History of Back Football Club

Back FC was formed in 1933 and though the club may never be compared to the Lisbon Lions, a team of supremely talented players that were all born within 30 miles of Glasgow, the men and boys that made up the first ever team from Back FC shared a history that not even the Lions could match. Not only did the players come from within less than a 5 mile radius but if you look at the names of the players from those first teams in the 1930’s and compared them to today there would be a familiar ring to them, Macleod, Murray, Mackenzie and Macdonald. When the players of today look back at the great teams gone by they see more than just footballers. They see their fathers, grand-fathers, great-grandfathers, uncles and cousins. To play for Back you have to immerse yourself in a history and culture so strong that it takes your breath away.

Football in Lewis and Harris is played at breath-taking pace throughout the summer months as not even the most foolhardy would attempt to play duringthe harsh Hebridean winter. With up to 3 games a week to fit in the league and several cups even the Back v Point derby can occur more than 6 times a season giving the fans enough chances to savour the sweet success of a win over their deadliest rivals.

Back won the 1946 league on a waterlogged pitch at Stornoway Airport. Before the match the referee declared the pitch unplayable and "Milo"Murray offered to transport both teams and supporters to Goathill Park, free of charge. Point, however, wanted the game played there and then, so battle was commenced for the league decider. It turned out to be arguably the best game of football ever played by Back as they rattled home five goals without reply.

After the match the report in the Stornoway Gazette began: "I am asked to state at the outset that there is no truth in the story that the Point FC management have applied to Westminster to have Point declared a disaster area as from last Wednesday” and ends: "The saddest casualty was a Rudhach who, on hearing the score, began a two day celebration. Only at the end of the second day did it occur to him to ask who scored the five, his doctors are slightly more hopeful today ". These extracts are from the able pen of J. M. Macmillan”, who on a later occasion, when discussing this game, quipped, "By Bayble's streams we sat and wept ".

In 1947 when Back met Point and won 2-0, the game aroused such interest that

there were two reports about it in the Gazette, entitled "What the Bacach saw" and

"What the Rudhach saw". Describing the second goal, the Bacach said, "A fierce

shot from the touchline by J Maclennan gave the goalie no chance." The Rudhach

said, "J. Maclennan sent over a cross that changed its mind in mid air and became

a goal."

In 1961 in a game against Point, manager Murdo Macdonald fielded none other

than a future Scotland centre half, lain Ure, along with another two professionals.

Back won, of course, but when the inevitable protest came from Point, Back were

lucky to get the game re-played rather than forfeiting the points. The replay was

no less noteworthy. With Back leading 3-2, a Point player disputed a decision by

the referee and was booked, but he refused to give the ref his name. He was then

ordered off, and the whole Point team followed him and would not take any further

part in the game. When the furore died down a challenge match betwee Back and

Point was arranged. It turned out to be a peacemaking 2-2 draw.

Back repeated this ploy in the early 70’s but this time a young Andy Gray was

eligible to play for Back through his grand-parents and along with Wee Willie

Macdonald they terrorised island defences on their way to lifting the Eilean

Fhraoich Cup.