Ainslie Park
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| Full name | The Spartans Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1951 |
| Ground | Ainslie Park, Edinburgh |
| Capacity | 3,612 (534 seated) |
| Chairman | Craig Graham |
| Manager | Douglas Samuel |
| League | Lowland League |
| 2015–16 | Lowland League, 2nd |
The Spartans Football Club are a Scottish football club from Edinburgh. They are managed by Dougie Samuel. They were formed in 1951 by ex-players of Edinburgh University and the original intention was to field a team of graduates of the university. However, they have players from elsewhere as well. They play at Ainslie Park and wear white shirts, red shorts and white socks.
The senior team plays in the Lowland Football League. They joined the new league in 2013 after playing in the East of Scotland Football League, where they became one of its most successful clubs from the 1970s. They have been allowed to play in the qualifying rounds of the Scottish Cup since 1978 and have qualified for the cup proper on several occasions.
Spartans had their top amateur side accepted into the junior set up in 2009. In their first season, they finished 2nd, just two points off the top slot and only promotion place. Spartans also have an under 20 squad who are managed by Les Atkinson. Spartans had an East of Scotland side up until season 15/16 managed by Colin Tomassi and Chris Anderson however this team folded. Spartans have a very successful academy.
As well as the Lowland League team, Spartans also have a Saturday amateur side, a Sunday amateur side and several women's teams, including The Spartans W.F.C, and, from the 2017 season, Hibernian Ladies who both play in the Scottish Women's Premier League.
The Spartans' most successful Scottish Cup run was in 2003–04, when they defeated Buckie Thistle 6–1 in front of a crowd of 450 in Edinburgh in the first round, before defeating Alloa Athletic 5–3 in a replay (the first game had been drawn 3–3) in Edinburgh in the second round. They then defeated Arbroath (who had been in the SFL First Division only the year before) 4–1 at Gayfield Park in the third round, before being beaten 4–0 at home by Scottish Premier League team Livingston in front of a full house of 3,000 fans at City Park.
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