153 Years of Hampden Park - First Hampden CIC Needs Your Support

Announcement – Sunday 25th October 2026

Today, Football’s Square Mile celebrates the 153rd anniversary of the opening of the 1st Hampden Park, the world’s first purpose-built international football ground and the template for every football ground ever built.

On 25th October 1873, Queen’s Park Football Club opened Hampden Park with their first Scottish Cup tie against Dumbreck. They won 7–0, wearing their famous black and white hoops for the very first time. From this quiet corner of Glasgow's Southside, these Scotch Professors developed the modern passing and running game, which was taken by countless Scots to every corner of the planet.

This year, the 1st Hampden was nationally recognised. In May, following Football’s Square Mile’s designation application, Historic Environment Scotland scheduled the remains of the First Hampden pavilion as a monument of national importance. This was only possible due to the amazing work of Hampden Bowling Club who proved the site in 2017, and Archaeology Scotland who found the remains of the First Hampden Pavilion in 2021.

Today, the site faces its biggest question in over a century. With the closure of Hampden Bowling Club in March 2026, the site’s future hangs in the balance. Local residents have formed First Hampden CIC to secure a community-led future for the site: a vibrant Southside hub open to all, with its heritage told and celebrated. Football’s Square Mile is proud to stand alongside the CIC and Glasgow Building Preservation Trust in the working group as their Football Heritage Partner. The critical news is that City Property Glasgow has put the site on the market for commercial lease. You can read their advert here.

We have always said First Hampden must be a community asset first and foremost, supported by its football heritage, not the other way round. On its 153rd birthday, there is no better footballing gift than supporting the community achieve their ambition.

Here are six simple ways you can help:

1. Sign the statement: add your name for a First Hampden For All - click here

2. Organisations: write a letter of support - click here

3. Have your say: complete the 5–10 minute feasibility survey - click here

4. Donate: keep the campaign alive - click here

5. Spread the word: we need everyone talking about this - send this around your social network #FirstHampdenForAll

6. Sign Up - for email updates - click here