Announcement - 30th November 2021
The Hampden Collection launches campaign bid to make Football’s Square Mile, the World’s Biggest Open-Air Football Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
On Sunday 13th June, The Hampden Collection opened the World’s Biggest ‘Open Air’ football museum in Glasgow, Scotland, following the discovery of the foundations of the World’s first enclosed purposefully built international football ground: The 1st Hampden Park.
Everything You Know Today About Football Is Scottish
Football’s Square Mile is the home of the Scotch Professors, as they colloquially became known, who created the passing, running and inclusive game of football, and transported it to every corner of the planet. Queen’s Park, widely considered to be the grand architects of modern football, built the World's first purposefully built, enclosed international football ground at 1st Hampden, created many of the rules and inventions we use today, and created the template for how you watch the game, including the fabled season ticket. And, of course, football is today viewed by a global audience of 3.5 billion people. Would this audience have 24/7 access to football without the inventions of the Television and Telephone? All of this was invented by the genius of Scots.
Graeme Brown, The Hampden Collection Founder, explains, “Our mission is to take back Scotland's footballing heritage from those who have either rewritten it, or done little with it. Football is the 'Peoples' Beautiful Game', crafted and created in Scotland for the World to enjoy. And finally, when there is a major tournament, football is indeed 'Coming Hame' to Football's Square Mile, Glasgow, Scotland.”
The importance of the project is echoed by Archaeology Scotland, who completed two archaeology digs this summer. Lead Archaeologist Dr Paul Murtagh explains, “The discoveries we made at 1st Hampden are of international significance. Through the painstaking research carried out by the Hampden Collection, and by carrying out geophysical survey as well as archaeological excavation, we were able to prove that this was the location of the 1st Hampden, the first purpose built football ground in the world.”
He continues, “We discovered the footings of the 1st Hampden pavilion, as well as artefacts related to the people that watched some of the formative games of Scottish and international football. These artefacts allow us to connect directly with the supporters and players that were witness to the birth of football, and one of the most important cultural revolutions of the last 150 years”.
The launch of the campaign coincides with the 149th anniversary of the World’s first international football match, held at West of Scotland Cricket Ground in Partick, Glasgow, on St Andrew’s Day, 1872. Queen’s Park Football Club fielded the entire Scottish team against England, gifted the National Team their strip, organised the whole event and gave the World international football.
Although playing at Queen’s Park Recreation Ground at the time, Queen’s Park chose West of Scotland Cricket Ground as their venue, with 4,000 people paying a shilling to enter the ground. Following the success of this event, Queen’s Park realised they had to build their own ground, and in 1873, they opened 1st Hampden Park. In the following years, after this seismic event, football exploded across Scotland and began to take the World by storm, with the Scotch Professors leading the way.
Commenting on the launch of the campaign, Leeann Dempster, Chief Executive of Queen’s Park Football Club, explains the importance of this project, “The history of Queen’s Park is synonymous with Scottish Football, and we are delighted the heritage of the 3 Hampden Parks is being recognised, which forms a large part of the square mile footprint. This campaign will give the birthplace of modern football the biggest accolade of all, and I encourage everyone to learn the story of the Scotch Professors, and how they invented and exported the modern game.”
Application Next Steps and St Andrew’s Day 2022
There are ten selection criteria for UNESCO World Heritage Status, including ‘to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius’ and ‘to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilisation which is living or which has disappeared’. We can argue Football’s Square Mile has 5 of the 10 criteria set out by UNESCO, and we only need 1. There are twelve months to garner grass root support for this project and turn it into a viable reality.
Furthermore, this campaign builds on the success of promoting the rich sporting heritage of the area within the community. Sandra Moffat, Local Crosshill Resident, explains, “I have only lived here for a year and had no knowledge of 1st Hampden. It was thrilling to see and be part of the archaeology dig, and see what was unveiled. I feel proud to be living in the area, and look forward to supporting our football and bowling heritage. I hope there is success with the development of Football’s Square Mile, and a successful restoration of the pavilion at Hampden Bowling Club, and all with continued local community input.”
Jacqui Fernie, Co-Chair of the Friends of Cathcart Cemetery said, “Gaining UNESCO World Heritage status would be immense for the area. This application recognises the lives and history of the people who played such a pivotal role in the development and growth of the game, and the unique place the Cathcart Cemetery has in celebrating their lives.”
On St Andrew’s Day 2022, The Hampden Collection is organising the biggest party of all, when we celebrate the 150th anniversary of international football, and the 150th birthday of the Tartan Army.
Graeme concludes, “The question everyone wants to ask is “Why are we doing this?” My reply is, “Why not?” Football is the greatest cultural, social phenomenon in human history, and everyone who watches or plays it, are able to trace their roots back to Football’s Square Mile. Our ambition is to bring a team together to give Scotland’s Footballing heritage the recognition it deserves. This the centre of the footballing universe.”
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