Connection between Edinburgh and Inverness football names

Interesting connection between Edinburgh and Inverness, in terms of football club names in the eighties. 

Connection between Edinburgh and Inverness football names 

When I was growing up I noticed a funny connection between the teams of Edinburgh and Inverness, that used to exist. Firstly Edinburgh is the capital of all of Scotland. Inverness is the capital of the Scottish Highlands.

But in terms of the name, for instance in 1985;

Inverness had 3 teams playing in the Scottish Highland League.

Edinburgh had 3 teams in the Scottish Football League. 

The Inverness teams were called, Inverness Thistle, Caledonian, and Clachnacuddin.

The three Edinburgh Scottish Football League soccer teams were called Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, and Meadowbank Thistle. 

So that is three teams in each league.

The other connection; 

The name Hibernian is derived from the Latin name for Ireland.

The name Caledonian is derived from the Latin name for Scotland. 

The other connection; 

Meadowbank Thistle. 

Inverness Thistle. 

So two teams called Thistle. 

The other connection;

Heart of Midlothian. 

Clachnacuddin.

Midlothian is a place. 

Clachnacuddin is a place in Inverness. 

Now of course, by 2020, that has all changed. 

Caledonian and Inverness Thistle merged to create what is now Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the nineties. 

Meadowbank Thistle moved to Livingston to become Livingston FC.

Now there is just one team from Inverness in the Scottish Highland League, that is Clachnacuddin. While ICT play in the SPFL. 

The Scottish Professional Football League system now has 3 teams from Edinburgh again, after Edinburgh City were promoted from the Lowland League system. 

Those 3 teams of Edinburgh in the SPFL are now Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, and Edinburgh City.

Edinburgh could have more clubs promoted to the leagues such as Spartans. 

Other Edinburgh club include Civil Service Strollers, Edinburgh University, Spartans,  Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale, Tynecastle, Craigroyston, Edinburgh South, Edinburgh United, Heriot-Watt University, Leith Athletic.