history
16 Dec 2007

LINKS UNITED AMATEUR FOOTBALL CLUB

Founded in 1955 by the late John Lawrence and based at Leith Links the club started its early career in the lower divisions of the Edinburgh Amateur Association. They slowly made there way through the divisions eventually reaching the 1st Division in 1967. During that time only one trophy was won and promotion was gained without actually winning a league title. All that changed in the late 60�s, however, and for the next twenty odd years Links United became one of the top amateur teams in the country.

Although their first cup triumph came in season 1964-65 when the club won the Consolation Cup, major successes started in the late 60�s when they won the Robert McLeod Trophy in season 1968-69 and the Harry O�Neill Cup in 1969-70. During the 70�s the club won the East of Scotland Cup once (and lost in four other finals), the Challenge Cup four times, the Victory Cup twice, the Dunedin Cup once and the 1st Division Championship on two occasions. The highlight for Links United during that period was undoubtedly their appearance at Hampden Park in the 1977 Scottish Amateur Cup Final against Morriston YMCA. Although they lost narrowly by four goals to three after extra time, the experience will live with those involved that day for years to come.

In season 1978-79 the club moved to the Lothian Amateur Association and immediately continued their winning ways. That same season they again lost in extra time in the semi-final of the national trophy and experienced a similar fate in 1980-81.
However, by the end of the 80�s they had amassed an impressive haul of silverware by capturing the Miller Cup, the Logan Cup, the Hamilton Cup, the Blaikie Cup twice, the Craigie Veitch Cup, the Mid & East Division title and the Premier Division Championship on two occasions.

In the early 1990�s the club failed to pick up a trophy, although they did lose out in two finals, but they finally succeeded in season 1994-95 when they lifted the main trophy, the Miller Cup.

At that time the club decided to up their standards and apply for inclusion into the Caledonian League. Their application was accepted and in 1995-96 they were pipped for promotion by just one point in their first season in the top association. In season 1997-8 the club managed to win the second division championship and and managed to stay in the Premier division for three years before being relegated back to the 2nd division. In season 2004-5. because of league reconstruction we found ourselves in what is division 3 but under the management of Stephen Osborne (Oz) we were able to gain promotion to the 2nd division and also for the first time since we joined the Caledonian league we participated in a Cup final (The Queens Park Challenge Cup) defeating three premier teams to get there but unfortunately we were beaten 3-1 by Dalziel HSFP in the final. The following season 50th Season we continued on our succesful run winning the first divion Championship and regaining a position in the premier division. In 2006-7 the aim was to retain our position which we managed to as well as hving one of our best runs in the Scottish Cup for some years getting to the 6th round. This season after a slow start we are gaining momentum and although having gone out of The Scottish Cup are still in the Planet Bathroom (Livingston) East of Scotland Cup the Douglas Smith League Cup and the Queens Park Cahllenge Cup. So there is much to look forward to in 2008.
In 2005-6 our 50th season we won promotion to the Premier Division as
Champions. Season 2006-7 saw us consolidate our position in the very
competitive Premier division and make it through to the 6th round of the
Scottish Amateur Cup. One of our best runs in the cup for some time.

For the 2010-11 season, the club will be under the management of Colin Campbell and Gavin Thomson, with Steven Osbourne having moved on to Edinburgh United in the junior ranks. The new management team's first task will be to target promotion from the LEAFA Edinburgh West Division, with the club having rejoined the main amateur association in the East of Scotland for the first time in many years.

With Gavin and Colin having moved into a behind the scenes roles and making sure the club keeps going, they now have appointed 2 new managers. Gary McCardle and David Hughes took over at the beginning of the 2011/12 season and hope to get promotion in their first season of managing an amateur team.

It will be a huge challenge, but everyone connected to the club is 100% up for it!