An exhibition celebrating the 60^th Anniversary of Musselburgh Windsor FC displaying memorabilia – trophies, medals, strips, pennants – and photographs through the decades.

Musselburgh Windsor Football Club Diamond Jubilee

In June of 1953 two monumental events took place, both involving the Houses of Windsor! One was the Queen’s Coronation and the second, Musselburgh Windsor was formed! Both have endured six decades.

The founding of the Windsor came about from the foresight of Mr. Joseph Brown and a few similar minded friends, to put together a football team that wouldn’t primarily go out and win cups and leagues. Their vision was simpler and community orientated. A statement written in the Edinburgh Evening Despatch on 8th August 1953 commented on the Club and its purpose by saying ‘for the purpose of assisting youngsters between the ages of 15 and 17 to take their place in secondary Juvenile football’. Mr. Brown believed that too many youngsters were watching rather than playing and it was the primary concern of the first Committee to get these lads playing football.

Mr. Brown was cast in the role as Secretary, with Walter Fairnie Chairman, Vice-chairman W. Ramsay. The Committee was completed with D. Fairnie, A. Ellis, R. Traynor and W.D McNeill.

It is also rumoured that the Club was founded to fill a void in local youth football. Musselburgh Union CF and Whitecraig Star tended to field players nearing the end of their teens and because of Musselburgh’s out-dated bye-laws the playing of football in the street was a criminal offence! Indeed four youths were charged by the Musselburgh Constabulary and appeared at the Burgh Court in front of Provost Hunter who duly fined them 5 Shillings each for ‘such a serious offence’.

In July 1953, Musselburgh Windsor was accepted into the Edinburgh & District Under Age Association and so came official recognition of the Club’s existence.

Even in the early days of the Club finance was important and our gratitude goes to Cruden Builders who donated the substantial sum of £25.00 and Harry Cruden was later made an Honorary President of Musselburgh Windsor. It was also recorded that Hibernian FC gifted a new white £5 note to the Club as well as smaller contributions from local businesses and a set of strips from Musselburgh Union.

Windsor has recorded sixty consecutive years of membership of the sports governing body, more than any other Club in the Country. Although that body has changed names on several occasions, no other youth football club has contributed more.

The Windsor had originally one team that played at U-17’s and this remained unchanged until the birth of a new Association, the ASYFC which banished the U-17’s age group in preference to the under 18 and under 16’s.

During the 70’s and 80’s slowly but surely the Club expanded with more and more teams joining the Windsor to reduce the Age Group gaps. By season 1977/78 the Club began making preparations for the provision of an under 15 team. From here the seed was sown which would eventually lead to the current situation which has Musselburgh Windsor introducing players as young as five years old.

There have been two major additions to the Windsor football family which has made the club one of the biggest sporting groups in the East of Scotland. In 1996, with the Club running most of the available Age Groups at 11-side, the Kids school was introduced and has grown rapidly with the introduction of small sided football.  Then, in 2004, the Club finally established a Girls football section and this has enabled us to reach our current total of 430 players with 80 volunteer Coaches providing support

It is highly unlikely that even the most enthusiastic and optimistic Committee members back in 1953 would have ever dreamed that the Club could have survived, thrived and thrilled so many.

The first ever Windsor matches were played at ‘the gas works’ site adjacent to the racecourse with Olive Bank stadium being a frequent host to Windsor teams – a tradition and a relationship that still flourishes today.

The Windsor started playing their home games at Pinkie Playing Fields in the season of 1967/68 and it was the following year that they won the Despatch Trophy for the first time.

On 3rd April 1975, the Club received a letter from Midlothian County Council granting permission to Musselburgh Windsor for the use of Pinkie Playing Fields. It further stated that the cost would be £1.05 per game and that next season application should be made to Lothian Region Education Authority.

Today, Pinkie is regarded as our home with training sessions and matches played seven days a week.

The Club reached a milestone in celebrating their Golden Jubilee in Season 2003/4. Many events were held throughout the season – an Exhibition of Club memorabilia in the Town Hall; a match against a Hearts / Hibs Select for ex-Windsor players; a Jubilee tournament for every age group, with a finals day held at Olive Bank; culminating with a Gala Dinner held at the Brunton Hall.

All in all, it is clear that, when speaking with some of the players from the early years, the Club is remembered with deep affection. And that is more important than the number of trophies won or lost

Exhibition Photos

Bobby Wilson

born in Musselburgh in 1934 who had an illustrious football career in both Scotland and England, highlighted in winning the League Cup with Aberdeen F.C. in 1955, dropped in to the exhibition to show his medal.