Campbeltown Pupils Celebrate their 90th Anniversary 19192009

Fixtures, scores, details of your club etc - also see www.southkintyresportscouncil.com

Campbeltown Pupils Celebrate their 90th Anniversary 19192009

Postby Kintyre Forum News » Fri Jan 16, 2009 12:53 am

Local amateur side Campbeltown Pupils AFC celebrate their 90th anniversary this year. A superb achievement through the years.

Here is a brief history of the club. I'm sure anyone involved with the club over the years would welcome any memories you can share.

Image

Campbeltown Grammar School Former Pupils Association was formed during 1919 to cater for the sporting requirements of ex-students.

In the beginning the club offered football for men and hockey for young ladies, however, interest from the fairer sex soon diminished and the club became known as a football team only.
The club started its playing life as a junior team within the auspices of the Campbeltown & District Junior Football Association, a very successful partnership that lasted until the outbreak of war in 1939.

The FPs failed to reappear after the cessation of hostilities in 1945, a combination of war injury/loss and the natural progression of age being an impossible barrier at that time.
However, the club reformed as an amateur organisation in 1960, its name being abbreviated to the shorter Campbeltown Pupils Amateur Football Club, a title it is known by to the present day.

After a successful time as members of the Kintyre Amateur Football League, 'the Pupils' joined the Scottish Amateur Football League in 1977. As members of the S.A.F.L the club has been blessed with a number of achievements, most notably the winning of the Scottish Amateur Premier League in season 1999/2000.

The club has its own junior standard ground at Kintyre Park, Limecraigs Road, Campbeltown. Attendance record at the ground is 3,500 for a Scottish Junior Cup 5th Round Tie involving Campbeltown United v Loanhead Mayflower in 1958. A programme of ground improvement has been ongoing since 1988.

A number of personalities have played with the club, none more famous than Italian International Gionni Moscardini - 'Johnnie.' Capped nine times at full international level, Johnnie scored seven times while representing 'the Azzurri.' Born in Falkirk, Johnnie enlisted in the Italian Army at the tender age of eighteen, this, before seeing action in the First World War. After the war he settled in his parents home town of Barga in Tuscany. An accomplished player, he was soon spotted by the local senior club Lucca, then playing in the Italian League - Tuscany Section. He later signed for near neighbours Pisa - Italian League Northern Section, becoming the club's top scorer and the first choice at centre-forward for the national side. His final sojurn in senior football was with Genoa - the top Italian club of the period.
In 1925, he returned to Scotland to help run his uncle's Royal Cafe in Hall Street, Campbeltown, his long journey in football coming to an end when he played for 'the Pupils,' his last club, and, only one of Scottish regestration.

Three players from the club have represented their country at amateur level, with one adding a Scotland Junior 'cap' to his collection. The Reverand B.B. Blackwood, a stalwart of the club's original eleven in 1919, had the distiction of being 'capped' by both national associations. More recently, Kevin Gilchirst in the 1980s, and, Paul McWhirter in the new millenium have had the honour of representing Scotland at amateur level.

A family's enthusiasim for the game helped to re-establish the club at the beginning of the 1960s. Bernard McKinven, along with his two sons Bernard Jnr and Alex, plus son-in-law Willie Gillespie, were instumental in re-launching 'the Pupils,' a well-known local football club from past history. All played a major part in the development of the club through the years. Alex McKinven was joined by his good friend Bill Hunter to form the management of the team during the initial 'Scottish League Years,' this, before handing over to the present management team of Campbell Robertson and Duncan McAulay, both long-serving members of the club's highly successful side of the late 1970s and 1980s.

Membership of the Scottish Amateur Football League in 1977 was followed by immediate success, as the club managed to win the 7th, 4th and 3rd Division Championships in a short space of time. Further achievements included the original SAFL Top Score Trophy and Colin Munro Cup. In recent years the present management team of Campbell Robertson and Duncan McAulay have guided the club to a Premier Division One title in 1998/99, before adding the 'top prize,' a Premier Championship title in 1999/2000.

In season 2007/08 the club regained its Premier Division place by finishing in third position in Premier Division One. The present squad is one of the youngest ever assembled at the club, and, is still very much on a learning curve. Hopefully, the team will mature in the not to distant future, this, before adding its own page to the history of Campbeltown football.
If you have a news article or event please post here or e-mail us at kfn@campbeltown.info

www.campbeltown.info - www.visitkintyre.info -
www.kintyreaccommodation.com - www.kintyregolf.com
User avatar
Kintyre Forum News
Forum Addict
Forum Addict
 
Posts: 2793
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 9:36 pm


Re: Campbeltown Pupils Celebrate their 90th Anniversary 19192009

Postby petewick » Fri Jan 16, 2009 11:25 am

Thanks for that, very informative.
KGB
BALD AND EXPLOSIVE AN' JEEST GET THE BEER UP
petewick
Forum Addict
Forum Addict
 
Posts: 1576
Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 11:14 am
Location: The Pluck Wid'


Re: Campbeltown Pupils Celebrate their 90th Anniversary 19192009

Postby Kintyre Forum News » Fri Jan 16, 2009 7:20 pm

I find the story about Giovanni "Johnny" Moscardini facinating. The only Scot to play for Italy and it turns out the only Scottish team he ever played for was Campbeltown Pupils!

Giovanni Moscardini

Giovanni Moscardini (1897 – 1985), also known as Johnny Moscardini, was an Italian Scottish footballer who played for Lucchese, Pisa, Genoa and Italy. He was one of the earliest of the Oriundi. While the majority of these foreign-born footballers who played for Italy came from South America, Moscardini was the only one born in Scotland. The football stadium in Barga, Tuscany, where his family came from, is named in his honour.

Club career

When the war ended, Moscardini returned to his family home of Barga where he played football for the local team. He was subsequently spotted by a scout from Lucchese. After five years playing for Lucchese he switched to Pisa and during the 1924-25 season he scored 18 goals [4]. He later played with Genoa and went on tour to South America with the club.

Italy international

Between 1921 and 1925 Moscardini made 9 appearances and scored 7 goals for Italy. He made his international debut against Switzerland on November 6 1921 and scored in a 1-1 draw. Then on January 15 1922 he scored twice in a 3-3 draw against Austria. On May 21 1922 he scored again in a 4-2 win against Belgium. He scored his fifth international goal on May 27 1923 in a 5-1 away defeat against Czechoslovakia. He made his last appearance for Italy against France on March 22 1925 and he marked the occasion by scoring twice in a 7-0 win. Moscardini won his first eight caps while playing for Lucchese and his last while at Pisa [5] He was the first Pisa player ever capped by Italy [6].

Later Years

After retiring as a footballer Moscardini returned to Scotland to manage an uncle's shop in Campbeltown. He later established his own business, the Lake Café, in Prestwick. He lived in Prestwick until he died in 1985 at the age of 88.

Image
If you have a news article or event please post here or e-mail us at kfn@campbeltown.info

www.campbeltown.info - www.visitkintyre.info -
www.kintyreaccommodation.com - www.kintyregolf.com
User avatar
Kintyre Forum News
Forum Addict
Forum Addict
 
Posts: 2793
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 9:36 pm


Re: Campbeltown Pupils Celebrate their 90th Anniversary 19192009

Postby Kintyre Forum News » Fri May 22, 2009 1:07 am

Just to highlight news about the Pupils plans for their 90th Anniversary celebrations this year.

90th Anniversary - Dinner Dance
CAMPBELTOWN PUPILS 1919 - 2009

On the 6th of June 2009, we welcome the Scottish Amateur league Select to Kintyre Park.
With the blessing of the Argyll clubs, Campbeltown Pupils would like to act as individual hosts for this fixture, inviting the Argyll Select representitves and the Scottish Amateur Select to be our guests for the day.

We also hope to play Queens Park FC as part of this special year, this, in regcognition of the part the Hampden club played in the founding of Campbeltown football.

Later in the year we intend to have a club celebration in the form of a dinner dance. The projected month for this event is is October 2009 (Flexable).

Anyone connected with the club; players, committee, ex-players, ex-committee, sponsors, supporters and good friends etc are very welcome to attend.

WE NEED TO KNOW THE NUMBERS WISHING TO ATTEND SO WE CAN BOOK AN APPROPRIATE VENUE.

IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND: PLEASE PHONE ALEX MCKINVEN ON 01586 553339 OR 07768 332275. DUNCAN MCAULAY ON: 01586 552922 OR CAMPBELL ROBERTSON ON: 01586 553641.

YOU CAN ALSO E-MAIL: alexmckinven@yahoo.co.uk

THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS TO ATTEND WILL BE 9TH JULY 2009.

IN THE INTEREST OF ORGANISATION, PLEASE CONTACT IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND!

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.
If you have a news article or event please post here or e-mail us at kfn@campbeltown.info

www.campbeltown.info - www.visitkintyre.info -
www.kintyreaccommodation.com - www.kintyregolf.com
User avatar
Kintyre Forum News
Forum Addict
Forum Addict
 
Posts: 2793
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 9:36 pm


Re: Campbeltown Pupils Celebrate their 90th Anniversary 19192009

Postby JAFFA » Sun May 24, 2009 8:12 pm

Hugh William McShannon born 1943, of Southend/Danaverty rock fame(scoot etc etc), played for the Pupils in the 59/60(we think) season. Wee Jake(his elder brother) still lives a Mill Park,along with son Peter too. Son Alan lives in Campbeltown, as did John before his sad death(R.I.P buddy, you are sorely missed). Hughs brother James(a former policeman) owned the Argyle arms, sister Maggie worked there and still to this day has a caravan in Southend, married to Angus Mackintosh(brother in law), White Hart fame, local football and pipe laying in the area.

I would be very very greateful if anyone has pics/stories/facts of Hugh, during his time playing football in the local area and more so his time with the Pupils.

Long shot I know, but one that would bring a smile to a "sound mans heart";-)

PM. E-Mail to JAFFA126@hotmail.com or just post em here.

kind regards Jeff Lemaistre.
JAFFA
Happy Camper
Happy Camper
 
Posts: 41
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:33 pm


Re: Campbeltown Pupils Celebrate their 90th Anniversary 19192009

Postby Kintyre Forum News » Sun Jul 12, 2009 9:21 pm

Mack etc

Meant to post this earlier in the week when a google alert highlighted another story about Johnny Moscardini in The Herald at http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/other/d ... _Italy.php


Musical salute to Scots footballer capped for Italy

One of Runrig's founding members has penned a musical tribute to a Scottish footballer who was capped nine times for Italy before he returned to run an ice-cream parlour in Campbeltown.

Giovanni "Johnny" Moscardini pulled on the Azzurri's famous light blue strip between 1921 and 1925, but was born in Falkirk in 1897.

Blair Douglas, a celebrated musician from Skye who is the current Scots Traditional Music Awards' Composer of the Year, has composed Il Saluto di Giovanni Moscardini - Johnny Moscardini's Salute - to honour the player.
advertisement

Mr Douglas stumbled across the remarkable story after his daughter Katie wrote about Mr Moscardini for a school project and asked him to proofread her work.

He said: "I was immediately intrigued with Johnny Moscardini. Here was a young man who was born of an immigrant family in Scotland but pursued a highly successful professional football career in Italy and who gave it up to help out in a family business in Kintyre."

Mr Douglas said his up-tempo tune, composed in the Scottish traditional idiom but with distinct Mediterranean influences, would suit the prolific striker.

Moscardini enlisted in the Italian army after the outbreak of the First World War and settled in his father's hometown. His talent was spotted by a local senior side, and he later signed for Pisa, becoming the club's top scorer and the first choice at centre- forward for Italy.

However, in 1925 he returned to help run his uncle's Royal Cafe in Campbeltown. He pulled on his boots for Campbeltown Pupils AFC before moving to Prestwick, where he died in 1985.

Mr Douglas hopes to play the tune in Moscardini's home town, where, as the only player capped for the national team, a football stadium is named after him.


Surely there should be something about this in our local museum along with other local sport history over the years?
If you have a news article or event please post here or e-mail us at kfn@campbeltown.info

www.campbeltown.info - www.visitkintyre.info -
www.kintyreaccommodation.com - www.kintyregolf.com
User avatar
Kintyre Forum News
Forum Addict
Forum Addict
 
Posts: 2793
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 9:36 pm



Return to Sports news in Kintyre

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 13 guests