Talk:Meadowbank Thistle F.C.

I'm proposing that the articles on Livingston's former identities as Ferranti and Meadowbank be merged into that on their current incarnation. I know that separate articles exist for Wimbledon / MK Dons / AFC Wimbledon, but that's a different scenario due to the creation of a "breakaway" club and the dispute over who can claim Wimbledon's history and honours etc. In this case, there's no such argument to consider. Meadowbank quite clearly became Livingston, whether you agree with the morality of what happened - I personally don't - and there was no "AFC Meadowbank" left behind. As far as I'm aware, a number of the Meadowbank fans ended up watching Edinburgh City who now play at Meadowbank Stadium, but this was a pre-existing club which merely took over the tenancy.

Livingston F.C. continue to give 1974 as their year of foundation. It should be noted that on becoming Livi they inherited Meadowbank's league place - they were never elected to the Scottish League as Livingston. Also, they initially played at Meadowbank under the new name before Almondvale was ready, as well as inheriting Thistle's players, management and colours.

In turn, Meadowbank were pretty much a direct continuation of Ferranti Thistle, despite the slightly perverse 1974 foundation date. Althought that year marked a change of name and ground, this was a result of Ferranti being elected to the Scottish League, and not a precursor to it.

Finally, I've noticed that on Wikipedia pages (Sports franchising - CC) on American sports teams, where franchising of this sort is of course common, standard practice seems to be to have only one page, even for teams that have migrated across thousands of miles, e.g. the Brooklyn / L.A. Dodgers Jellyman 21:46, 3 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

There was the Mother of All Battles at Milton Keynes Dons F.C. when it was a single article covering Wimbledon F.C. and MK Dons all in one article. The only way to prevent perpetual vandalism was to have two separate articles. I don't really agree that the existence of AFC was the cause of that - both were outcomes of the move. The MK Dons page gives two foundation dates. See Talk:Milton Keynes Dons F.C.#Separate pages idea etc etc etc. Your call, but I wouldn't advise it. --Concrete Cowboy 18:48, 11 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I wouldn't merge them either. A grand total of about 10 Meadowbank fans now support Livi (according to the editor of the old "Jag" Fanzine.) As clubs are about the fans, and not the megalomania of certain people who find themselves luck enough to own a football club, I think they histories should be kept separate.

I've removed the merge tag now following the lukewarm response received! See Talk:Livingston F.C. for details. -- Jellyman 18:56, 31 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]