Historic Environment Scotland is making a final call for people to submit sites connected to Scotland’s football history before a national survey closes next week.
The Scottish football heritage project is looking for grounds, pavilions, parks, buildings and other locations with a strong connection to the history of the game.
Members of the public, local communities, football supporters and historians can make submissions until Thursday 20th August 2026.
Scotland is recognised as a pioneering football nation, but Historic Environment Scotland (HES) says many places linked to that history are not widely known or recorded.
The project is mainly looking at the development of Association Football from the 1860s onwards.
During this period, Scotland’s first teams and players played an important role in developing and popularising the version of football played around the world today.
Information submitted through the survey will help HES identify sites for further research and recording.
Sites could also be considered for recognition as Protected Historic Places, including listed buildings and scheduled monuments.
Victoria Murray, Head of Heritage Information, Recording and Business at HES, said: “With the deadline approaching, we’re asking anyone with knowledge of places connected to Scotland’s football heritage to make a submission before 20 August.
“Football is Scotland’s national sport and a key part of our history, and this project is helping us better understand the sites that are important to our football heritage. We want to hear from anyone who knows about the places that have played a part in the development of football in Scotland.
“These could be the remains of grounds themselves – such as recently scheduled Cathkin Park or the site of First Hampden – or more varied sites with football links – such as the listed Rose Reilly pub in Glasgow’s southside, where we recently updated our records to recognise the former Hampden Bar’s connection to Reilly, who is an icon of women’s football in Scotland.
“We know that there are many people right across the country who are keen to get involved in how the history and impact of football in Scotland is recorded and celebrated. This is the final opportunity to take part in the survey and help ensure these places are in the running for consideration.”
Submissions can be made through the consultation page on the Historic Environment Scotland website before the survey closes on Thursday 20th August 2026.
Photo caption: Aerial view of Cathkin Park, the site of the second Hampden, with Hampden Park visible behind it.
Photo credit: Historic Environment Scotland
Photo caption: Aerial view of Cathkin Park, the site of the second Hampden, with Hampden Park visible behind it.
Photo credit: Historic Environment Scotland
Photo caption: Terracing at Cathkin Park, the site of the second Hampden.
Photo credit: Historic Environment Scotland
Photo caption: Aerial view of the pitch at Cathkin Park, the site of the second Hampden.
Photo credit: Historic Environment Scotland
Photo caption: The Category A-listed stand at Gala Fairydean, designed by architect Peter Womersley.
Photo credit: Historic Environment Scotland
Photo caption: The terraced end of Ayr United’s Somerset Park, recorded by Historic Environment Scotland during Ayr United v Dundee.
Photo credit: Historic Environment Scotland