Linwood, a small town in Renfrewshire, Scotland, 14 miles south-west of Glasgow, which saw an explosion in its population during the middle of the 20th century due to the mass exodus of people from the Glasgow slums. At that time the town's economy relied on the Rootes, later Chrysler then Peugeot Talbot, car plant and the Pressed Steel Company, both of which ceased production in 1981, leaving mass unemployment in its wake. It is estimated that 13000 workers were left jobless as both direct and indirect consequences of this closure. Today, Linwood is considered an 'area of multiple deprivation' by the Scottish Executive.^[1]

In the period of 1980-1995 Linwood had one of the highest unemployment rates in Scotland. A new development off the M8, opened in 1996 as a dual retail park and leisure park, under a bridge off the slip road, opposite the main entrance to the town. The Phoenix retail park has a number of tenants including a 24-hour ASDA store, TK Maxx discount retailer and a drive-thru McDonalds. The Leisure Park operates a Showcase Cinema, Burger King restaurant and drive-thru, KFC restaurant and drive-thru, Ashoka Shak and a Pizza Hut.

By dint of its proximity to Glasgow International Airport and the M8 motorway to Glasgow and Edinburgh, Linwood has become a popular place to live and house building in the area has continued to expand. There are frequent daily bus services to Paisley, Johnstone and Glasgow.

Shopping and entertainment needs are supplied by the retail park and easily accessible Paisley and Glasgow.

Education

Education needs in Linwood are met by three primary schools, two non-denominational; Woodlands Primary School, and East Fulton Primary School and one Roman Catholic; Our Lady of Peace, and by two nearby secondary schools; one Roman Catholic, St Benedicts, one non-denominational; Linwood High School, newly rebuilt on its former site.

Professional Footballers

Several footballers come from Linwood:

Billy Thomson: Former Scotland, Rangers, Dundee United and St. Mirren goalkeeper. He is the current Rangers Goalkeeping coach.

Paul Lambert: Former Scotland, Celtic, Borussia Dortmund and St. Mirren midfielder and former Livingston manager. He held the captaincy for both Scotland and Celtic. He was also manager of Wycombe Wanderers FC until recently.

Darryl Duffy: Current Swansea City and Scotland Under 21 Striker, he left Rangers for Falkirk after an unsuccessful apprenticeship. He was then sold to Hull City and then to Swansea for fees totalling over half a million Pounds.

John Hillcoat: Former Dunfermline, Hamilton, Partick Thistle, Clydebank, Morton, Queen of the South, St. Mirren, Dumbarton, Stranraer, Ayr Goalkeeper and a current Brechin Player/Coach. He also writes a column for the Sunday Mail newspaper.

David Lowing: Former St. Mirren and Forfar Defender. He is currently playing for Ayr.

See also

• Inkerman

References

1. ↑ http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/ArtsCulture/CulturalPolicy/workinggroup/PathfinderProjects

External links

• - The Gazette (local paper)
• - Linwood Sucks (local community portal)
• - Linwood Active (local community group and registered charity)