FROM PIT TO PITCH: A STORY OF COAL SEAMS AND FOOTBALL DREAMS

New exhibition opens today ( July 18 2025).
National Mining Museum Scotland has officially opened From Pit to Pitch, a compelling new exhibition that explores how Scotland’s coalfields became fertile ground for generations of footballing talent.

Developed in partnership with the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park and five Midlothian football clubs, this unique project, funded by Museums Galleries Scotland, celebrates the enduring bond between mining communities and the beautiful game.

Coal mining and football share a deeply intertwined history in many of Scotland’s towns and villages. This exhibition reveals how the challenging and often dangerous work underground fostered values of resilience, teamwork, and pride — qualities that translated seamlessly to the football pitch.

For mining communities, football was much more than a pastime; it was a way of life. Amid the grit and hardship of the pit, camaraderie flourished — and that spirit carried over onto the field. Clubs sprung up around collieries, with employers sponsoring teams to boost morale and maintain a sense of community spirit. For many miners, football offered not only a physical outlet, but also a chance to display skill, strategy and joy in an otherwise tough environment.

This legacy is particularly strong in the Lothians, where mining villages produced both local icons and national stars. Players such as Willie Bauld and Alex Young had roots in the coalfields, and their fearlessness on the pitch reflected the values of the communities they came from. Junior and amateur leagues thrived, offering working-class boys the chance to play competitively and aspire to something greater. Even when few escaped life in the pit, football offered hope — and a collective pride when one of their own rose to prominence.

“Football and mining may seem like very different worlds, but in the coalfields of Scotland they were deeply connected,” said Henry McLeish, Chairman of the Board at National Mining Museum Scotland. “This exhibition celebrates the incredible talent, passion, and pride that emerged from our mining communities, and showcases the lasting impact these clubs and players have had on local life.”

Ray Lafferty, Curator, added:
“From Pit to Pitch” explores the way the physical and mental toughness of miners shaped how football was played, the role of employers and unions in sponsoring teams, the pride communities felt in local successes and the loss felt when both industries and clubs declined. By understanding this shared history, we see football not only as entertainment but as an enduring expression of working-class life. This exhibition celebrates that heritage, honouring the men who built it – both with pick and shovel and with the football at their feet.”

The exhibition would not have been possible without the dedication, generosity, and expertise of many individuals and organisations. National Mining Museum Scotland extends sincere thanks to all those who shared objects, photographs, documents, and memories that have brought this story vividly to life.

Special thanks are due to Arniston Rangers, Bonnyrigg Rose, Easthouses Lily, Newtongrange Star, and Whitehill Welfare, whose generous assistance and contributions have greatly enriched the exhibition.

The Museum also gratefully acknowledges the invaluable contributions of local historians, former miners, players, and supporters who provided insight into the deep ties between the coal industry and the beautiful game.

Thanks also go to Museums Galleries Scotland, the exhibition funder, and to the Scottish Football Museum, exhibition partners, for their steadfast commitment to preserving and sharing Scotland’s common heritage. Additional thanks are extended to the exhibition sponsors – Tillicoultry Quarries, Jera IT, and Friends of National Mining Museum Scotland – for their generous support.

From Pit to Pitch offers something for visitors of all ages. Children can dress up as miners or footballers, score a goal, challenge friends to a game of foosball, and enjoy themed activity sheets designed to accompany the exhibition.

A programme of events linked to the exhibition will run throughout the summer. Full details are available at www.nationalminingmuseum.com.

Admission to the exhibition is included in the standard museum admission ticket or free with one of our new Museum Passports. Learn more about Passports: Information here.

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS

For more information about From Pit to Pitch, please contact:
Gillian Rankin, Marketing and Events Manager at National Mining Museum Scotland at marketing@nationalminingmuseum.com

Photograph left to right: Bob McDonald, Ray Lafferty, Curator at NMMS, Colin Beattie, Vice Chair of NMMS, Richard McBrearty, Scottish Football Museum, Prof. Jim Phillips, University of Glasgow