On Old Firm day in Glasgow, it can feel like the whole city stops. Police line the streets in their hundred as a mass of fans swarm down and create the unique atmosphere which is known around the world. However, despite football firmly being at the heart of the city, there are several other professional sports teams who don’t get the attention they deserve. As young Scots become more aware of the variety of sporting success the city boasts and try their hand at an ever-increasing number of them, here are three professional Glasgow sports teams who deserve the spotlight.
Glasgow Clan
Glasgow Clan, recently re-branded from Braehead Clan, are still in their infancy as professional sports teams go. Founded in 2010, the Clan have wasted no time in becoming a solid and well-respected team in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). Placing fifth in their debut season, the side finished second in the league in 2014-15, an incredible achievement considering the club’s youth.
Playing their matches at Braehead Arena, they’re cheered on by the Purple Army, which at full capacity holds 3,500 people, creating a vibrant atmosphere which gets louder every year, reflecting the growth in the club’s popularity. If you fancy going along and experiencing the action first-hand, there are 30 home games per season from
September to April, with tickets ranging from £18 to £22.
Glasgow City F.C
If you want to talk about Glasgow dominating Scottish football, tell Celtic and Rangers to step aside for a minute. Introducing Glasgow City FC, who recently won the Scottish Women’s Premier League for a record TWELFTH time in a row! A feat neither of the men’s clubs have managed in history, the team are at the forefront of promoting women’s football in Europe as well as Scotland and this season reached the last 16 of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, being beaten by Barcelona Femeni.
The club play at Petershill Park, or ‘The Peasy’, in Springburn and it’s no wonder tickets for the recent Barcelona game sold out. With fantastic value for money at £5 a ticket and £20 for hospitality, it’s well worth getting yourself down to watch the closest thing to a guaranteed victory.
Glasgow Rocks
One of the better-known professional sports teams in the city, the Radisson Red Glasgow Rocks are a basketball team who play at the Emirates Arena. The team are currently going through a rocky spell (pun intended) and sit near the bottom of the British Basketball League. Nevertheless, the Rocks are a great example of a sports club who have a tight-knit relationship with their fans, offering different tiers of match-day packages, which can include signed and framed photos of players, player mascots and jerseys signed by the team.
They have also launched the Rocks in the Community initiative aimed at helping particularly vulnerable young people through the sport. Tickets are again great value for money, from £6 for a child to £13 for premier seating.
