Football's Square Mile Backs First Hampden CIC's Bid for a Community-Led Future
Friday 25 September 2026
Statement of Support for First Hampden CIC
Football's Square Mile has presented a formal letter of support to First Hampden CIC.
‘Football's Square Mile supports First Hampden CIC in securing a community-led future for the First Hampden site — one of the world's most important football heritage sites. Built in 1873 as the world's first purpose-built, enclosed football ground, it went on to host Scottish Cup matches, become Scotland's international ground in 1878, and give birth to combination passing play — a tactical revolution.
The site has two halves: Kingsley Rose Gardens, scheduled by Historic Environment Scotland in 2026 as a National Monument, and the former bowling club, its keys returned to Glasgow City Property after 121 years. Local residents formed First Hampden CIC, pursuing a community asset transfer and — supported by Glasgow Building Preservation Trust and Football's Square Mile — managing a funded feasibility study to shape its future.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get this right. Statutory scheduling protects archaeology, but only community ownership guarantees public access and purpose. First Hampden is football's Stone of Destiny — the ground where the modern game was forged, and, like Scotland's crowning stone, a place that belongs not with whoever holds the keys, but with the community who are fighting hardest to protect it.
We urge Glasgow City Council and City Property Glasgow to partner with First Hampden CIC to preserve this site for the community and football fans worldwide.’
Football's Square Mile also encourages anyone who values this site — individuals and organisations alike — to add their own voice of support to First Hampden CIC's campaign.
A copy of the full letter is downloadable here.
Notes & Context
1. Who Football's Square Mile (FSM) Are: Founded in 2021, and tracing its origins to 2015, FSM is a heritage organisation dedicated to protecting World Football's Glasgow origins across 21 historic football sites centred around First Hampden. You can learn more at www.footballssquaremile.com.
2. Why 220 Words: FSM uses a concise 220-word limit across all 21 site profiles on its website to keep historical information consistent, accessible, and engaging for readers.
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