Ayrshire Cup Explained

Founded:1877
Region:Ayrshire (Scotland)
Current Champions:Kilmarnock
(1997-98 last competition)
Most Successful Club:Kilmarnock
(43 titles)

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]

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

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

width=180Clubwidth=100Winswidth=100Last winwidth=100Runners-upwidth=100Last final lost
1Kilmarnock431998281997
2Ayr United261997291998
3Hurlford6191171912
4Galston6192561924
5Ayr4191031909
6Annbank4189521903
7Beith3192741938
8Stevenston United2192021922
9Kilmarnock Athletic218830
10Ayr Parkhouse1190231910
Kilbirnie1188831893
11Kilmarnock Portland1188221879
12Lugar Boswell1188111883
13Mauchline118780
Kilmarnock Athletic (1888)118970
15Girvan031982
16Lanemark011907
Saltcoats Thistle011901
Saltcoats Victoria011894

Ayrshire Cup Finals

Key

(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

width=105Seasonwidth=180Winner[6] width=105Score width=180Runner-up width=180Venue width=105Attendance width=52.5Notes
1877–78Mauchline4–3Kilmarnock PortlandHolm Quarry, Kilmarnock5,000
1878–79Kilmarnock Athletic1–1 *Kilmarnock PortlandRugby Park, Kilmarnock
1878–79 (R)Kilmarnock Athletic2–1 *Kilmarnock PortlandRugby Park, Kilmarnock4,000
1879–80Beith1–0KilbirnieHolm Quarry, Kilmarnock5,000
1880–81Lugar Boswell5–0Rugby Park, Kilmarnock5,000
1881–82Kilmarnock Portland4–0KilmarnockHolm Quarry, Kilmarnock
1882–83Kilmarnock Athletic0–0*Lugar BoswellRugby Park, Kilmarnock
1882–83 (R)Kilmarnock Athletic3–2Lugar BoswellRugby Park, Kilmarnock4,000
1883–84Kilmarnock2–2*HurlfordHolm Quarry, Kilmarnock
1883–84 (R)Kilmarnock1–0HurlfordHolm Quarry, Kilmarnock
1884–85Kilmarnock2–0HurlfordHolm Quarry, Kilmarnock3,000
1885–86Kilmarnock2–1AyrRugby Park, Kilmarnock
1886–87Hurlford4–1KilbirnieRugby Park, Kilmarnock6,000
1887–88Kilbirnie4–3HurlfordRugby Park, Kilmarnock5,000
1888–89Hurlford2–0AyrRugby Park, Kilmarnock6,000
1889–90Annbank3–2HurlfordRugby Park, Kilmarnock7,000
1890–91Kilmarnock7–1HurlfordHolm Quarry, Kilmarnock
1891–92Annbank3–0HurlfordRugby Park, Kilmarnock
1892–93Annbank5–2KilbirnieRugby Park, Kilmarnock
1893–94Hurlford2–2*Saltcoats VictoriaHolm Quarry, Kilmarnock
1893–94 (R)Hurlford2–1Saltcoats VictoriaHolm Quarry, Kilmarnock5,000
1894–95Annbank2–2*KilmarnockRugby Park, Kilmarnock
1894–95 (R)Annbank4–2KilmarnockRugby Park, Kilmarnock
1895–96Kilmarnock7–2GalstonHolm Quarry, Kilmarnock5,000
1896–97Kilmarnock Athletic (1888)1–1*KilmarnockBeresford Park, Ayr
1896–97 (R)Kilmarnock Athletic (1888)3–0KilmarnockSomerset Park, Ayr
1897–98Kilmarnock9–3GalstonHolm Quarry, Kilmarnock
1898–99Kilmarnock6–3GalstonRugby Park, Kilmarnock
1899–1900Kilmarnock4–0Ayr ParkhouseSomerset Park, Ayr4,000 - 5,000
1900–01Ayr1–1*Stevenston ThistleRugby Park, Kilmarnock6,000
1900–01 (R)Ayr2–1Stevenston ThistleRugby Park, Kilmarnock3,000 - 4,000
1901–02Ayr Parkhouse1–0GalstonRugby Park, Kilmarnock
1902–03Galston4–3‡AnnbankBeresford Park, Ayr
1902–03Galston1–1‡AnnbankRugby Park, Kilmarnock3,000
1902–03Galston2–0AnnbankSomerset Park, Ayr
1903–04Galston4–1BeithRugby Park, Kilmarnock
1904–05Ayr1–0KilmarnockBeresford Park, Ayr5,000
1905–06Ayr1–0Ayr ParkhouseBeresford Park, Ayr3,800
1906–07Hurlford3–1LanemarkSomerset Park, Ayr
1907–08Galston2–2*KilmarnockSomerset Park, Ayr
1907–08 (R)Galston2–1KilmarnockRugby Park, Kilmarnock
1908–09Hurlford1–1*AyrBeresford Park, Ayr
1908–09 (R)Hurlford1–0AyrBeresford Park, Ayr
1909–10Ayr1–0Ayr ParkhouseSomerset Park, Ayr5,000
1910–11Hurlford3–2Ayr UnitedBeresford Park, Ayr
1911–12Ayr United2–0HurlfordBeresford Park, Ayr
1912–13Galston3–3*Ayr UnitedRugby Park, Kilmarnock
1912–13 (R)Galston2–1Ayr UnitedRugby Park, Kilmarnock
1913–14Galston3–2Stevenston UnitedRugby Park, Kilmarnock
1914–15Stevenston United0–0*KilmarnockRiverside Park, Galston
1914–15 (R)Stevenston United2–1 *KilmarnockRiverside Park, Galston
No competition from 1915–16 to 1918–19 due to World War I
1919–20Stevenston United1–0GalstonRugby Park, Kilmarnock
1920–21Kilmarnock
1921–22Kilmarnock5–2Stevenston UnitedRugby Park, Kilmarnock
1922–23Kilmarnock5–0Ayr United
1923–24BeithGalston
1924–25Galston4–1KilmarnockRugby Park, Kilmarnock1,000
1925–26Ayr United3–3 (agg)Beith
1925–26 (R)Ayr United4–1Beith
1926–27Beith
1927–28Kilmarnock
1928–29Ayr United5–1KilmarnockSomerset Park, Ayr1,000
1929–30Kilmarnock
1930–31Kilmarnock5–1BeithRugby Park, Kilmarnock
1931–32Incomplete
1932–33Ayr United3–1Kilmarnock2,000
1933–34No Competition
1934–35Kilmarnock3–3*Ayr United
1934–35 (R)Kilmarnock8–0Ayr United
1935–36Ayr United2–2*Kilmarnock
1935–36 (R)Ayr United3–2Kilmarnock
1936–37No Competition
1937–38Ayr United7–1Beith
1938–39Ayr United2–2*Kilmarnock
1938–39 (R)Ayr United3–1Kilmarnock
No competition from 1939–40 to 1945–46 due to World War II
1946–47Kilmarnock4–2Ayr United
1947–48No Competition
1948–49No Competition
1949–50Ayr United3–1 (agg)Kilmarnock
1950–51Kilmarnock6–1 (agg)Ayr United
1951–52Kilmarnock4–3 (agg) Ayr United
1952–53Kilmarnock5–0 (agg)Ayr United
1953–54Kilmarnock5–1 (agg)Ayr United
1954–55Kilmarnock3–0Ayr United
1955–56Kilmarnock7–0 (agg)Ayr United
1956–57Kilmarnock1–0Ayr United
1957–58Ayr United2–1 (agg)Kilmarnock
1958–59Kilmarnock4–4 (agg)Ayr United
1959–60Kilmarnock3–2 (agg)Ayr United
1960–61Ayr United3–0Kilmarnock
1961–62Kilmarnock7–2 (agg)Ayr United
1962–63Incomplete
1963–64Incomplete
1964–65Ayr United1–0Kilmarnock
1965–66Kilmarnock3–1 (agg)Ayr United
1966–67Incomplete
1967–68Incomplete
1968–69Ayr UnitedKilmarnock
1969–70Ayr United2–0Kilmarnock
1970–71Ayr United2–2 (agg)
(5–4p)†		Kilmarnock
1971–72Kilmarnock3–1 (agg) Ayr United
1972–73Kilmarnock2–1 (agg) Ayr United
1973–74Kilmarnock1–1 (5–4p)†Ayr United
1974–75Ayr United1–0Kilmarnock
1975–76Ayr United4–0 (agg) Kilmarnock
1976–77Ayr United2–2 (6–5p)†Kilmarnock
1977–78Ayr United2–1Kilmarnock
1978–79Kilmarnock4–0Girvan
1979–80Ayr United10–2 (agg)Girvan
1980–81Kilmarnock2–0 (agg)Ayr United
1981–82Kilmarnock12-0Girvan
1982–83Kilmarnock1–0Ayr United
1983–84Kilmarnock2–1Ayr United
1984–85Kilmarnock2–1Ayr United
1985–86Ayr United2–1Kilmarnock
1986–87Kilmarnock3–0Ayr United
1987–88Ayr United2–0 Kilmarnock
1988–89Ayr United2–0Kilmarnock
1989–90Kilmarnock2–1*Ayr United
1990–91Ayr United2–1Kilmarnock
1991–92Kilmarnock4–0Ayr United
1992–93Kilmarnock2–1Ayr United
1993–94Kilmarnock3–3 (3–2p)†Ayr United3,613
1994–95Ayr United4–3Kilmarnock
1995–96Kilmarnock1–0Ayr United
1996–97Ayr United2–0Kilmarnock2,176
1997–98Kilmarnock4–2Ayr United4,652

See also

Ayrshire Cups in other categories

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]

Notes and References

  1. Ayrshire Football Association . North British Daily Mail . 22 October 1877 . 3.
  2. Web site: Ayrshire Cup. Scottish football historical archive. 2 September 2016.
  3. Web site: Ayrshire Cup 1877-1998. KillieFC. 24 May 2018.
  4. Web site: Ayr United welcome return of the Ayrshire Cup. Ayrshire Post. 3 September 2011.
  5. Web site: Ayrshire Cup . sfha.org.uk.
  6. Web site: Ayrshire Cup. Scottish football historical archive. 2 September 2016.
  7. Web site: Competition and Results 2016-17: West Region Junior FA Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup . https://web.archive.org/web/20180319054929/http://www.scottishjuniorfa.com/sjfa/competition.cfm?page=4180 . 2018-03-19 . 24 May 2018 . Scottish Junior Football Association.
  8. Web site: Auchinleck Talbot hit Cumnock for five to win Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup. Cumnock Chronicle. 15 June 2017. 24 May 2018.
  9. Web site: Rugby Park to host all-Ayrshire Junior Cup Final. Kilmarnock F.C.. 23 April 2018. 24 May 2018. 25 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180525132419/http://www.kilmarnockfc.co.uk/Article?id=7104. dead.
  10. Web site: Season Archive: 2015-2016. AAFA. 24 May 2018. 24 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180524083104/http://www.ayrshireafa.co.uk/LeagueArchives?season=2585. dead.
  11. Web site: Talbot weekly news:Ayrshire Amateur FA. Auchinleck Talbot F.C.. 2 May 2017. 24 May 2018.
  12. News: Largs Thistle 0-1 Kilwinning Rangers - Ayrshire Cup FINAL, 9th June 2018. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/hPVzOWxNSGM . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube. 29 June 2018. 10 June 2018. Paul. Laing.

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