The Ayrshire Cup was an annual association football regional competition in Scotland. The cup competition was a knockout tournament between football clubs in the historic county of Ayrshire. The Ayrshire Cup was first held in 1877–78, the trophy being a solid silver vase, 30 inches high, and valued at £100, designed by Messrs John Cameron & Son.[1] The first winners were Mauchline.[2][3]
| Founded | 1877 |
|---|---|
| Region | Ayrshire (Scotland) |
| Current champions | Kilmarnock (1997-98 last competition) |
| Most successful club(s) | Kilmarnock (43 titles) |
The competition was most recently held in the 1997–98 season, when it was won by Kilmarnock.[3] Although the Cup has not been competed for since, discussions have taken place between all the major participating clubs (Ayr United, Girvan and Kilmarnock) who have stated that they would welcome the return of the Ayrshire Cup.[4]
History edit
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The Ayrshire Cup was first proposed by two medical students who tried to persuade Ayr United to invest into the competition. After failing to persuade the club, John Wallace, who was a local from Kilmarnock, offered to and did put in the finances needed to organise the event including allowing the town to choose the final venue of the cup.[5]
The first time the Ayrshire Cup was competed for was in 1877–78, with the first winners being Mauchline.[3] 26 clubs entered the first year of the competition, consisting of Catrine, Largs Western, Beith Thistle, Dalry Rangers, Kilmarnock, Kilbirnie, Ayr Academicals, Kilmarnock Cricket and Football Club, Kilmarnock Portland, Kilmarnock Dean, Kilmarnock Hawthorn, Kilmaurs Floors, Irvine, Mauchline, Burnfoothill Ramblers, Maybole Carrick, Tarbolton, Beith, Maybole Ladywell, Cumnock, Rankinston Mountaineers, Lanemark, Stewarton, Kilmarnock Star, Vale of Irvine, Girvan, and Hurlford.
The number of entrants for the cup peaked prior to World War II at over 40, however by 1946 Ayr United and Kilmarnock were the only entrants. In 1978–79 Girvan Amateurs joined the competition,[2]. The last winner outside the 'big two' (being Ayr United and Kilmarnock) was Beith who won it in 1926–27.
Before penalty shoot-outs were introduced in 1970–71, if a cup final was tied it would be given to the club who won it the previous year. The last cup final was played in 1998 between Kilmarnock and Ayr United with Kilmarnock coming out victorious and as the last winner of the Ayrshire Cup.
The Ayrshire FA was dissolved in June 1999 when it was merged with the Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire FAs to form the West of Scotland FA. This was because the memberships of these associations had fallen below the 7-club threshold placed on them by the Scottish FA.
Performance by club edit
| Club | Wins | Last win | Runners-up | Last final lost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kilmarnock | 43[a] | 1998 | 28 | 1997 |
| 2 | Ayr United | 26[a] | 1997 | 29 | 1998 |
| 3 | Hurlford | 6 | 1911 | 7 | 1912 |
| 4 | Galston | 6 | 1925 | 6 | 1924 |
| 5 | Ayr | 4 | 1910 | 3 | 1909 |
| 6 | Annbank | 4 | 1895 | 2 | 1903 |
| 7 | Beith | 3 | 1927 | 4 | 1938 |
| 8 | Stevenston United | 2 | 1920 | 2 | 1922 |
| 9 | Kilmarnock Athletic | 2 | 1883 | 0 | |
| 10 | Ayr Parkhouse | 1 | 1902 | 3 | 1910 |
| Kilbirnie | 1 | 1888 | 3 | 1893 | |
| 11 | Kilmarnock Portland | 1 | 1882 | 2 | 1879 |
| 12 | Lugar Boswell | 1 | 1881 | 1 | 1883 |
| 13 | Mauchline | 1 | 1878 | 0 | |
| Kilmarnock Athletic (1888) | 1 | 1897 | 0 | ||
| 15 | Girvan | 0 | 3 | 1982 | |
| 16 | Lanemark | 0 | 1 | 1907 | |
| Saltcoats Thistle | 0 | 1 | 1901 | ||
| Saltcoats Victoria | 0 | 1 | 1894 |
Ayrshire Cup Finals edit
Key edit
| (R) | Replay, or repeat if original match was declared void |
| (SR) | Second Replay |
| ‡ | Match void |
| * | Match went to extra time |
| † | Match decided by a penalty shootout after extra time |
Finals edit
Notes edit
- ^ a b Includes one title shared between Kilmarnock and Ayr United in 1959
- ^ a b Annbank and Kilmarnock refused to play the final at Warner Park, Stevenston, which had been stipulated as the venue by the Ayrshire Football Association. The cup and badges were withheld but the teams played a game for the Championship.
- ^ a b c The game at Somerset Park on 18 April 1902 was unfinished due to a break-in by Annbank supporters. Annbank lodged another protest regarding Ralston of Galston but this was thrown out by the Ayrshire F.A. The Association also voted by 7 votes to 2 to award the Cup to Galston as Annbank had wanted the game replayed as the game had not been completed. This was after a protested game won 4-3 by Galston at Beresford Park, Ayr and a 1-1 draw at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock on 11 April
- ^ a b Title shared between Kilmarnock and Ayr United
Ayrshire Cups in other categories edit
Ayrshire Cups continue to operate at Junior level[7][8] – the region's clubs have a strong presence nationally, winning the Scottish Junior Cup on multiple occasions[9] – and in the local amateur league.[10][11]
The Ayrshire Cup was last run in the 2017-18 season, with Kilwinning Rangers winning the last edition after defeating Largs Thistle.[12]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Ayrshire Football Association". North British Daily Mail: 3. 22 October 1877.
- ^ a b "Ayrshire Cup". Scottish football historical archive. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ a b c "Ayrshire Cup 1877-1998". KillieFC. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
- ^ "Ayr United welcome return of the Ayrshire Cup". Ayrshire Post. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- ^ "Ayrshire Cup". sfha.org.uk.
- ^ a b c d e "Ayrshire Cup". Scottish football historical archive. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ "Competition and Results 2016-17: West Region Junior FA Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup". Scottish Junior Football Association. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
- ^ "Auchinleck Talbot hit Cumnock for five to win Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup". Cumnock Chronicle. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
- ^ "Rugby Park to host all-Ayrshire Junior Cup Final". Kilmarnock F.C. 23 April 2018. Archived from the original on 25 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
- ^ "Season Archive: 2015-2016". AAFA. Archived from the original on 24 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
- ^ "Talbot weekly news:Ayrshire Amateur FA". Auchinleck Talbot F.C. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
- ^ Laing, Paul (10 June 2018). "Largs Thistle 0-1 Kilwinning Rangers - Ayrshire Cup FINAL, 9th June 2018". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2018.