ARDROSSAN SEAFIELD 1 - JOHN ELDER 2
This match was played at Ardrossan (on 3 January 1880) and resulted in favour of John Elder by two goals to one.
Glasgow Herald, 5 January 1880
SALTCOATS MELBOURNE 10 - ARDROSSAN RANGERS 0
These two teams met on the ground of the former (probably on 24 January 1880) to play a friendly game when at the close victory was declared in favour of the Melbourne by ten goals to none.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 31 January 1880
ARDROSSAN SEAFIELD 1 - KILMAURS OVERTON 1
On Saturday last (31 January 1880), the Seafield Football Club played on their own ground against the Overton Football Club from Kilmaurs and after a keenly contested game, the match ended in a draw, both clubs securing a goal but the one debited to the Overton Club was kicked by one of the Seafield players. The wind was strong which prevented scientific play on either side.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 7 February 1880
IRVINE 2 - ARDROSSAN 1
This game resulted in favour of the former by two goals to none.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 28 February 1880
There was no indication of what Ardrossan team played but the phrase 'our local club, the Seafield' in the Herald report of 10 April 1880 implies that it was Ardrossan Seafield.
ARDROSSAN SEAFIELD 0 - MAYBOLE CARRICK 1
A match was played on Saturday (28 February 1880) on Clutha Park, Ardrossan between the above clubs and, after an evenly-contested game, resulted in favour of the Maybole team by one goal to none. The Seafield had not their usual team.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 6 March 1880
SALTCOATS CRESCENT TO PLAY ARDROSSAN SEAFIELD
As will be seen from our advertising columns, our local clubs, the Crescent and Seafield meet today, Saturday (28 February 1880) for the first time this season on the ground of the Crescent, Plantation Park. As both these clubs have come well to the front this season, a fast game may be expected. Among football players, great interest is felt in this match considering that several clubs which were defeated by the Crescent beat the Seafield. The kick-off is at 3.30.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 6 March 1880
KILBIRNIE 8 - ARDROSSAN SEAFIELD 0
A game was played at Stonyholm Park, Kilbirnie, the ground of the former (probably on 3 April 1880), and resulted in an easy victory for the former by eight goals to none taken by J Fyfe 2, J McInnes, Higgins, Durroch 3) and C McInnes. The home team had the wind in their favour in the first half and scored three goals. Their goalkeeper had an easy time of it. In the second part, the Seafield played up better, and had a few attacks at the home goal without avail. The home team added five goals to their score and thoroughly overmatched their opponents in scientific passing. The strangers, however, played a plucky game and will no doubt improve in a season or two.
Glasgow Herald, 5 April 1880
KILBIRNIE 8 - ARDROSSAN SEAFIELD 0
A game was played at Stonyholm Park, Kilbirnie (probably on 3 April 1880) and resulted in a victory for Kilbirnie over Ardrossan Seafield by eight goals to none taken by J Fyfe 2, J McInnes, Higgins, Durroch 3 and C McInnes. The home team had the wind in the first half and scored three goals, their goalkeeper having an easy time of it. In the second part, the Seafield played up better and had a few attacks at the home fortress without avail. The home team added another five goals to their score. The strangers, however, played a plucky game and will no doubt improve much in a season or two. Teams:- Kilbirnie: goal - Powers; backs - Wilson, Shaw; half-backs Menzies, McMillan; forwards - J Fyfe, J McInnes, Boyd, Durroch, Higgins, C McInnes; Seafield: goal - Grier, backs - Howie, Watt; half backs - Baird, Mills; forwards - Finn, McNeil, McAusland, McArthur, McMillan, Tait.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 10 April 1880
It appears that both teams played a 2-2-6 formation with two full backs, two half backs and six forwards.
The similar reports in the two Heralds suggests that an Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald correspondent sent a report to the Glasgow Herald.
ARDROSSAN SEAFIELD TO PLAY KILMARNOCK ATHLETIC
From our advertising columns, it will be observed that on Saturday first (10 April 1880) our local club, the Seafield plays a match against the Kilmarnock Athletic, the gate money to be handed over to the widow of the late Mr Breckenridge.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 10 April 1880
There was no match report in the following week's Herald.
Information on the late Mr Breckenridge is given in these articles from the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald of 3 and 10 April 1880.
Mr William Breckenridge, pilot, who filled the responsible position of coxswain in The Fair Maid Of Perth on the occasion of the recent sad occurrence which resulted in the loss of four lives through the capsising of the boat when being towed from the wreck at the Horse Island towards the harbour, died on Sabbath morning last (28 March 1880). The deceased has, for some time, been suffering from an affection of the chest which his exposure on the island on the night of the shipwreck greatly aggravated then the excitement and drenching which followed the upsetting of the lifeboat aggravated his disease so much that he continued to sink gradually thereafter till the end came. He stood forward at the call of duty, counting not his own life dear, that he might be the means of saving others. His funeral took place on Tuesday (30 March 1880) and was attended by many of our leading townsmen. We trust something more tangible than sympathy may find its way to the home of the bereaved family. (Letter from a townsman on the deceased next week)
Last week we briefly noticed the decease of William Breckenridge, one of the crew of the lifeboat which went out for the crew of the barque, Matilda Hilyard on 1 March. Breckenridge's first recorded service in the Ardrossan lifeboat was on 25 November 1873 assisting the crew of the boat Torrance ashore. The record of that accident bears that he had previously acted four times as a lifeboat man. Since then, he has been out in the boat on every occasion of service, memorably at that of the Chusan in November 1874 when he took charge as coxswain in the then coxswain's absence and managed to save six persons at no little peril to himself and his crew. The captain of the Chusan perished but his lady, who was saved, presented Breckenridge and his crew with a silver medal each in recognition of their services. Appointed second coxswain in November 1874, he succeeded to the post of first coxswain in February 1876 on the retirement of Philips. Since then, his services have been much appreciated by the Inspectors who visited the branch from time to time, one of them, Lieutenant Monteith RN, having recently said that he knew of only one other station in Scotland that could compare with Ardrossan for cleanliness and tidiness. In fact, it was a model station. This said a deal for Breckenridge. He had other duties as a pilot to attend to which necessitated much night work and it would not have been astonishing had the boat and house received less of his attention but his heart was in the boat and he was not one to spare himself. On Friday 27 February last, he had had a day of exposure in taking charge of one of the harbour tugs in assisting to tow to Lamlash in stormy weather two large barques loaded with pig iron. Getting back to Ardrossan at ten o'clock at night, he was called to go out in the lifeboat about midnight and proceeded to the barque Olivia which had anchored in a dangerous position outside the Horse Island but assistance was declined. The service, nevertheless, was a fatiguing one for a tired man like Breckenridge. He had his duties of a pilot to attend to on Saturday and had also to get the lifeboat put on the carriage and housed. Called again near to midnight of the following Sunday evening to the service which proved his last, he hastened to man and take charge of the boat. Reaching the Horse Island, he was one of four who jumped into the middle in water and hurried to the assistance of the crew of the Matilda Hilyard. Cut off by the high tide for two or three hours from either rendering aid or getting back to the lifeboat, he had, with his companions, to make the best of it, wet as they were in the cold spray. Immersed like the rest by the upsetting of the boat, he was in a distressing plight of being assisted ashore and had to be supported home and put to bed, venturing out however on the Wednesday to the funerals of the two men who had been drowned. He joined work as a pilot on the following Monday but had to give up on the Wednesday and take to his bed from which he never rose again. The exposure had brought on congestion of the lungs and this, added to a chronic asthmatic complaint, made his sufferings, which were very prolonged, painful in the extreme but he bore them with much courage and died resigned. His wife and he were much endeared to each other and the bereavement is a very sad one for her and her two little boys. A man ever ready to expose himself to rescue others from danger, he deserves to live in our memories.
The Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald of 5 June 1880 carried an intimation that at Montgomerie Lane, Ardrossan on 1 June 1880, the widow of the late William Breckenridge, pilot, gave birth to a daughter.
A forward called Breckenridge played for Ardrossan Football Club in 1874 but there is no evidence that it was Coxswain William Breckenridge.
SALTCOATS MELBOURNE 3 - ARDROSSAN CASTLE 0
A match was played between these two clubs on the ground of the former (probably on 3 April 1880) and after a well-contested match resulted in favour of the Melbourne by three goals to nothing.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 10 April 1880
SALTCOATS VICTORY 0 - ARDROSSAN SCRATCH 6
A match was played between these two clubs on the ground of the former (probably on 15 May 1880) and resulted in favour of the latter by six goals to none.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 22 May 1880
ARDROSSAN SEAFIELD 7 - AYR ROBERT BURNS 0
In an Ayrshire Cup tie at Clutha Park, Ardrossan (on 16 October 1880), Ardrossan won the toss and the strangers kicked off in the presence of a fair turn out of spectators. The first part of the game was almost one-sided, the strong back play of the home team completely baffling the strangers. The game ended in favour of Ardrossan by seven goals to none. Teams:- Ardrossan: goal - J Grier, backs - J Howie, D McMillan; half backs - W Milne, H Flinn; forwards - J McKay, Malloy, W Tait, R Barbour, D McArthur (captain), W Stewart. Robert Burns: goal - P Murphy, backs - C and W Kay; half backs - D Thomson, J McCormick; forwards - T Rommie, M Slater, J McCrindle, J White, A Gibson, D McCrindle.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 23 October 1880
ARDROSSAN SEAFIELD 3 - DARVEL 2
Ardrossan Seafield beat Darvel by three goals to two in the second round of the Ayrshire Cup on 27 November 1880.
The Scottish Football Historical Archive website
ARDROSSAN SEAFIELD 1 - IRVINE 2
This game was played at Seafield, Ardrossan and won by the former by two goals to none.
Glasgow Herald, 13 December 1880