Linton Hotspur F.C.
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Hotspurs
 | |||
| Full name | Linton Hotspur Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicknames | Spurs Hotspurs | ||
| Founded | 2008, 17 years ago | ||
| Ground | New Moor Road, West Linton | ||
| Capacity | 1,000 (63 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Campbell Forsyth | ||
| Manager | Ruairidh Fleming & Paul Currie | ||
| League | East of Scotland League Second Division | ||
| 2024–25 | East of Scotland League Third Division, 2nd of 11 (promoted) | ||
| Website | lintonhotspur.squarespace.com | ||
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Linton Hotspur Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the village of West Linton in the Scottish Borders. They play their matches at New Moor Road, West Linton.
Initially an amateur side, the club now plays in the East of Scotland Football League Second Division after admission in 2023.[1] The first team is currently managed by Ruairidh Fleming & Paul Currie.
Early history and disbandment
Linton Hotspur Football Club was founded in the 1920s and was amongst the oldest amateur football clubs in Peeblesshire. In 1971, however, the club decided to disband after a 12-2 thrashing by Ferranti Thistle.
Re-establishment
In 2008, almost four decades after its disbandment, a meeting at the local public house gathered enough support to re-establish Linton Hotspur. A year later, the club was granted membership to the Border Amateur Football League, playing their first game since 1971.[2]
Over the next decade, travel constraints and poor form led to the club leaving the Borders League to join the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur Football Association in 2018/19. This move relieved pressure on the existing squad and broadened the appeal of the club to players in the latter region.[3]
In 2022, Hotspurs reached the final of the South of Scotland Amateur Cup, losing 3-1 to Lesmahagow Amateurs F.C.[4]
Entering the Scottish pyramid
The following year, the club was then admitted to the EoSFL Third Division, playing its first fixture against West Calder United F.C. on July 29, 2023.[5] Chris King was appointed manager in August 2023 and led Linton Hotspur to a 10th place out of 11 finish in their first season in the 2023-24 East of Scotland Third Division.
After a successful start to the 2024-25 season, Dunbar United appointed Chris King and Scott Gibson, both of which previously played at the club.[6] On February 14th 2025, Paul Currie and Ruairidh Fleming were appointed co-managers with Kenny Hall as assistant manager. They were joined by interim head coaches Ben Gilmour & Drew Sanson, involved under previous management.[7]
After defeating Lochgelly Albert 2-1 at New Moor Road, Linton Hotspur were promoted to the East of Scotland Second Division for the first time in their history.[8]
