Merchiston Park () was a football ground in Bainsford, near Falkirk, which was the home of East Stirlingshire F.C. between and 1920. It was near Main Street, just north of the Forth and Clyde Canal at Bainsford Bridge.
History
Early years East Stirlingshire F.C. was formed in 1880 when a group of friends from a cricket team called Bainsford Blue Bonnets formed a football team under the name Britannia., East Stirlingshire F.C. Retrieved 25 January 2013. At the end of the club's first year of existence it found a home at Randyford Park in the east of Falkirk. At the time, the ground's previous tenant was a cricket team called East Stirlingshire Cricket Club and in 1881, Britannia also adopted the East Stirlingshire name, which stands to this day.
By 1882, East Stirlingshire is recorded as having played home games at Merchiston Park in Bainsford. The ground was located just west of Main Street and north of the Forth and Clyde Canal at Bainsford Bridge. One of the first matches at the ground under the East Stirlingshire name was against neighbours Falkirk F.C. and ended in a 4–0 defeat for the home side.Falkirk FC Matches 1882-83, oocities.org. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
The club was admitted to the second tier of the Scottish Football League in 1900 and played its first ever league game at Merchiston Park in August of the same year. The match was against Airdrieonians, in front of a crowd of 2,500 people, and ended in a 3–2 defeat., East Stirlingshire F.C. Retrieved 25 January 2013.Results for East Stirlingshire for 1900-01, londonhearts.com. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
In 1908, the whole ground was moved a few hundred metres south to make way for a new railway line, the Bainsford Branch, which bypassed Falkirk Grahamston railway station to the north.Grangemouth Railway (Forth and Clyde Canal Company), railbrit.co.uk. 11 March 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2013. The line no longer exists and now forms the route of the A9 Falkirk Ring Road.
Move to Firs Park The ground was closed completely in 1920 when the adjacent Burnbank Iron Foundry acquired the Merchiston Park grounds for expansion.Easton, T. (1907). Museum & Archives Collection, Falkirk Community Trust. Retrieved 25 January 2013. The club then moved south of the canal to Firs Street in Falkirk, where Firs Park was located. It remained the club's home for 87 years, until 2008, when it was vacated due to the prohibitive cost of expanding the venue.Shire explain Firs Park Departure, BBC Sport. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2013. East Stirlingshire now plays its home games at Ochilview Park, the home of neighbours Stenhousemuir F.C. in a groundshare agreement.
In 2012, East Stirlingshire opened a club shop in Bainsford, near to the former location of Merchiston Park, with the aim of recognising the club's historical roots.Shire go back to the future, Falkirk Herald. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
References