The names "CARLTON" and "DOUGLAS" go hand in hand with each other. In 1926 a young J W Douglas and his cousin J R Douglas both played for Carlton Football Club in the Paisley & District Juvenile League. Both lads played for three years and shortly after that time the team became defunct.

Twenty three years later, in 1952, a group of young Paisley Grammarian schoolboys wanted to play competitive football. At that time only rugby and cricket were entertained at the Grammar school. The group, led by a certain Stewart D Douglas, son of J W Douglas, created a new team on their own.

Carlton was reborn.

For five years they played friendly matches until 1957, when the side joined the Paisley & District Under-18 League where they played for a further two years before joining Paisley YMCA during 1960. Those early years in the YMCA were profitable in terms of membership, so much so, that a Second XI was formed in 1967 and a Third XI two years later. Several football leagues were run out of Paisley YMCA during those years and CARLTON YMCA, as they were now known were very successful over that spell.

In the early 1970's, the YMCA leagues went into decline and Carlton were on the lookout for a new platform to play their football. In 1973 they joined The Scottish Amateur Football League (SAFL) where they still reside, continuing to run two teams; the First XI play in Premier Division 2 while the Second XI play in League Division 1 after being promoted as champions from League Division 2 last season.

Over the last forty-odd years there have been various successful British & European trips and Tournaments and more locally success in the Victoria/Renfrewshire Trophies where they regularly have came up against opposition such as Greenock Morton & St Mirren.

Both Carlton teams play their home matches at the excellent Kibble facilities in the north side of town where there is a thriving working relationship between The Kibble and Paisley YMCA.

Over the years there have been many characters and stalwarts who have proudly worn the Carlton colours : Dick Jones, Alan Cunningham, Freddie Greenlees, Douglas Harvey, Dr Jim McIntyre, John McDonald, Richard Carey and Jim McColl to name but just a few. However the driving force behind Carlton YMCA since 1960 and earlier is MR CARLTON himself Stewart Douglas (Pictured Above). Now retired, he is still an intrinsic club member and Honorary President.

Carlton have also forged close links in the local community over the last few years with such organisations as ACCORD Hospice and Pro-Life 5 on Five.

The journey continues..............................................................................