Announcement - Saturday 1st April 2023
Over the last six years, there has been a unique project showcasing the site of the world’s first purposefully-built, enclosed international football ground – aka 1st Hampden. Hampden Bowling Club, in partnership with The Hampden Collection, has pursued a groundbreaking mission to restore its beloved pavilion and grounds to secure the legacy of this magnificent sporting site.
In the year of Hampden Park’s 150th anniversary, Hampden Bowling Club launched two new membership categories. Firstly, its Country membership appeals to Scotland-based Tartan Army Fans from outside the Glasgow boundary. Secondly, it’s trailblazing international membership category for those based abroad who want to support the rebuilding of the Home of World Football. The success of this campaign has been beyond all expectation.
Will Moffat, President of Hampden Bowling Club, explains, “The interest has been exceptional with members joining from all over Scotland from within the Tartan Army ranks, who understand the importance of maintaining their first home. The most exciting recognition is from international football fans embracing the cradle of the modern game in Glasgow. All our new members want to rebuild the home of the Scotch Professors, who took their game to every corner of the planet and showed it to the locals. We’ve had members sign-up from New York to New South Wales and Buenos Aires to Tokyo. They all understand the importance of our site and are signing up in their droves to deliver our restoration plans.”
The importance of this site to world football is undeniable, as every football ground ever built has followed the 1st Hampden template created by Queen’s Park Football Club in 1873. Furthermore, this is where Scotland perfected the modern passing and running game, which is now played or watched by over 3.5 billion people today.
Graeme Brown, Founder of The Hampden Collection, explains, “Our mission has always been to #Restore1stHampden, as this is the centrepiece of Football’s Square Mile, the world’s biggest open-air football museum. We are delighted to support the Bowling Club team as we launch our plans for our next edition of #Fitba150, celebrating the world’s first international football match here in Glasgow. To mark the occasion, we have donated one of our ‘Ludum Unum’ limited edition shirts to the club for a unique prize draw. This exceptional shirt will be launched, as 1st Hampden celebrates its 150th anniversary in October, later this year.”
The next ambition is to smash through the 35,000 membership barrier, a nod to the record attendance of 2nd Hampden, and then plough on to break the 183,724 mark, which was the 3rd Hampden capacity by 1937.
Will Moffat explains, ‘Every new country and international member will be entered into the prize draw for this beautiful top, and the lucky winner will be presented with their gift at the 1st Hampden on the day of the Scotland v England match on 12th September 2023. This football shirt is a fantastic prize and a nod to ‘Game One’ of International Football, and we are eternally grateful to The Hampden Collection for their continued support.
A recent uptaker of this fantastic membership offer is a senior Tartan Army stalwart, who wrote on their membership form, “In my view, what you guys are doing goes hand in hand with what the Tartan Army is doing to promote the National Team. I saw someone on Twitter had joined the Hampden Bowling Club, so it seemed a no-brainer to spend £20 on Country Membership to support the cause.”
To win this exceptional gift, you must become a Country or International member by 31st August 2023. Here is the website link with all the membership categories and form for completion.
Good luck!
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