Glasgow University F.C was the first Scottish University football team when founded in 1877, followed in 1878 by Edinburgh University F.C. Glasgow won the first match between the teams played in Edinburgh and drew the return at Hampden.


Until the 1970s the club was officially entitled Glasgow University Association Football Club. Along the way G.U.A.F.C has become, simply, G.U.F.C. The “A” for “Association” was commonly misunderstood to represent “Amateur” and there is no longer any need to distinguish between Rugby Football and Association Football, hence the straightforward, modern, unconfused title.


In only the third year of existence, the GUFC held the then powerful Third Lanark to a 1-1 draw in the Scottish Cup.


The club, after a period in abeyance, was formally re-constituted in 1895.


The first tour was undertaken to London and Southampton in 1899.


As Scottish Universities Champions in 1925 Glasgow beat the English Champions, Manchester University, in a challenge match.


Glasgow University F.C was the first student team to win the Scottish Amateur Cup (in 1927) and the West of Scotland Amateur Cup (in 1932).


In 1954 Glasgow travelled as Scottish Universities to the World Student Games in Hungary and opened the event against the Hungarian Student XI in front of 87 000 spectators in the People’s Stadium.


Three teams were in action before the First World War, expanding to four, five and even six elevens in the 1970s. Currently three teams operate on a Wednesday and four on a Saturday.


The Club has won the William Ross Cunningham Memorial Trophy for the most outstanding club in Glasgow University Sports Association on 4 occasions – 1956, 1960, 1969 and 1971.


Additionally, there have been 8 members of the Football Club who have become President of Glasgow University Sports Association, most recently in 1994-95.


Two former players have received knighthoods – Sir Andrew Watt Kay and Sir Herbert Duthie for services to medicine.


In 1967 the graduates club, Westerlands AFC, was formed and has retained close links with GUFC. Annually a challenge match is played for the Rudi Klahr Trophy. Both teams currently compete in the Caledonian League.


Former player, committee member and Honorary Club President Professor Hugh Sutherland has been honoured within the University of Glasgow with and Honorary Blue for services to sport and an Honorary Degree for services to academic life.


The teams were traditionally known as:


1st XI Corinthians
2nd XI University XI
3rd XI Strollers
4th XI Victoria XI
5th XI Reserve XI
6th XI Freshers’ XI


Following club restructuring, with a view to providing maximal player development to ensure overall success, the club now has:


1st XI: Competing in the Caledonian League
2nd XI: Competing in the Greater Glasgow Premier AFL
Under 21s: Competing in the West of Scotland Under 21s League
Under 19s: Competing in the Glasgow and District Youth Football League


This is in addition to 3 teams competing on Wednesday afternoons in Scottish University Sport leagues and British University and College Sport competitions.