St Bernard's Boys Club
23 Sep 2010

St Bernard's Boys Club was formed in 1949.

Around that time the Edinburgh Academy (Stockbridge) Boys Club, a club set up by the school for the youth of the district, ran 4 football teams. A difficulty arose when only two managers were available to run the football and it was necessary to reduce the number of teams. At this point in stepped James Tulloch, who lived in India Place, to take over one of the teams and so our club was born under the St Bernard's name.

The Edinburgh Academy club continued until 1956.They had been formed in 1929 and operated from premises at 38 Raeburn Place (pictured above) on the site of the present Scotmid store.

Early matches were played at Inverleith Park with training taking place in a hall at Saunders Street.The team participated in the Lothian Amateur U17 League and played in blue and white hooped jerseys inherited from the Academy.Initially success at local level was limited but 1961 saw a major breakthrough when the Lord Weir Cup, the Scottish cup at U17 level, was won at Saughton Enclosure. The team was managed by Willie Hall.

This success triggered a period of great prosperity and many local trophies at U17 and U21 levels were won in the next few years.

Youth football which previously had been confirmed to age 15 and over expanded in the mid 1970s to include teams for players the age of 11 and upwards and St Bernard's were one of the first clubs to move into this new area. This led to another Scottish Cup Final appearance when a team managed by Jimmy Tulloch, a grandson of the founder,contested the U12 final at City Park in 1975. Unfortunately they did not win the trophy. Around this time the club had their own club rooms in Dean Street.

A total of 199 teams have represented St Bernards since inception covering all age groups. This is the 51st season for the U21 team. In year 2000 they became the third team from the club to reach a Scottish Cup Final when managed by Walter Martynuik they contested the final at New Victoria Park, Newtongrange after playing every round away from home. Once again the club was denied at the last hurdle but received a special cup from the SYFA to commemorate the Millennium.

St Bernard's have had a longer lifespan than many youth teams. It is a family club in more senses than one and this is probably the main reason for their longevity. Two families the Tullochs and the Halls have dominated their history. Three generations of Tullochs and four generations of Halls have been associated. James Tulloch the founder had seven sons and all were involved at some stage. John Tulloch who died about 9 years ago could rightly be described as 'Mr St Bernards' his involvement extending to 50 years. Stewart Tulloch his brother received a MBE in 1994 for his services to football. His activities extended beyond the club to eventually become the National Secretary of youth football in Scotland. On the Hall side Willie Hall's son, grandson and great grandsons are all currently involved.

Many others too numerous to mention have worked tirelessly none more so than John Bremner who has been with us for 30 years.

Other well known clubs such as the 46th BB Ex Members, St Bernards First Class Juveniles and Edinburgh Rosebery have operated from the Stockbridge area with distinction. However it is our club who remain to carry on the traditions of the most famous of all the senior St Bernard's Football Club.

Founded in 1878 they ceased to operate in 1942 but won the Scottish League Second Division twice and finished third in the First Division in 1894. Their crowning achievement however was the winning of the Scottish Cup in 1895 and for that they will always be remembered.

Please see Notice Board section for the list of teams run by St Bernards BC season by season.

Trophy Successes (other than Amateur and U21s - see separate Team Histories)

1952 Stewart Cup (Lothian Amateur U20).
1961 SCOTTISH CUP and League Champions (Under Age Juveniles.)
1962 League Section Winners, Ford, Murray and Insurance Cups(Under Age Juveniles).
1964 Scottish Cup semi-finalists, League section winners and Insurance Cup (Under Age Juveniles).
1967 Scottish Cup semi-finalists (Lothian Amateur U16).
1975 League Cup (U13 Boys Club)
1975 R.A.O.B Trophy (U14 Boys Club)
1975 Scottish Cup finalists (U12 Juveniles).
1976 Edinburgh Cup (U16 Juveniles).
1978 League Champions and Bill Wilson Cup (U16 Juveniles).
1982 Barr Trophy (U19 Juveniles).
1982 League Champions (U15 Juveniles).
1986 Consolation Cup (U13 Juveniles).
1990 Scottish Cup Semi-Finalists (U18 Juveniles).
1995 Phoenix Cup (U15 Boys Club).
1998 Edinburgh Plate (U12 Juveniles).
2000 Scottish Cup finalists (U21 Juveniles).

23/9/2010