The Spartans Football Club was formed by two Edinburgh University graduates, Elliot Wardlaw and Jimmy Beaumont, in the summer of 1951 and immediately joined the East of Scotland League. The club developed through the 50's and 60's before really taking off in the early 70's when it won the East of Scotland league for the first time in 71/72. The club then became Associate members of the Scottish Football Association in 1976 and won the Qualifying Cup for the first time in 1978. Spartans first game in the Scottish Cup proper was against East Stirling that same season. The victory against East Stirling remains Spartans only victory against Scottish league opposition.

Spartans continue to play in the East of Scotland League, the southern equivalent of the Scot-Ads Highland League, and are the reigning champions. 

The club moved to its current home, City Park, on Ferry Road in the north of Edinburgh in 1976. Spartans have participated in the Scottish Qualifying Cup since then and in season 2003/04 reached the last 16 of the Tennents Scottish Cup before losing at home to Scottish Premierleague side Livingston.


City Park, Edinburgh - home to The Spartans (pictures from www.herveius.co.uk - click on the pictures for more information)

Spartans have more registered players than almost any other club in Scotland. In addition to the first team, the second team play in the Central Scottish Amateur League and the third team in the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur League. Second and third team home matches are played at Peffermill, Edinburgh University's sports complex. Spartans also have an under-19 team play in the East of Scotland Youth League and youth teams right down to under-8s.

Spartans are currently raising funds to build a new home at Ainslie Park, situated 500 yards from City Park. Plans for the new facilities include a 500-seater stand and floodlights surrounding the main stadium pitch and an adjacent, full size artificial pitch, also with floodlights. It is hoped the new Spartans Community Football Academy will be ready by the end of 2006. 

Spartans have faced Highland League opposition in the Scottish Cup a number of times, and their record against clubs from the north is as follows - 

1984 - 85 Inverness Thistle a D 1 - 1 (Round 2)
1984 - 85 Inverness Thistle H L 1 - 2 (Round 2)
1986 - 87 Inverness Caledonian a L 0 - 5 (Round 2)
2001 - 02 Deveronvale a D 0 - 0 (Round 2)
2001 - 02 Deveronvale H L 1 - 2 (Round 2 Replay)
2003 - 04 Buckie Thistle H W 6 - 1 (Round 1)

which gives them a record against HFL teams of - 

P-6, W-1, D-2, L-3, F-9, A-11

Many thanks to www.spartansfc.com and http://www.herveius.co.uk for the above information.