BALL games in Glasgow in one form or another go all the way back to the 1570s, when a 'ba' game' was played on Shrove Tuesday, with the balls supplied by the town council.

It was a roughhouse, in which two mob-like groups attempted to get 'their' ball past a marker in the street – by any means necessary.

By the early 19th Century, teams with fixed numbers and goalposts were established in Glasgow, although the game still had a long way to go. In the later part of the century, Queen's Park FC (established in 1867) were playing what they called the 'passing game'.

Out of these games developed the rules of modern-day Association Football.

The first-ever international football game – against England – took place on November 20, 1872, at the West of Scotland Cricket Club, in Partick. It was organised and administered by Queen's Park, and, in fact, the club supplied the entire Scottish side. The game ended in a goalless draw.

The Scottish Cup was instigated in 1873 and for its first nine years it was shared between just two teams. Queen's Park's two runs of three consecutive triumphs (see picture), were interrupted by three years in which Vale of Leven won.

Football in Glasgow flourished quickly and fiercely. Rangers was established in 1873. Celtic was formally constituted in 1887.

These two teams would, of course, go on to dominate Scottish football.

Partick Thistle was born in – where else? – Partick, in 1876.

They were somewhat nomadic for the first three decades, being based at a number of venues, including Kelvingrove, Jordanvale, Muirpark, Inchview and Meadowside, before relocating to Firhill in 1909.

Clyde FC got underway in the summer of 1877, on the banks of the River Clyde at Barrowfield.