It seems hardly credible now, but in 1888 a Scottish village football team was crowned Champions of the World. Renton FC was one of the most powerful clubs in Scotland at the time, despite their humble roots in the Dunbartonshire where they competed for players with Dumbarton, Vale of Leven and a host of other local clubs.
   They won the Scottish Cup in 1885 and again in 1888, defeating Cambuslang in the final with a record 6-1 scoreline. That victory prompted a challenge to the English FA Cup winners, West Bromwich Albion, and the match on 12 May was heavily marketed as the 'Championship of the World'. In torrential rain, Renton won 4-1 and basked in the glory of their champion status.
   Robert Bradley and Douglas Gorman have written the full story of the World Championship match, how it came about. and who the key personalities were. You can read it in the attached article (click here).

Sadly, this was the peak of Renton's achievements. Village pride had induced them to great things, but as amateurs they could not compete with the march of professionalism which allowed the city clubs to attract the best players. Renton were founding members of the Scottish League in 1890 but soon found themselves suspended on a charge of professionalism. They had a last hurrah in reaching the 1895 Scottish Cup final and in 1897, less than ten years after their world championship, they were forced to drop out of league football altogether. They stumbled on in lower leagues before folding in 1922, and their famous home ground, Tontine Park, was demolished to make way for housing.