Alloa Athletic Football Club is based in the town of Alloa, Clackmannanshire. Founded as Clackmannan County in 1878, the club changed its name to Alloa a year later and became Alloa Athletic in 1883. This town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland lies on the north bank of the Firth of Forth close to the foot of the Ochil Hills and has a population of around 19,000.
The club was elected to the second tier of the Scottish Football League in 1921–22 and won promotion to the top flight in its first season by winning the Second Division, but was immediately relegated from the top flight the following season. Promotion was achieved again as runners-up in 1938–39, but the onset of the Second World War saw the new season curtailed after just five games. When the leagues were re-organised after the war, Alloa was back in Division Two.
Below the top two tiers of Scottish football, Alloa Athletic has finished runner-up in the third tier a record eight times without ever finishing top. In the fourth tier, Third Divison Alloa have run out on winners in 1997–98 and 2011–12. In Cup Competition Alloa won the Scottish Challenge Cup in 1999 and were beaten finalists on two other occasions, but have never been beyond the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup.
The history of the club matches the profile of many smaller clubs. Promotions are followed by relegations and Alloa has ridden the roller-coaster of the changing lower divisions in Scotland.
Although the fifties and sixties were not a successful period for the club, Alloa did provide the game with John White, who went on to play for Scotland and Tottenham Hotspur (where he was part of their famous double winning side of the 1960–61 season).
Manager: Jim Goodwin
Ground: Recreation Park (capacity 3,100)
Nickname: The Wasps
Travel:
By road:
The ground is easy to find, located on the A907 on the east side of Alloa. If approaching from Stirling, continue on the A907 through the centre of Alloa and you will reach the ground on your left. There only street parking available at the ground for supporters.
By rail:
Alloa Railway Station is in easy walking distance of Recreation Park. It is served by trains from Stirling and Glasgow. From the station, walk past the Asda and turn left. The ground is only a short walk.
The club was elected to the second tier of the Scottish Football League in 1921–22 and won promotion to the top flight in its first season by winning the Second Division, but was immediately relegated from the top flight the following season. Promotion was achieved again as runners-up in 1938–39, but the onset of the Second World War saw the new season curtailed after just five games. When the leagues were re-organised after the war, Alloa was back in Division Two.
Below the top two tiers of Scottish football, Alloa Athletic has finished runner-up in the third tier a record eight times without ever finishing top. In the fourth tier, Third Divison Alloa have run out on winners in 1997–98 and 2011–12. In Cup Competition Alloa won the Scottish Challenge Cup in 1999 and were beaten finalists on two other occasions, but have never been beyond the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup.
The history of the club matches the profile of many smaller clubs. Promotions are followed by relegations and Alloa has ridden the roller-coaster of the changing lower divisions in Scotland.
Although the fifties and sixties were not a successful period for the club, Alloa did provide the game with John White, who went on to play for Scotland and Tottenham Hotspur (where he was part of their famous double winning side of the 1960–61 season).
Manager: Jim Goodwin
Ground: Recreation Park (capacity 3,100)
Nickname: The Wasps
Travel:
By road:
The ground is easy to find, located on the A907 on the east side of Alloa. If approaching from Stirling, continue on the A907 through the centre of Alloa and you will reach the ground on your left. There only street parking available at the ground for supporters.
By rail:
Alloa Railway Station is in easy walking distance of Recreation Park. It is served by trains from Stirling and Glasgow. From the station, walk past the Asda and turn left. The ground is only a short walk.