Glasgow City
Glasgow is Scotland's largest city, located on the River Clyde in West Central Scotland. It is also one of 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, officially known as the City of Glasgow and, like many west of Scotland
councils is effectively a Labour fiefdom, having been run by the party for well over 30 years. Glasgow has a population of 612,000 down from it's 1950's peak of
1.1 million while approximately 1.8 million people live in the city's metropolitan area. The name comes from the Brythonic glas cu (compare modern Gaelic Glaschu),
meaning green hollow, and usually romantically translated as "the dear green place".
It is still popularly referred to as "Glesca" by Glaswegians themselves, which echoes the original pronounciation Glescu. Since the 1980s, Glasgow has been rebuilding both its image and its architecture. The City Council's 'Glasgow's Miles Better' campaign was followed by the considerable coup of the European Garden Festival being held in Glasgow in 1988 at the Prince's Dock in Govan. Glasgow was then named European City of Culture in 1990, followed by City of Architecture and Design in 1999 and European Capital of Sport in 2003. Glasgow boasts the largest contemporary arts scene in the UK outside of London, which is centred around the annual 'Glasgow International' arts festival.
The city's riverbank has been particularly transformed - from industrial dereliction caused by the decline of shipbuilding into to a centre of leisure and trendy residential building.
Glasgow is the capital of new music in Scotland, and has many venues and clubs such as the Barrowlands, Barfly and King Tut's Wah Wah Hut that promote new bands and DJs. Additionally, it is home to some artists well known in the UK such as Franz Ferdinand.
Economy
Glasgow is the largest economy in Scotland, it has a population of 600,000 and is the hub of the metropolitan area of West Central Scotland which has a total population of over 2.6 million. The city provides more than 380,000 jobs in almost 11,000 companies. Primary sector industries such as shipbuilding and heavy engineering have been gradually replaced by a modern mixed economy, supported by public and private investment and a flexible workforce. Glasgow's economy is now dominated by the service sector such as finance and banking, public administration, education, healthcare and tourism. The city retains a strong link to the manufacturing sector with strengths in engineering, food and drink, printing, publishing and clothing as well as new growth sectors such as software and biotechnology.
Over the last two decades Glasgow has radically improved to become an attractive city to live, work and play. Major business developments have helped promote Glasgow's reputation as a leading centre for business and commerce.
Glasgow is the third most popular foreign tourist destination in the UK, after Edinburgh, the Scottish capital, which ranks second, and London the U.K. capital. The city also boasts the UK's second largest and most economically important commerce and retail district after London's West End. It also has two international airports and two major national railway terminals which provide train services throughout the United Kingdom. Glasgow is one of Europe's top 20 financial centres and is home to many of Britain's leading businesses. Glasgow today is an important part of the British economy.
It is still popularly referred to as "Glesca" by Glaswegians themselves, which echoes the original pronounciation Glescu. Since the 1980s, Glasgow has been rebuilding both its image and its architecture. The City Council's 'Glasgow's Miles Better' campaign was followed by the considerable coup of the European Garden Festival being held in Glasgow in 1988 at the Prince's Dock in Govan. Glasgow was then named European City of Culture in 1990, followed by City of Architecture and Design in 1999 and European Capital of Sport in 2003. Glasgow boasts the largest contemporary arts scene in the UK outside of London, which is centred around the annual 'Glasgow International' arts festival.
The city's riverbank has been particularly transformed - from industrial dereliction caused by the decline of shipbuilding into to a centre of leisure and trendy residential building.
Glasgow is the capital of new music in Scotland, and has many venues and clubs such as the Barrowlands, Barfly and King Tut's Wah Wah Hut that promote new bands and DJs. Additionally, it is home to some artists well known in the UK such as Franz Ferdinand.
Economy
Glasgow is the largest economy in Scotland, it has a population of 600,000 and is the hub of the metropolitan area of West Central Scotland which has a total population of over 2.6 million. The city provides more than 380,000 jobs in almost 11,000 companies. Primary sector industries such as shipbuilding and heavy engineering have been gradually replaced by a modern mixed economy, supported by public and private investment and a flexible workforce. Glasgow's economy is now dominated by the service sector such as finance and banking, public administration, education, healthcare and tourism. The city retains a strong link to the manufacturing sector with strengths in engineering, food and drink, printing, publishing and clothing as well as new growth sectors such as software and biotechnology.
Over the last two decades Glasgow has radically improved to become an attractive city to live, work and play. Major business developments have helped promote Glasgow's reputation as a leading centre for business and commerce.
Glasgow is the third most popular foreign tourist destination in the UK, after Edinburgh, the Scottish capital, which ranks second, and London the U.K. capital. The city also boasts the UK's second largest and most economically important commerce and retail district after London's West End. It also has two international airports and two major national railway terminals which provide train services throughout the United Kingdom. Glasgow is one of Europe's top 20 financial centres and is home to many of Britain's leading businesses. Glasgow today is an important part of the British economy.
Sport
Glasgow has a long sporting history, with the world's first international football match held in 1872 at the West of Scotland Cricket Club's Hamilton Crescent ground in the Partick area of Glasgow. The match was between Scotland and England and resulted in a 0-0 draw.
The city is home to Scotland's largest football stadia: Celtic Park (60,832 seats); Ibrox Stadium (50,411 seats); and Hampden Park (52,670 seats), which is Scotland's national football stadium. Glasgow has three professional football clubs: Rangers and Celtic, which together make the Old Firm; and Partick Thistle; A fourth club, Queen's Park, is an amateur club that plays in the Scottish professional league system. It had two other professional clubs in the late 20th century: Clyde, which moved to Cumbernauld, and Third Lanark, which went bankrupt.
The history of football in the city, as well as the status of the Old Firm, attract many visitors to football matches in the city throughout the season. The standard of the national stadium has enabled the European football governing body UEFA to hold the final of the Champions League competition at Hampden Park three times, most recently in 2002. The Scottish Football Association, the national governing body, and the Scottish Football Museum are based in Glasgow.
Glasgow also boasts a professional rugby team, the Glasgow Warriors, which play in the Celtic League alongside teams from Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
Major international sporting arenas include Kelvin Hall and Scotstoun Sports Centre. In 2003 the National Academy for Badminton was completed in Scotstoun. In 2003 Glasgow was also given the title of European Capital of Sport.
Smaller sporting facilities include an abundance of small outdoor football pitches, as well as golf clubs and artificial ski slopes. Between 1998 and 2004,the Scottish Claymores American football team played some or all of their home games each season at Hampden and the venue also hosted World Bowl XI.
Befitting its strong Highland connections as the City of the Gael Baile Ṃr nan Gàidheal, Glasgow is also one of five places in Scotland which hosts the final of the Scottish Cup of Shinty, better known as the Camanachd Cup. This is usually held at Old Anniesland. Once home to numerous Shinty clubs, there is now only one senior club in Glasgow, Glasgow Mid-Argyll, as well as two university sides, Strathclyde University and Glasgow University.
The city is home to Scotland's largest football stadia: Celtic Park (60,832 seats); Ibrox Stadium (50,411 seats); and Hampden Park (52,670 seats), which is Scotland's national football stadium. Glasgow has three professional football clubs: Rangers and Celtic, which together make the Old Firm; and Partick Thistle; A fourth club, Queen's Park, is an amateur club that plays in the Scottish professional league system. It had two other professional clubs in the late 20th century: Clyde, which moved to Cumbernauld, and Third Lanark, which went bankrupt.
The history of football in the city, as well as the status of the Old Firm, attract many visitors to football matches in the city throughout the season. The standard of the national stadium has enabled the European football governing body UEFA to hold the final of the Champions League competition at Hampden Park three times, most recently in 2002. The Scottish Football Association, the national governing body, and the Scottish Football Museum are based in Glasgow.
Glasgow also boasts a professional rugby team, the Glasgow Warriors, which play in the Celtic League alongside teams from Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
Major international sporting arenas include Kelvin Hall and Scotstoun Sports Centre. In 2003 the National Academy for Badminton was completed in Scotstoun. In 2003 Glasgow was also given the title of European Capital of Sport.
Smaller sporting facilities include an abundance of small outdoor football pitches, as well as golf clubs and artificial ski slopes. Between 1998 and 2004,the Scottish Claymores American football team played some or all of their home games each season at Hampden and the venue also hosted World Bowl XI.
Befitting its strong Highland connections as the City of the Gael Baile Ṃr nan Gàidheal, Glasgow is also one of five places in Scotland which hosts the final of the Scottish Cup of Shinty, better known as the Camanachd Cup. This is usually held at Old Anniesland. Once home to numerous Shinty clubs, there is now only one senior club in Glasgow, Glasgow Mid-Argyll, as well as two university sides, Strathclyde University and Glasgow University.