium unfortunately but they used to play attractive football when I used to watch them in the mid 80s.
Ferranti part made the worlds first modern day computer in Manchester
Can’t believe it took until now to get to Livingston 🤣. Must’ve driven past it loads going everywhere else
Mate I've seen the signs for Livingston so many times!
Another great video got to visit Livingston in my own tour of Scottish clubs..as a Wimbledon fan always thought this scenario was more like the MK one with a town wanting a football club and then buying and relocating a financial unstable club.. wouldn't be surprised if Meadowbank fans are now supporters of Edinburgh City especially as they now in the league and play at Meadowbank Stadium
I believe quite a few Meadowbank fans started supporting Edinburgh City after the relocation. Don't think the relationship is nearly as acrimonious as say Clydebank towards Airdrie or Wimbledon to MK Dons though.
Ah ok yeah they're good comparisons to make. The MK/Wimbledon one was quite frosty!
As an aberdeen fan I was at Easter Road and a hibs steward told me that Meadowbank had to move as the SFA didn't want a 3rd big Edinburgh club! Meadowbank's ground and Easter Road were too close to each other
Meadowbank was always a temporary home, and they tried moving from the start. Their own ground City Park was unacceptable to the Scottish Football League. Ideas included converting Portobello swimming pool to a ground.
Wonder if there is any link between St Bernards and Fernanti Thistle?
I remember the financial fallout of Livingston. It was more about Bank of Scotland and their personal vendetta against Livi Chairman Dominic Keane. Club suffered due to this. I think the club had the least debt in the SPL at the Time? Although I could be mistaken.
Buzzing for the Ross county vid
Remember bak in 2005 dundee played livi the last game of the season needed to win to avoid relegation thousands dundee fans went through but loads didnt get in because the ground was full so everyone stood on the hill to watch the game( lost and got releagted lol)
Sounds like a funny away day (despite the result!)
The game was a 1-1 draw but still relegated Dundee and Livi’s goal was scored by Craig Easton ... an ex Dundee United player
Great video and I'm a big Livi fan! 😀We have had loads of ups and downs it's a rollercoaster ride being a Livingston Fan! But we are in semis of league cup final!
Nice! Thanks. I'll be watching out for the league cup scores!
I'm a Celtic fan but have a soft spot for livi. Hope you win it.
I'm a Celtic fan but have a soft spot for livi. Hope you win it.
@@connor4223 Appreciate that would be amazing to win it again
Just came across this video
Brilliant 👍🏻
To answer a few questions
I don't remember the movement from Edinburgh to Livingston because I am 17 but a lot of people who supported meadowbank resent us now.
As for the statue outside the ground I think it is a modern art statue it is nothing to do with the club
And yeah you are spot on there has been a series of ups and downs supporting livi.
Glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for the other info there as well! Cool to hear about a new generation of Livi fans coming through. Hopefully I can get to a game there one day!
Amazing video 👏
Would love a retro Ferranti Thistle shirt
I bet they're hard to find!
@@FootyAdventures I'll check out Toffs for a repro, I got a nice 1974 DDR top from them.
@@biglads4tw
You will only get a
Meddowbank Thistle shirt from TOFFS.
Basically before that it was just a plan black & amber hooped rugby style shirt prior to them becoming
Meddowbank Thistle they would not of had a Crest before then.
They got there first stripes from a taylors shop in Edinburgh & it was a case of take what they could get &
the black & amber hoops was all the taylors shop had left in the way of sports kits.
@@FootyAdventures
Impossible to find
as it The Ferranti Thistle kits where bought from a taylors shop in Edinburgh & it was a case of take what was left at the time black & amber hooped rugby style kits likey with a white dril style collar I would think.
I remember my Dad telling me he got a Manchester City away shirt when he was a teenager back in the 70's he did not even like
Manchester City he is a Rangers fans but football shirt ued to be much harder to get your hands on it was a case of take what you could get even when I was growing up in the 90's it was not easy I remember trying to get The Ajax home shirt
94/94 sent away the postal order it got returned because it was out stock thats how it used to be not like it is now you can basically buy whatever club or National teams shirt you like now.
Loving the videos
Cheers darren!
@@FootyAdventures welcome bud
I love that a English lad is so interested in Scottish football ⚽️ love ur videos
Thank you so much! 🙌🙌⚽️⚽️🏴🏴
Again another great video next stop Yorkshire
Cheers! And definitely, I'll try my best to get there asap in 2021!
Another great video. Interestingly in the states the. Foco site is redirected to the US version. The assumption being that no one in the states is interested in Scottish Football. Bah. Why won't many of the Scottish clubs other than Celtic and Rangers ship overseas?
Will Meadowbank Thistle reform and play at the old ground or will one of the many Edinburgh clubs change there name to Meadowbank Thistle as Edinburgh City third away strip is yellow top black shorts black socks the colours of Meadowbank Thistle.
That’s considered a River??? I adore Scotland more than words can express!
Next time you come to Scotland you should go to some of the junior clubs stadiums like lochee united :)
Always had a soft spot of Livingston because I was born there
Nice! Hope you enjoyed the vid!
@@FootyAdventures Always enjoy your videos 👍 Just happy we finally have an Englishman giving Scottish football the respect it deserves 😂🏴
@@daz4725 legend cheers! And haha yeah glad I can give it some positive light!
Terry Christie , The Duffel, Meadowbank thistle manager Moved to stenhousemuir , then moved to Alloa As manager won two challenge cups with the latter clubs
To count the ground you gotta watch a game. I visited every ground then went back to them all to watch a game
I train in the stadium 🏟
And playing for the team in june
YAAAAAS
🙌🙌🙌
Spaghettihad 😂 great insight!
Cheers son!
My head teacher was the manager of them Mr Terry Christie meadow bank this and they were called Ferrari this to I went to the game in my time myself It was for Edinburgh having 3teams in the league at the time some memories of this over the years I am from Edinburgh myself
The statue was of John McGuiness, it only cost him £6 million😁😁
I am a rangers fan but I live right next to the livi stadium in the street just up from Lidl
Oh cool! Hope you enjoyed the video!
MON THE LIONS
People were happy to have a professional side in the town and attendances were always decent for the lower leagues. As the club got more successful fans of other clubs from the town became jealous and also the fact the club had ex celtic directors in charge put people off supporting them aswell
The Parkrun starts near the ground.
Oh nice!
I'm a Rangers supporter, but alongside Hibs I've got a soft spot for Livi.
My brother has played on this ground in a charity match and I got to walk on it
Oh nice!
U sure do Edinburgh city that’s who I play for under 16s tho am a GK
Livingston the mk of Scotland and you can tell only open one stand to home fans and the away fans fill the rest of the ground
I used to go to meadowbank th games ,was ball boy at home games as a kid ,when they moved i would follow hibs ,keep it local ..was not a fan of moving city ..shame .
Another good vid! The old Meadowbank Stadium was a horrible place to watch football. Almondvale is much better, and I'm not even a Livi fan.
Meadowbank thistle
The reason why the players ar in is becouse thay have a cup game tonight
Another excellent video mate. The only bit of info I have to add to this one is that the bobbly green carpet that passes for a pitch at Almondvale is quite possibly the worst plastic pitch in Scotland - LOL!
Cheers for watching as ever! Yeah I knew it was a plastic pitch didn't realise it wasn't great tho!
@@FootyAdventures - That's why most teams dread going there and why Livie usually do much better at home ;-)
Gd videos m8 know ur stuff lol
Thanks very much!
Up the lions 🦁
Are you watching the Tottenham Liverpool game tonight are the betfred cup ⚽️⚽️⚽️🎫🎫🎫
Hey mate no I couldn't watch last night as I was at another match myself. Vlog coming of that later today 🙂🙌
And I train in the livi stadium
Give away bang 😅
my dads a player for livingston nicky devlin
A scottish version of Milton Keynes .
livi nightspot
'Rangers' Weren't demoted, they ceased to exist.
Snewds
Just to clarify, Rangers were wound up and liquidated, then re-formed. Livingston broke some rules around insolvency, but actually paid their debts and paid money to the SFA. Rangers would not be the same entity in a less corrupt league. Airdrie never got to keep their history and stay as the same club, and they had to pay to adopt their old name of Airdrieoneans rather than keep using Airdrie Utd.