Hampden Bowling Club Stakeholder Event Success
- FSM Blogger
- Jan 16
- 4 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
On Wednesday 14th January, Hampden Bowling Club held a stakeholder event to highlight the impending closure of the club, but also highlight the beginnings of what could be the future of this important community, and massively important football heritage, site.
This event primarily focused on bringing together elected representatives and key stakeholders to hear the current status of the Bowling Club shutdown plan, and to give them an opportunity to visit the site. The invite was extend to several of the Football’s Square Mile Alliance members, given the site's significant football history and the significant risk to Scotland's (and the world's) footballing heritage.
The event was an open evening rather than a sit-down meeting, and there were four ‘stations' to walk around in the pavilion:
The bowling club history and shutdown plan (Hampden Bowling Club)
The football story and why the site is important (Football’s Square Mile)
The newly formed First Hampden Community Interest Company formed by the local residents and its current status (First Hampden CIC)
The feasibility study overview for the site and potential future (Glasgow Building Preservation Trust / First Hampden CIC / Football’s Square Mile)
This was informal, drop-in style, and was a fantastic way of bringing together lots of organisations into the one room, and hear directly the phenomenal amount of work, in both the community and football worlds, that is underway to protect the site for the future.
Will Moffat, President and Trustee of Hampden Bowling Club SCIO, explains, "This event was an excellent opportunity for elected members, and other interested partners to meet Hampden Bowling Club, Football's Square Mile, Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, and the newly formed First Hampden CIC at the one time. There was an impressive attendance and enthusiastic banter on the evening. Great testament to the ongoing desire and input from a hardened group who don't want to see the site of First Hampden disappear. It was sad in some respects, but, a lovely chance for the Bowling club silverware to be out of the cabinets and enjoyed, before the club closure."
The bowling club will shut on 28th February 2026, and it has been extremely important to showcase the footballing heritage and the work that Football's Square Mile is doing to protect the site through its designation application to Historic Environment Scotland.
Julie McNeill, Football's Square Mile Board Member and Hampden Collection Gaffer, explains, "This was a vibrant and encouraging night at HBC with a room full of people with the knowledge, talent and will, to do all they can to preserve and protect this important site. Heartfelt thanks to all who gave up their time to come along. There’s a long way to go but I left full of hope for the future."
There is no more an important group than the adjacent residents and local community, which surrounds Hampden Bowling Club. We have worked tirelessly to ensure they are given a pathway to protect the site, and create a community facility, which everyone can enjoy. We were delighted that the community has set up its own Community Interest Company to manage and coordinate this community response..
Calum Cameron, Director of First Hampden Community Interest Company, explains, "There is a massive appetite to see this site serve the Southside and beyond. We have a dedicated team of volunteers ready to step up and, with a Community Interest Company now set up, we have the vehicle to carry that energy forward. Let’s go!"
The effort required to protect, restore and promote the 1st Hampden site will require the support of countless organisations and significant funding. The strength of the Football's Square Mile Alliance, including 25 organisations who are supporting FSM's core mission, will be pivotal in supporting the community achieve their mission.
David Cook, Chief Executive of Glasgow Building Preservation Trust (GBPT), explains, "GBPT was founded to rescue, refurbish and repurpose important historic buildings in Glasgow, and over the last 44 years has saved and brought back into use many buildings, many of which are among the most beloved by Glaswegians. Our work also helps to tell the stories of the city to Glasgow’s people, including through our annual Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival which attracts almost 40,000 visits each year.
"The sporting and social history of the Three Hampden’s story is still not widely enough known. Most people who hear about it very quickly become passionate to spread the world themselves.
First Hampden, the current Hampden Bowling Club site, sits at the heart of this story and it is imperative that it is nurtured and enhanced to make sure that this site is sustainable in years to come.
The stakeholder event again showed the widespread support for this initiative and it was great to see folks come together to share their passion for the project. GBPT looks forward to working with the new First Hampden CIC and Football’s Square Mile to complete the funding for the feasibility and to create a new future for the site as a community resource."
As always with these events, teamwork makes the dreamwork. There will be one further community event to be held before the closure of the club, which will give the local residents and community the opportunity to hear the excellent work, which is in motion to preserve their extremely important community landmark.
On behalf of the entire team, we would like to thank everyone who attended, including the elected representatives, Historic Environment Scotland, Archaeology Scotland, Scottish Football Museum, Queen's Park Football Club, Glasgow City Heritage Trust, and Mount Florida Community Council. We would also like to thank everyone who responded to the invite, and would like a follow-up meeting. The event showed the strong sense of hope for the preservation and restoration of this site, and there is much much more to come in the weeks and months.
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