George Wilson Cup Explained

George Wilson Cup
Organiser:Irish Football Association
Founded:1953
Abolished:2019
Region:Northern Ireland
Most Successful Club:Glentoran II (11 titles)

The George Wilson Memorial Cup is a competition open to the reserve football teams of member clubs of the NIFL Premiership. Initially it was open to all members of the B Division, both "attached and unattached" (i.e. reserve sides and independent intermediate clubs), but since 1977–78 it has been limited to reserve sides only. It has not been played since 2019.

History

Founded in the 1952–53 season in memory of Crusaders official, George Wilson the final has been traditionally held at Crusaders' home ground Seaview (with a few exceptions when matches have been held at Taylor's Avenue (Carrickfergus), Ballymena Showgrounds and Mourneview Park). Appropriately, the first winners were Crusaders Reserves.

The format has varied over the years between league format, straight knockout and group format.

Past winners

Performance by club

TeamNo. of winsWinning years
11 1965–66, 1966–67, 1979–80, 1986–87, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14
10 1953–54, 1961–62, 1976–77, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1988–89, 1998–99, 2008–09, 2010–11
5 1999–00, 2007–08, 2012–13, 2015–16, 2016–17
4 1954–55, 1985–86, 1991–92, 1995–96
4 1964–65, 1967–68, 1971–72, 1974–75
4 1958–59, 1959–60, 1968–69, 1970–71
3 1955–56, 1960–61, 1962–63
3 1992–93, 1994–95, 1997–98
3 1952–53, 2006–07, 2014–15
3 1956–57, 1981–82, 1987–88
2 1957–58, 1982–83
2 1989–90, 1990–91
2 2003–04, 2005–06
2 1977–78, 1978–79
1 1993–94
1 1972–73
1 1973–74
1 1963–64
1 2017–18
1 2018–19
1 1975–76
1 1996–97

References

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.ifapremiership.com/index.php?option=com_jumi&fileid=18&Itemid=114&pid=35 IFA Premiership
  2. http://nifootballleague.com/george-wilson-cup/news/item/cliftonville-olympic-george-wilson-cup-winners-2012-13 NIFL
  3. http://nifootballleague.com/george-wilson-cup/news/item/george-wilson-cup-final-2013-14 NIFL
  4. http://nifootballleague.com/danske-bank-premiership/news/item/crusaders-reserves-lift-the-george-wilson-cup NIFL
  5. http://www.cliftonvillefc.net/news_olympic_210516.html Cliftonville FC
  6. http://cliftonvillefc.net/news_olympic_150517.html Cliftonville FC
  7. https://nifootballleague.com/womens-premiership-league-cup/news/item/welders-claim-george-wilson-cup-glory Northern Ireland Football League
  8. https://www.nifootballleague.com/george-wilson-cup/news/item/knockbreda-reserves-lift-george-wilson-cup Northern Ireland Football League