The Spartans Football Club, often known simply as Spartans, are a Scottish football club based in the Pilton area of Edinburgh, Scotland. They currently compete in . They were formed in 1951 by ex-players of Edinburgh University, the original intention being that the squad would consist exclusively of the university's graduates. However, the club is now open to players of any background. Spartans play at Ainslie Park and wear white shirts, red shorts and white socks.
The senior team plays in , and have been managed by Douglas Samuel since 2012; he is currently the longest-serving manager of an SPFL club. The Spartans joined the Lowland League in 2013 after playing in the East of Scotland Football League, where it had become one of its most successful clubs from the 1970s onwards. Spartans have been allowed to play in the qualifying rounds of the Scottish Cup since 1978 and qualified for the cup proper on several occasions during their junior days. In 2023, Spartans were promoted to Scottish League Two after defeating Albion Rovers in the play-offs.
Spartans entered their top amateur side into the SJFA East Region junior setup in 2009, but withdrew in 2013. Spartans also have an Under-20 squad in the Lowlands U20s Development League, a Saturday amateur side, a Sunday amateur side and several women's teams, including The Spartans W.F.C.
Spartans chairman Craig Graham was appointed MBE in 2017 for his service to the community of North Edinburgh.
The Spartans Football Club was established by two former Edinburgh University players, Elliot Wardlaw and Jimmy Beaumont, in the summer of 1951 and immediately joined the East of Scotland League. The club was originally formed for former university and college footballers but the constitution now allows âÂÂother interested partiesâ to join and has done for quite some time.
In the 1971-72 season, Spartans won the East of Scotland League championship for the first time in its history.
In 1976 the club became full members of the Scottish Football Association. At this time the club also moved into its new City Park home as tenants of Edinburgh City Council. City Park was situated on Ferry Road approximately 500 yards from Crewe Toll in the north of Edinburgh. The move to City Park also coincided with Spartans participating in the Scottish Qualifying Cup which it won for the first time in 1978.
The Spartans have played in the East of Scotland League for the majority of their history where they enjoyed huge success and won their first championship title in the 1971-72 season. The club went on to win a total of 9 East of Scotland League championships and finished runners up in the league 7 times.
The East of Scotland League also provides the opportunity for its clubs to compete in several cup competitions throughout the season. Despite Spartans eventually moving on to the Lowland League in 2013 and then gaining promotion to the SPFL in 2023, they still maintain eligibility to play in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup which gives them the opportunity to play in the East of Scotland Cup as well (Also known as the City Cup).
Spartans have lifted the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup 10 times and subsequently the East of Scotland Cup 3 times. On top of these achievements, they also lifted the East of Scotland League Cup on 5 occasions.
In November 2008, Spartans moved to a new purpose-built home at Ainslie Park, which was in close proximity to City Park. The new facility included a 504-seater stand and floodlights surrounding the main stadium pitch and an adjacent, full size artificial pitch with floodlights. Ainslie Park is now used daily by youth and adult Spartans teams, along with the general public.
Later that year, Spartans, along with four other clubs, submitted an application for entry into the Scottish Football League following Gretna relinquishing their league status on 3 June 2008. Spartans were unsuccessful and lost out to Annan Athletic remaining in the East of Scotland League.
In the 2009âÂÂ10 season, Spartans won the quadruple, consisting of the East of Scotland Premier Division, the SFA South Challenge Cup, the King Cup and the League Cup. The 2009âÂÂ10 league title gave Spartans back to back title wins for the first time since 2005.
During the 2010âÂÂ11 season, Spartans won their third league title in a row. The next season they lost the league title on goal difference to Stirling University, while in the 2012âÂÂ13 season, they finished third.
Spartans joined the newly formed Lowland Football League for the 2013âÂÂ14 season and went on to win the inaugural championship title. They finished as runners-up in 2015âÂÂ16 and won the Lowland League Cup a year later, before becoming Lowland League champions for a second time in 2017âÂÂ18. This allowed Spartans to take part in the Pyramid play-off with an opportunity at SPFL promotion, however they lost 5âÂÂ2 on aggregate to Cove Rangers of the Highland League.
In the 2022âÂÂ23 season, Spartans won the Lowland League title for a third time. During that season's Pyramid play-offs they defeated Highland League champions Brechin City 4âÂÂ3 on penalties before defeating Albion Rovers 2âÂÂ1 on aggregate in the final to progress to the SPFL and Scottish League Two. The winning goal was scored from the penalty spot by Blair Henderson at Cliftonhill Stadium.
Following promotion to the SPFL and into Scotland's fourth tier, Spartans went on to have a very successful first season. In their first competitive game as an SPFL side, they defeated Dundee United at Ainslie Park 1âÂÂ0 in the Scottish League Cup.
They would finish third in their debut season, only 10 points less than eventual winners Stenhousemuir. This earned them a play-off place at the first time of asking, and the opportunity for back-to-back promotions into SPFL League One. Having beaten Peterhead to qualify for the final, they would suffer defeat at the hands of Dumbarton, 4âÂÂ3 on aggregate.
In the 2024âÂÂ25 League Two season, the goal for Spartans was solidifying their status within the SPFL. They finished in fifth place and narrowly missed out on another play-off opportunity. They also defeated local rivals Edinburgh City at Ainslie Park twice and beat Premiership outfit Ross County at home in the League Cup. Eventually, they were knocked out in the quarter-finals away to Aberdeen.
The Spartans' most successful Scottish Cup run was in 2003âÂÂ04, when they defeated Buckie Thistle 6âÂÂ1 in front of a crowd of 450 in Edinburgh in the first round, before defeating Alloa Athletic 5âÂÂ3 in a replay (the first game had been drawn 3âÂÂ3) in Edinburgh in the second round. They then defeated Arbroath (who had been in the SFL First Division only the year before) 4âÂÂ1 at Gayfield Park in the third round, before being beaten 4âÂÂ0 at home by Scottish Premier League team Livingston in front of a full house of 3,000 fans at City Park.
Two seasons later in 2005âÂÂ06, Spartans defeated Berwick Rangers, Lossiemouth and Queen's Park in the first three rounds of the Scottish Cup. They drew 0âÂÂ0 with First Division side St Mirren in the last sixteen in front of 3,326 fans at City Park, earning a replay at Love Street, where they lost 3âÂÂ0.
In the 2008âÂÂ09 Scottish Cup, Spartans' cup run sent them to Pollok, winning through a replay, they then beat Annan Athletic 2âÂÂ1. In the next round they beat Elgin City 2âÂÂ1, before being knocked out by Airdrie United in the fourth round.
The club progressed to the fifth round (last 16) of the 2014âÂÂ15 Scottish Cup, defeating Clyde and Morton along the way. In the fifth round of the competition, Spartans forced a replay with Berwick Rangers on 7 February 2015, thanks to an injury time equaliser from Ally MacKinnon to level the tie at 1âÂÂ1, the game being played in front of 2,504 supporters at Ainslie Park. Spartans lost the replay 1-0.
In the 2024âÂÂ25 Scottish Cup, Spartans defeated Brechin City 2-1 at Glebe Park before beating Scottish Championship side Arbroath at home 2-1. This set up a glamour cup tie against fellow Edinburgh side Heart of Midlothian at a sold out Ainslie Park. Despite a valiant effort, Spartans would lose the game 2-1 with Hearts scoring the winner in the dying moments. The game is remembered for a spectacular strike from Spartans midfielder James Craigen which brought the game back to 1-1.
Spartans would create more great memories in the 2025âÂÂ26 Scottish Cup by defeating East Kilbride, Bonnyrigg Rose and then previous Scottish Cup winners, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, on penalties at Ainslie Park. This set up an away trip at Tannadice Park were they would lose to Scottish Premiership outfit, Dundee United, 2-1 in the 5th round.
Ainslie Park, on Pilton Drive in northern Edinburgh, is the home ground of The Spartans. The stadium has a capacity of 3,612, 504 of which are seated. Ainslie Park is merely part of the new project that Spartans have invested into their new ground, a wider development of the Spartans Community Football Academy.
The facility incorporates a fully enclosed stadium which meets SFA and SPFL criteria, with an artificial pitch, floodlights, seating for 504 spectators and an overall capacity of 3,612. Another full size, floodlit artificial pitch sits adjacent to the main playing area and the accommodation incorporates six changing rooms, a club room, committee room and a physio room. The Club ground holds a P.A system and a bar for spectators.
In March 2017, Edinburgh City reached an agreement with Spartans to use Ainslie Park ground for three seasons while Meadowbank Stadium was being redeveloped.
East of Scotland Football League
SFA South Region Challenge Cup
East of Scotland Qualifying Cup
East of Scotland City Cup
East of Scotland League Cup
King Cup
Ronnie Swan Challenge Cup
The former Scotland international Eamonn Bannon had a spell playing for Spartans in the 1990s.
Spartans Football Club Women's and Girls is a women's football team that plays in the Scottish Women's Premier League, the top division of women's football in Scotland. Spartans F.C. Women is part of Spartans F.C. in North Edinburgh and play and train at the club's training facilities.