Entertainment and Sport
The collection includes prints, photographs, theatre and concert programmes, posters, handbills, trophies and awards, photographs, sporting medals, ceramic figures, cups and shields, certificates, membership cards and rulebooks, postcards and equipment such as football jerseys.
This collection documents an important part of the history of the Inverclyde area. A wide range of sporting activities are represented including swimming, football, boxing, bowling, tennis, cycling, angling, golf, sailing, rowing and running. As well as participation at both professional and amateur levels the collection also includes material relating to the activities of fans and spectators.
Yachting was a particularly popular sport in the Inverclyde area and the collection contains a variety of photographs, albums, trophies and other items relating to the sport, including material concerning Sir Thomas Lipton (1848-1931), who competed for the America’s Cup five times.
The text and images on this page are the copyright of the McLean Museum and Art Gallery. For enquiries about this collection please contact wattinstitution@inverclyde.gov.uk.
Greenock Public Library Opening 1902
Greenock Public Library opening ceremony on 10 October 1902. A gold key with a design of a ship within a shield in the middle of the key was used by Mrs. Carnegie during the ceremony. Bromide print on paper - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.
Newark Cycling Club, Port Glasgow 1894
Newark Cycling Club, Port Glasgow - Bromide print on paper by Norman Hunter - 1894 - P4146 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.
The Clyde Floating Swimming Bath c 1880
The Clyde Floating Swimming Bath Co. used a barge moored off Battery Park, Greenock to provide a bathing pool with attendants. It was unsuccessful and folded in the early 1880s. - Bromide print on paper - c 1880 - P4103 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.
Port Glasgow and District Football Medal 1891
Silver football medal of Port Glasgow and District Junior Football Association, awarded to Robert Bone of Clydevale in season 1890-1891 - Silver - 1891 - 2006.417.8 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.
Greenock Camera Club Exhibition 1900
Ticket for the Greenock Camera Club Exhibition 1900 - Ink on paper - 1900 - 1995.26 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.
Ceramic Footballer
Ceramic footballer figurine. The figure was probably intended to be a Glasgow Rangers FC player with other versions of the same figure are known to have been painted in Celtic FC colours. - Late 19th/early century - 2006.193 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.
Eric Liddell Challenge Trophy 1925
Eric Liddell (1902-1945), ran at the Glenpark Annual Sports at Cappielow, before and after winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics for the 400 metres. He presented this trophy to Glenpark Harriers in 1925. It was awarded for the 440 yards handicap. - 1997.172 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.
Half-mile race at Cappielow, Greenock 1893
First lap of the half-mile race at at Morton Sports, Cappielow, Greenock 1893 - Lantern slide transparency - P4225 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock
Well Park, Greenock c 1900-1910
In Well Park Greenock - Lithograph postcard by Davidson Brothers - c 1900-1910 - 1996.79.477 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.
A cricket match at Greenock 1894
A cricket match at Greenock - Bromide print on paper - 1894 - P3894.6 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.
Greenock Orchestral Society Programme 1902
Greenock Orchestral Society conducted by Mr. Alfred Bruce, in the Town Hall, Greenock, on the 27th March 1902. - Ink on paper - 1902 - L2007.62 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.
Mantel Clock Football Prize 1887
This mantel clock was a prize in a football competition. It is inscribed inscribed 'MORTON F.C. SPORTS FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT 1887 J. GRIEVE' - c 1887 - 1997.164 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.
The Odeon Cinema, Greenock c 1965
The Odeon Cinema, Greenock - Colour transparency by Eugene Jean Méhat (1920-2000) - 2008.72.159 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock
Greenock Orchestral Union Programme 1893
Programme for the First Concert held by the Greenock Orchestral Union in the Town Hall, Greenock on 29th March 1893 - Ink on paper - L2007.55 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.
Plasterwork from the Empire Theatre, Clyde Square, Greenock.
Piece of decorative plasterwork from the Empire Theatre, Clyde Square, Greenock. - 1858-1910 - 1979.7 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.
Octavia Cycling Club Medal 1891
Medal for cycling in hallmarked gold inscribed 'Club Run Medal Octavia BC won by Thomas Lyle 1891' - 2004.5 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock
BB Cinema, West Stewart Street, Greenock 1971
The BB Cinema, West Stewart Street, Greenock 1971 - Colour transparency by Eugene Jean Méhat (1920-2000) - 2008.72.396 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock
Berlin Woolwork Tapestry c 1840
Tapestry and embroidery were popular pastimes for Victorian ladies. There was a large number of readily available kits of patterns and threads. This example is entitled 'Bolton Abbey in the Olden Time' and dates from around 1840 - 1977.1175 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock
Regatta off Greenock Esplanade 1878
Regatta off Greenock Esplanade 1878 - Bromide print on paper - P134 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock
The Royal Yacht Club Opening Cruise 1884
The Royal Yacht Club Opening Cruise at Hunter's Quay 1884 - Bromide print on paper by George Washington Wilson (1823-1893) - P1929 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock
Poster for the Gourock Kursaal
Poster for the Gourock Kursaal from the 1930s- The Kursaal was built as a roller-skating rink but also held concerts, showed pictures and mounted other entertainments. - 1983.69 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock
Concert Poster for the Masons' Hall, Greenock 1828
Concert Poster for the Masons' Hall, Greenock on 25 January 1828 - The concert was organised by Neil Dougall (1776-1862), who wrote and taught music in Greenock. - 1997.28 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock
Daily Record Scottish Amateur Boxing Championship Challenge Cup
Daily Record Scottish Amateur Boxing Championship Challenge Cup Bantam Weight 8st. 6lbs, won three times by Alec Murphy of Port Glasgow. - 2007.7 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock
Oddfellows Concert 1854
Poster on silk for the 13th Oddfellows benevolent concert held on 27 January 1854 held in West Blackhall Street, Greenock - 1983.70 - © McLean Museum, Greenock.
Singing Competition Medal 1891
Medal awarded by the Abstainers Union, Port Glasgow to R. Thomson in 1891 for solo singing. - 2009.66 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.
Model Construction Medal 1881
Medal awarded to James Dundas Rennie (1813-1883), a Greenock shipwright in 1881 for a yacht model - 2012.61 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock
Opening of Alexandra Theatre 1905
Poster for the opening of the Alexandra Theatre, Greenock on 14 August 1905. - 1977.297 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.
Opening of the Glasgow-Greenock Railway 1841
Ticket for the opening of the Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock railway on 30 March 1841 - 1992.122 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.
