{"product_id":"royal-albert-fc","title":"Royal Albert FC","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRoyal Albert F.C.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRoyal Albert Football Club was formed in 1878 in the Lanarkshire mining town of Larkhall, one of the many communities in the west of Scotland where association football quickly took root among industrial workers during the late Victorian era. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe club emerged from the amalgamation of two local pit teams connected to the coal industry that dominated the district. Their employer, Captain Johns, reputedly named the new side after his boat Royal Albert, and the club soon became one of the principal football institutions of the town. Supporters and players alike became known as “The Royalists,” though the team was also affectionately referred to as “The Albert” or “The Larkies.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDuring the late nineteenth century Royal Albert established themselves as a respected senior club in Scottish football, competing in numerous regional competitions and frequently entering the Scottish Cup, for which they qualified on around twenty occasions. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTheir greatest run in the national competition came in 1890–91, when Albert progressed to the fifth round before being defeated by Celtic in front of a crowd of approximately 5,000 spectators at Raploch Park, the club’s early ground in Larkhall. In the same season the club achieved a notable distinction when John Clelland, their commanding centre-half, became the only Royal Albert player to gain a full international cap for Scotland, appearing against Ireland in March 1891.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRoyal Albert were also involved in one of football’s most curious historical claims. According to longstanding local tradition, James McLuggage scored the first penalty kick in football history when he converted from the spot against Airdrieonians in the Airdrie Charity Cup final on 6 June 1891, only days after the penalty law had been introduced by the International Football Association Board. Although later research suggests the law may actually have been adopted a year earlier, the episode remains an enduring part of the club’s folklore.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThroughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries Royal Albert competed in a succession of regional leagues including the Scottish Football Federation, Scottish Football Alliance, Scottish Football Combination, Scottish Football Union and Western League. The club enjoyed particular success in Lanarkshire competitions, winning the Lanarkshire Cup on several occasions during the 1880s and 1890s and securing numerous local charity trophies. In league football their finest achievements included winning the Scottish Football Federation championship in 1892–93, the Scottish Football Alliance in 1893–94, and later the Scottish Football Combination in 1903–04.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn 1923 Royal Albert became one of the founder members of the Scottish League Third Division, an ambitious but ultimately ill-fated competition created largely for smaller western clubs. The new league imposed significant financial and travel burdens on modest sides such as Albert, who were now required to journey considerable distances across Scotland. The division collapsed during the 1925–26 season, leaving many of its members in difficulty. After a brief return to regional football the club disbanded in 1927, before re-forming shortly afterwards as a junior side.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBefore that collapse, however, Royal Albert had enjoyed nearly half a century as a senior Scottish club, representing the proud footballing culture of Lanarkshire’s industrial communities. Played in the shadow of pitheads, steelworks and textile mills, their matches at Raploch Park were typical of the era—large crowds of local workers gathering on rough touchlines to watch the Royalists compete with neighbouring rivals in fiercely contested cup ties.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThough their later history would continue in junior football, the pre-war Royal Albert side remains an evocative example of the vibrant network of working-class clubs that helped shape the early development of Scottish association football.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProduct details:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou will only pay shipping\/postage for 1 item, no matter how many items you purchase.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDiscounts are given for multiple purchases.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eSize: A3, A4, A5\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSingle Sided\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003ePaper: 400gsm premium art stock\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003ePrint quality: Museum-grade, high-resolution\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eFinish: Unframed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eWatermark shown in images does NOT appear on the final print\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCarefully packaged for safe delivery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA striking piece of football history — ideal for collectors, historians, and lovers of our national game.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAny issues please contact me at \u003ca href=\"mailto:paul@worldvintagecolours.com\"\u003epaul@worldvintagecolours.com\u003c\/a\u003e by clicking the hyperlink and I will get back to you ASAP.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Vintage Colours","offers":[{"title":"A3","offer_id":47786459988160,"sku":"Royal Albert - A3","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A4","offer_id":47786460020928,"sku":"Royal Albert - A4","price":7.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A5","offer_id":47786460053696,"sku":"Royal Albert - A5","price":4.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/8242\/7840\/files\/A3-RoyalAlbert.jpg?v=1773413767","url":"https:\/\/www.worldvintagecolours.com\/products\/royal-albert-fc","provider":"World Vintage Colours","version":"1.0","type":"link"}