A YOUTH football club in Linwood has issued an appeal for help to solve a mystery about when it was founded.

Members of the executive committee at St Conval’s Youth Football Club have been unable to establish the exact date of its formation but believe it may be approaching or have recently passed its centenary year.

The oldest record of the club that members have been able to find goes back to 1928, when star player Peter Scarff left to join Glasgow giants Celtic.

Peter, who was aged 20 at the time, died five years later after being diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Robbie Kelly, St Conval’s club secretary, said he has been posting messages on local Facebook groups to try to fill in gaps in its proud history.

The Gazette: Peter Scarff played for CelticPeter Scarff played for Celtic

He told The Gazette: “We have heard that the team might have been started through St Conval’s Church, which then progressed into the football club.

“We’d like to hear from anyone who has information about the club from before 1928, as that’s the earliest record we can find.

“I understand that football in Linwood as a whole started in the 1870s, so that’s nearly 150 years of football in the area.”

Barry MacDonald, the club’s child protection officer, said officials have also contacted members of the Scarff family in the hope they might be able to help.

He added: “Peter Scarff’s nephew has said the earliest recollection of anyone talking about St Conval’s was maybe from around 1926.

“We know there was a team called Linwood in 1918 but we believe they were from the Reid Gear Company, who played against the likes of St Mirren and Abercorn.

The Gazette: Ethan and Joshua are part of the next generation at St Conval’sEthan and Joshua are part of the next generation at St Conval’s

“I think we’re one of the oldest youth football clubs still going, so that’s quite remarkable.”

The club hopes to organise a football tournament to celebrate its 100th anniversary once the mystery has been solved.

Robbie said: “I think the club has been around for so long because it has a good reputation and the Linwood community is big on football.

“When I took over the club about seven years ago, we nearly disbanded, as we only had four players at the time, but we decided to persevere.

“Now we are sitting at around 150 players, with eight age groups, which is fantastic.”

If you have information about when St Conval’s YFC was founded, send an email to editorial@the-gazette.co.uk.