Harestanes AFC History
23 Jul 2008

Harestanes were founded in 1981 by a group of friends to play in the local Sunday amateur league. Founder members, club Chairman Jim McKinney and brother Paul are still very much part of the club today. The Hares won promotion at the first attempt moving to the third division.

The following season 1982-83 they moved to Saturday amateur football joining the Stirling and District AFA winning promotion to the third division in the first season.

The season 1983-84 was again a promotion year for the Hares as they moved up to the second division.

Season 1984-85 was a winning season as Harestanes won the Second Division Trophy and also picked up the Campbell Trophy.

The following season 1985-86 was another successful season as Harestanes won the First Division Trophy and retained the Campbell trophy.

The next three seasons were barren for Harestanes and in season 1989-90 they decided it was off to pastures new and they joined the McEwans Central Scottish AFL and got off to a great start winning the First Division Cup.

Season 1990-91 and the Hares kept up their good start to life in the McEwans League by winning the Division 1a Championship and promotion to the Premier League.

The next four or five seasons were a learning curve for the Hares in a very high standard Premier Division. Season 1997-98 seen the hard work and dedication pay off as the Hares won the Premier Division title for the first time.

The following season 1998-99 the Hares finished runners up in the league but won the McEwans League Cup for the first time.

Season 1999-2000 Harestanes won back the Premier Division Trophy and were unlucky not to make it the double finishing runners up in the Cinema Cup final.

Season 2000-01 and Harestanes managed to retain the Premier Division Trophy, win the McAvoy and McIntyre Trophy but again finish runners up in the Cinema Cup Final.

The season 2001-2002 and the Hares finished runners up in the league, but it was third time lucky as they win the coveted Cinema Cup.

The season came to a fantastic climax on May 18th 2002 at Hampden Park in the Scottish Cup Final where the Hares defeated Dumbarton Academy 4-2 to join Scottish Football History by winning the Scottish Cup for the first time.

Season 2002-03 the season of all seasons for this Harestanes team. They finished top of the Premier League for the 3rd time in four seasons winning the title on the last day of the season with the gutsiest performance witnessed by anyone who was fortunate enough to be there. Won the McEwans League Cup for the 2nd time. Won the McAvoy and McIntyre for the 2nd time and to top it all off they went back to Hampden to bring the Scottish Cup back to Kirkintilloch for the 2nd season in a row.

Season 2003-04 this was a hard season for everyone at the club. No trophies were won and the magnificent team of the past four or five seasons started to break up. The management team of Bobby Pullen and Tony Carr who had done such a wonderful job moved on and were replaced with the Back to Back Scottish Cup captain Gordon Cameron.

Season 2004-05 despite just cutting his teeth in management Gordon Cameron along with the help of fellow Scottish Cup double winner Kevin McGoldrick managed to keep the Hares in the Premier League and pull together a team good enough to win the John Smith Cinema Cup.

Season 2005-06 The Management team of Gordon Cameron and Guy Brown decided it was going to be a building season with the emphasis on youth. With almost a whole new team arriving in one season it was no surprise that no trophies were won in this season. The aim was to stay in the Premier League which was achieved by a very young Harestanes team.

Season 2006-07 The Management team continued with their youth policy and what must have been the youngest Harestanes team ever finished a decent first season together by winning the John Smiths League Cup and staying in the Premier League to repay their Managers faith in them.

Season 2007-08 This was a trophy less season for the Hares as the rebuilding and nurturing of the young squad continued.

Season 2008-09 Seen the Hares lift the coveted Cinema Cup for the third time and finish runners up in the league.

Season 2009-10...Harestanes make history once again as Gordon Cameron and his team win the West Of Scotland Cup for the first time. The Hares dug out a narrow win with a header by Jamie Broadfoot enough to beat old rivals Colville Park 1-0 at New Douglas Park.

Season 2010-11...Rookie Manager John McClelland takes over as manager and in his first season manages to take the Hares to another M&M final beating Kilsyth 2-1 at Duncans Field to win the trophy for a third time. Goals from MOM Ewan McRae and Skipper Paul Marshall making the difference in a tight final.