Who are we?

The Hampden Collection was set up in 2017 to preserve and promote Scotland’s pioneering footballing history through the magnificent story of the three Hampden Parks and all who played on them.

Our team is made up of talented, dedicated volunteers (including Poets, Artists, Historians, Tour Guides, Bowlers, Cricketers and Football Fans) who are committed to bringing the stories and legacy to a wider audience.

Why are the 3 Hampden Parks so important?

Hampden Bowling Club sits on the site of the First Hampden Park: home to Queen’s Park Football Club, Scotland’s National Team and the Scottish Cup from 1873 to 1883. First Hampden was the world’s first purposefully built, enclosed, international football ground and template for all modern football stadia. Furthermore, this is where the ‘Scotch Professors’ developed the modern passing, running and combination game, and exported it to the world. The Scottish Game is now played or watched by 3.5 billion people.

In 1883, Queen’s Park, Scotland and the SFA, with their Scottish Cup, were forced to move from their First Hampden to the Second Hampden at Cathkin due to the building of the Cathcart Railway. They moved again to the Third, and present, Hampden in 1903 and built the world’s biggest football ground. The 3 Hampdens are the centrepiece of Football’s Square Mile, the world’s biggest open-air football museum and our mission is to make it a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Enter the world of The Hampden Parks here:

Enjoy our site – take a look around. This will astound you.