Hugh Monteith


Hugh G. Monteith was a Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs in the 1890s and 1900s, including Bristol City, West Ham United and Bury, with whom he won the FA Cup in 1903.

Playing career

Monteith was born in New Cumnock, Ayrshire and started his football career with Celtic nursery side Parkhead Juniors. Staying with Celtic for only one season.
Monteith moved south in 1895 to play for Loughborough Town making 30apps as ever present in 1895–96 in the Football League Second Division as Loughborough Town finished 12th of 16 teams. The following season 1896–97 he made 28apps as Loughborough Town finished 13th of 16 teams. He was sold to Bristol City along with Billy Jones and Jack Hamilton when Loughborough Town needed to reduce their overdraft liabilities in the summer of 1897.
Sam Hollis signed the trio for Bristol City in their first professional season playing in the Southern League. Monteith made his debut in goal for Bristol City in a 7–4 win v Wolverton & LNWR on 11 September 1897. Monteith was ever present with 22 appearances as Bristol City were runners up in the Southern League in 1897–98. He went on to make a further 23 appearances as Bristol City again finished runners up in 1898–99 then 30 appearances in 1899–1900.
Signed by Arnold Hills, Monteith then moved to West Ham United at the start of the Edwardian era and the beginning of West Ham as a football club. He played 60 games in all competitions for West Ham. The team conceded just 28 goals in their first season; seven during Monteith's five game absence during the season.
In 1902, he joined Bury winning the 1903 FA Cup Final where Bury defeated Derby County in one of the most one-sided finals ever played. Bury's 6–0 victory still stands as the record Final win. Bury also equalled another record, winning the Cup without conceding a goal in any round.

Honours

As a player

;Bury
;Bristol City