William Wilkie, Yoker Athletic’s first secretary, suggested that “as far back as 1874 football was played in Yoker, an old senior club operating at that time”. “The Story Of Yoker - Both Sides Of The Burn” noted “that Yoker had a football club as early as 1875”. Yoker was a village then with a population of around 600 and an old distillery. The Yoker-Renfrew Ferry had been established in 1790. Sports being played in the area prior to the arrival of football were bowls, quoits, cricket and curling.

The Yoker Burn, which rises in the Kilpatrick Hills and it is the boundary between two counties. The west side was in Dumbartonshire and contained the bulk of the village with the rest on the east side being part of Renfrewshire.

The Scottish Football Association Handbook for 1885 has a list of its Dumbartonshire constituents. “Yoker - Formed in 1877. 40 members. Grounds, private, Holm...

From the Glasgow Herald 08-02-14

Our communities should not take their local heroes for granted
Saturday 8 February 2014
IN every local community, I suppose, there is a rather special person who serves us well but fails to get the gratitude that is due.
I am thinking in particular this day of Billy McColl, postmaster-cum-newsagent in our “village” of Netherlee, on the southern border of Glasgow.
For 20 years or more Billy has been the central figure in our community life, the cheery face, the helping hand - and yes, the local hero who knows all 3000 of us, makes us feel better about life and is quietly adored by all.
And if we have never told him so, it is high time we did. For Billy is giving up that place in our midst. And suddenly there is a palpable air of deep concern that he will no longer be with us. For this is the man who is here all day, up and about by 4am to make sure we get...

The first documented football team in Duntocher were the Rovers, active in the mid 1870s playing the likes of Bowling and Dalmuir.

1886-1887 Duntocher took part in both the Scottish and Dumbartonshire Cups, going out in both tournaments to teams from Dumbarton.
1887-1888 Duntocher Union took part in the Dumbartonshire Cup losing in a Second Round Replay to Dalmuir Thistle, 2 v 2, 4 v 6.
1888-1889 Duntocher Harp formed with a home at St. Helena Park, Hardgate. Green shirts, blue shorts. They won the Buchanan Charity Cup.
1889-1890 Harp lost in the County Cup Second Round at Methlan Park. In the Scottish Cup Second Round they lost of Vale of Leven Wanderers.
1890-1891 Harp played friendlies and reached the County Cup Second Round losing 2 v 10 at home to Dumbarton. Won the Buchanan Charity Cup.
1891-1892 Clydebank 3 v 1 Harp in County Cup First Round. Reached the Third round of the...

A Brief History

Before the new there has to be an old, but the old has to have been new. Kilbowie Park was new in 1899, when the new Junior football team, Duntocher, rented a field behind Kilbowie Gardens, from Mr. Riddell, a farmer, for £14 per annum. Kilbowie Park, a modest ground, was nearly forty years old when it hosted its last game on Friday, June 2nd, 1939 when Clydebank Juniors were beaten by Renfrew in the semi-final of the Elder Cottage Hospital Cup. Duntocher had opened their ground on October 21st, 1899, against Kirkintilloch Rob Roy in the Dumbartonshire Junior Cup. In front of 200 spectators, Clydebank won 2-1, with goals from Dougie Cameron and Bricky Watson. At season’s end Duntocher changed their name to Clydebank Juniors.

Against the background of improving industrial fortunes after the depression of the early 1930’s, the heavy machine tool manufacturers, Messrs. D...