Edinburgh is often called a city of contrasts, a place where incredible diversity is woven into the fabric of daily life. This is most apparent in its culture, but it’s the people who are the city’s true lifeblood. Their passions, interests, and pursuits embody the spirit of the place, and Edinburgh, in turn, provides a stage for them to thrive. This unique characteristic is a key part of the city’s remarkable charm. More at iedinburgh.
Nowhere is this more evident than in sport, which offers residents a powerful platform to unleash their potential. The city’s numerous clubs and teams are a testament to this, achieving outstanding results and representing Edinburgh with pride on the national stage.
Edinburgh City Football Club is one such team. Their level of play is consistently impressive, and their successes showcase an incredible ability to rally together and fight for victory.
The Early Years
The club was originally founded back in 1928. Although it began as a largely amateur side, the team quickly started to show flashes of brilliance. As a result, they were admitted to The Scottish Football League in 1931. When the Second World War broke out, the team continued to compete in The Lothian Amateur League. This persistence likely played a part in the club being accepted into The Scottish Football League Third Division in 1946, where it was officially granted professional status.
A Sudden Halt
Despite playing successfully, the team withdrew from The Scottish Football League in 1949. Around the same time, it reverted to junior status, competing in The Edinburgh & District Junior League. Then, in 1955, the club abruptly announced it was ceasing all activities. The primary reason cited was the city council’s refusal to renew the lease on their training ground.
The Return
However, some things are destined to endure. This proved true for the team, and in 1966, it was essentially reborn, albeit under the name Postal United F.C.
The new club later joined The East of Scotland League. Among its notable achievements were victories in The Qualifying Cup in 1982/83 and the King Cup in 1984/85.
An Attractive Offer
What happened next was fascinating. The original company, Edinburgh City Football Club Ltd., had remained dormant since the team folded. In 1986, this company granted Postal United the right to use the historic Edinburgh City F.C. name.
From the mid-1990s, with their new identity cemented, the club began competing in The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup as a full member of The Scottish Football Association.
A Story of Success
The 2005/06 season marked a milestone as the club won its first East of Scotland Football League Premier Division title. Later, in 2013, the team became a founding member of The New Lowland League. This move proved to be a catalyst for success, as the team went on to win the Lowland League title in both the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons.
Following this, the club was promoted to The Scottish Professional Football League after defeating East Stirlingshire Football Club in a tense play-off. This achievement was sensational, as it marked the first time a non-league club had been promoted to the professional setup through the pyramid system.
The club performed strongly in the 2018/19 season, earning a spot in The League One promotion play-offs. Unfortunately, their promotion hopes were ended by Clyde Football Club.
The Naming Question
In the 2021/22 season, the club produced excellent results and finished fourth, securing promotion to The Scottish League One.
Beyond the on-pitch success, 2022 was also the year the team decided to change its name once more, becoming FC Edinburgh. This decision was driven by a desire for greater autonomy and independence, particularly from the original Edinburgh City Football Club Ltd. However, the limited company objected, arguing the new name was too similar to the one they had permitted the club to use back in 1986.
As a result, the team had to temporarily rebrand as the Football Club of Edinburgh. Finally, in 2023, after receiving official approval from The Scottish Football Association, it was announced that the team would once again be known as Edinburgh City Football Club.
The history of this club is a powerful testament to an old saying: do what is right, and let the rest follow. Its story proves that if something is truly meant to be, nothing can stand in its way. The temporary demise of the club did not prevent its revival; instead, that revival proved to be immensely successful, leading the team to new victories and proving that its spirit could never be extinguished.