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The origins of organised football in Penicuik can be traced back to 1882, when several clubs operated in the area.
Penicuik Athletic were formed in 1888 at a meeting in the Royal Hotel in Penicuik and established a pitch at Hays Park at the back of the Royal Hotel adjacent to Hays Garage. Safeways Supermarket and car park, the main road and Penicuik Health Centre now stand on the ground.
In the late 19th century football was increasing in popularity throughout Scotland and in 1893 the East of Scotland League was formed and Penicuik Athletic were a senior club. Numerous newspaper reports of the early matches still survive.
The origins of organised football in Penicuik can be traced back to 1882, when several clubs operated in the area.
Penicuik Athletic were formed in 1888 at a meeting in the Royal Hotel in Penicuik and established a pitch at Hays Park at the back of the Royal Hotel adjacent to Hays Garage. Safeways Supermarket and car park, the main road and Penicuik Health Centre now stand on the ground.
In the late 19th century football was increasing in popularity throughout Scotland and in 1893 the East of Scotland League was formed and Penicuik Athletic were a senior club. Numerous newspaper reports of the early matches still survive.
In 1904, the Athletic adopted junior status as at that time junior football was still amateur unlike today when it is semi-professional. A high point came in 1910 when the Athletic reached the semi-final of the Scottish Junior Cup only to lose narrowly to Kilwinning Rangers. Three of Penicuiks players were "capped" for the Scottish Junior International team that year.
The 1930s saw the club revert to the East of Scotland League and Scottish Cup ties were played in Penicuik against Heart of Midlothian and St. Mirren.
In the early 1950s the Athletic established a new pitch at Eastfield Park on ground previously owned by the Shotts Iron Company, operators of the tragic Mauricewood Pit. The club again entered the junior league and in 1966 reached the semi-final of the Scottish Junior Cup only to lose by the narrowest of margins to local rivals Bonnyrigg Rose. Inspired by their progress the Athletic went one better in 1969 reaching the final of the Scottish Junior Cup which was played at Hampden Park. Yet again the Athletic were to lose by the narrowest of margins, this time in a replay against Blantyre Victoria. In another coincidence, three Penicuik players were selected for the Scottish Junior team.
The 1970s saw probably the most successful period in the clubs history when a social club was built at the ground. Many local trophies were won and the team was considered as one of the leading teams in the East of Scotland. However the biggest prize of all, the Scottish Junior Cup still eluded the Athletic despite the clubs best efforts.
The clubs fortunes fell into decline both on and off the park in the 1980s and the Social Club was forced to close in 1986 with mounting debts. The park had been used as security for various loans and the creditors put the park up for sale to clear the debts. The team continued to play despite the off-field problems and were showing signs of revival when a near fatal blow was delivered when the ground was sold on to be developed into a supermarket which stands on Eastfield Park today
Throughout the 1990s several initiatives were embarked on to secure a new pitch but for a variety of reasons were unsuccessful. This latest project to establish a pitch which meets the criteria laid down by the Scottish Junior Football Association has grown out of an initiative by three local Midlothian Councillors, Russell Imrie, David Fletcher and Adam Montgomery to improve Penicuiks recreational facilities.
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