The club from the village of Slamannan in Stirlingshire was founded in 1888, taking its name from Southfield Colliery Row in the village.[2] Its first match was an 8–2 victory over Redding Athletic in April.[3] A return match the following February ended in tragedy as Athletic's Robert Whyte suffered an injury in the match that resulted in his death three days later.[4]
The club's first competitive football came in the 1889–90 Stirlingshire Cup; the club drew 2–2 with Dunipace at home in the first round,[5] but lost heavily away. By March 1890, however, the club won 11 of 18 matches,[6] and the season finished on a high, as the Rangers beat a scratch Falkirk 4–2,[7] and the club even picked up some silverware; the Rangers won the inaugural Slamannan Charity Cup, beating Slamannan Rovers 4–3 in the final, scoring 2 goals in 2 minutes in the first half,[8] after a 3–3 draw at Barnsmuir.[9]
The club played at the Townhead ground, which held 700 as a neutral ground for a cup tie between rivals Slamannan F.C. and Slamannan Rovers in 1890.[16]
References
^"Supper and ball". Falkirk Herald: 7. 8 March 1890.
^"Athletic jottings". Bridge of Allan Reporter: 5. 8 November 1890.
^"Southfield Rangers v Redding Athletic". Falkirk Herald: 3. 5 May 1888.
^"A fatal kick on the football field". Lothian Courier: 6. 2 March 1889.
^"Southfield Rangers v Dunipace (Stirlingshire Cup tie)". Falkirk Herald: 6. 30 October 1889.
^"Supper and ball". Falkirk Herald: 7. 8 March 1890.