North Caledonian Cup Explained

The North Caledonian Cup, originally known as the North of Scotland Junior Cup and later the North of Scotland 2nd XI Cup is an annual association football cup for competition between football clubs across the Highlands & Islands of Scotland.

The cup is a registered Scottish FA competition which runs under the auspices of the North Caledonian FA.

Origins

First introduced during the 1887–88 season as the flagship competition of the Inverness Junior Football Association, the North Caledonian Cup was initially known as the North of Scotland Junior FA Cup, introduced as an association football cup for competition between juniors clubs from Inverness and the surrounding districts across the North of Scotland.

In the season that followed, the Inverness Junior FA became known as the North of Scotland Junior FA and the cup would become its marquee competition.[1]

The first competition was competed for between eighteen teams across the North of Scotland and was won in its first season by Inverness-based junior club Crusaders F.C.[2]

History

In its infancy, much like the Highland Football League, cup entrants were mostly teams from the Inverness area and its surrounding districts and for the latter part of the 19th century the competition was dominated by the 2nd XI combinations of senior clubs from the Highland League.

It was not until the 1902 that the trophy eventually left Inverness when Dingwall Victoria United - who would later become known as Ross County - won the trophy two years in a row.

While 2nd XI (reserve) clubs were still a dominant force, the growth of the junior club scene eventually led to teams from Tain, Grantown-on-spey, Elgin and Muir of Ord adding their name to the trophy.

When the North of Scotland Junior FA dropped its junior status in 1935, the competition became known as the North of Scotland 2nd XI Cup.

By the late 1960s, a surge in the formation of senior clubs throughout Ross-shire, Sutherland and Caithness resulted in a break-up in the dominance shown by the Highland Football League "2nd XI" sides.

In 1984, the association took the decision to rename the association once again, this time taking the name North Caledonian League, in a bid to "shake off" the 2nd XI reserve football stigma which had been attached to the cup since its introduction 97 years prior.

Almost a year later, at the annual general meeting of the North Caledonian FA, the trophy was renamed the North Caledonian Challenge Cup. Since 1972, only six senior reserve teams have won the trophy, the last being Inverness Caledonian Thistle 'A' in 1998–99.

In 2008, the original 121-year-old trophy was retired due to being in a state of poor repair and was sent to Hampden for safe keeping and refurbishment. Though the competition's lineage remained intact, a new trophy, more simply inscribed with the name North Caledonian Cup, was introduced to replace the original.

At the same time, the cup was briefly recognized and referred to as the Jock Mackay Memorial Cup before the competitions became two separate cups.

Past winners

Season !width=240
Winnerwidth=70Scorewidth=170Runner-upwidth=210VenueNotes
2023–24Invergordon [4]4–3Loch NessDalmore Park, Alness
2022–23Invergordon [3]2–1Golspie SutherlandKing George V Park, Golspie
2021–22St Duthus [7]1–0Halkirk UnitedDudgeon Park, Brora
2020–21Competition not completed due to suspension of football activities as a result of COVID-19 outbreak
2019–20Competition not completed due to suspension of football activities as a result of COVID-19 outbreak
2018–19Invergordon [2]2–0Alness UnitedDudgeon Park, Brora
2017–18St Duthus [6]3–1 [3] [4] Golspie SutherlandKing George V Park, Golspie
2016–17Golspie Sutherland [8]2–1InvergordonDudgeon Park, Brora
2015–16Golspie Sutherland [7]4–2 [5] Lewis & HarrisDalmore Park, Alness
2014–15Lewis & Harris1–0Golspie SutherlandDalmore Park, AlnessFirst team from the Western Isles to win the cup
2013–14Alness United [3]3–1Muir of Ord RoversPavilion Park, Muir of Ord
2012–13Muir of Ord Rovers [6]1–0ThursoDalmore Park, Alness
2011–12Halkirk United [3]2–1 [6] Golspie SutherlandDudgeon Park, Brora
2010–11Thurso [3]4–1InvergordonKing George V Park, Golspie
2009–10Muir of Ord Rovers [5]2–1 [7] Halkirk UnitedBonar Bridge Park
2008–09Halkirk United [2]5–2ThursoRecreation Grounds, InvergordonContested and promoted as the Jock Mackay Memorial Cup
2007–08Golspie Sutherland [6]2–2 p [8] Inverness CityRecreation Grounds, Invergordon
2006–07Inverness City2–2 p [9] Golspie SutherlandRecreation Grounds, Invergordon
2005–06Halkirk United3–1 aetAlness UnitedSeaboard Park, Balintore
2004–05Balintore [4]2–2 pInvergordonSeaboard Park, Balintore
2003–04Thurso [2]1–0 [10] [11] [12] BalintoreDudgeon Park, Brora
2002–03Golspie Sutherland [5]3–1DornochDudgeon Park, Brora
2001–02Thurso2–1[13] Alness UnitedKing George V Park, Golspie
2000–01Golspie Sutherland [4]Alness United
1999–2000Alness United [2]
1998–99
1997–98Balintore [3]3–2Invergordon
1996–97Balintore [2]4–0Halkirk UnitedKing George V Park, Golspie
1995–96Fearn Thistle
1994–95Clachnacuddin reserves [15]
1993–94Bonar Bridge [2]2–1St DuthusAfter extra time
1992–93Ross County reserves [6]
1991–92Clachnacuddin reserves [14]
1990–91Caledonian reserves [15]
1989–90St Duthus [5]
1988–89Caledonian reserves [14]
1987–88Invergordon
1986–87St Duthus [4]
1985–86Wick Academy [3]
1984–85Balintore2–1Bunillidh Thistle
1983–84St Duthus [3]Balintore
1982–83Muir of Ord Rovers [4]
1981–82Bunillidh Thistle [2]Muir of Ord Rovers
1980–81Wick Academy [2]1–0InvergordonDudgeon Park, Brora
1979–80Wick Academy2–1Muir of Ord RoversDudgeon Park, BroraFirst team from Caithness to win the cup
1978–79St Duthus [2]3–2Alness UnitedMigdale Park, Bonar Bridge
1977–78Bonar Bridge
1976–77Dingwall Thistle
1975–76Golspie Sutherland [3]
1974–75Golspie Sutherland [2]
1973–74Alness United
1972–73Ross County reserves [5]
1971–72Bunillidh Thistle
1970–71Caledonian reserves [13]
1969–70Ross County reserves [4]
1968–69Golspie Sutherland
1967–68Muir of Ord Rovers [3]
1966–67Black Rock Rovers (Evanton)
1965–66Caledonian reserves [12]
1964–65First team from Sutherland to win the cup
1963–64Clachnacuddin reserves [13]
1962–63Clachnacuddin reserves [12]
1960–61Clachnacuddin reserves [11]
1959–60Caledonian reserves [11]
1958–59Ross County reserves [3]
1957–58Clachnacuddin reserves [10]
1956–57Clachnacuddin reserves [9]
1955–56Clachnacuddin reserves [8]
1954–55Caledonian reserves [10]
1953–54
1952–53Nelson (Inverness) [6]
1951–52Loco Rangers
1950–51Ross County reserves [2]
1949–50Clachnacuddin reserves [7]
1948–49Caledonian reserves [9]
1947–48Caledonian reserves [8]
1946–47Ross County reserves5–4InvergordonGrant Street Park, Inverness
1938–39Highland Light Infantry
1937–38Muir of Ord Rovers
1936–37Clachnacuddin reserves [6]
1935–36Nelson (Inverness) [5]
1934–35Muir of Ord Rovers [2]
1933–34Muir of Ord Rovers
1932–33Nelson (Inverness) [4]1–0Muir of Ord RoversKingsmills Park, Inverness
1931–32Inverness Thistle reserves [7]
1930–31Inverness Thistle reserves [6]Telford Street Park, Inverness
1929–30Clachnacuddin reserves [5]
1928–29Nelson (Inverness) [3]
1927–28Dingwall Victoria United [3]
1926–27Cameron Highlanders [2]
1925–26Inverness Thistle reserves [5]
1924–25St Duthus2–1 [14] Catch-my-Pal (Inverness)Thistle Park, Inverness
1923–24Fortrose & Rosemarkie Union
1922–23Clachnacuddin reserves [4]
1921–22Caledonian reserves [7]Final was replayed after first match ended 1–1
1920–21Inverness Citadel reserves [3]
1919–20Clachnacuddin reserves [3]
1913–14Albert (Inverness)3–2 [15] Dingwall Victoria UnitedInverness
1912–13Bishopmill United [2]5–3 [16] Dingwall Victoria UnitedGrant Street Park, Inverness
1911–12Bishopmill United2–1 [17] Dingwall Victoria UnitedKingsmills Park, Inverness
1910–11Grantown Athletic 2–0 [18] Inverness Thistle reservesGrant Street Park, InvernessFirst team from Moray to win the cup.
1909–10Inverness Thistle reserves [4]
1908–09Clachnacuddin reserves [2]3–0 [19] Dingwall Victoria UnitedKingsmills Park, Inverness
1907–08Nelson (Inverness) [2]4–2 [20] Inverness Citadel reservesInverness
1906–07Caledonian reserves [6]3–1 [21] Clachnacuddin reservesKingsmills Park, InvernessFinal was replayed after first match at Kingsmills Park ended 3–3
1905–06Nelson (Inverness)Awarded after Inverness Citadel reserves refused to contest replay. [22] After a first match ended in a draw, the game was replayed at Telford Street Park, Inverness, but at 2-0 to Citadel the referee abandoned the game due to mist with ten minutes left to play. A replay was scheduled but Citadel refused to contest it. The association thereafter awarded the trophy to Nelson.
1904–05Caledonian reserves [5]
1903–04Dingwall Victoria United [2]4–3Caledonian reservesClachnacuddin Park, Inverness
1902–03Dingwall Victoria United1–0Clachnacuddin Park, InvernessFirst team from outside of Inverness / first team from Ross & Cromarty to win the cup.
1901–024–0Kingsmills Park, Inverness
1900–01Inverness Thistle reserves [3]Caledonian reservesClachnacuddin Park, Inverness
1899–1900Caledonian reserves [4]
1898–99Heatherley FC (Inverness)
1897–98Inverness Citadel reserves [2]2–1Dingwall Victoria UnitedThistle Park, Inverness
1896–973–2Inverness CelticClachnacuddin Park, InvernessFinal was replayed after first match at Telford Street Park ended 2–2
1895–96Caledonian reserves [3]3–1Cameron HighlandersKingsmills Park, Inverness
1894–95Caledonian reserves [2]5–1Heatherley FC (Inverness)Clachnacuddin Park, Inverness
1893–94Inverness Thistle reserves [2]5–1Caledonian reservesThistle Park, InvernessFinal was replayed after first match at Clachnacuddin Park was abandoned in the second half due to snow with scores at 1–1
1892–93Caledonian reserves4–1Telford Street Park, Inverness
1891–92Crown Strollers (Inverness)3–2Northern Meeting Park, Inverness
1890–91Inverness Thistle reserves5–3Caledonian reservesMidmills Park, Inverness
1889–902–0Needlefield Park, Inverness
1888–89Cameron Highlanders1–0Needlefield Park, InvernessFinal was replayed after first match ended 2–2
1887–88Crusaders (Inverness)1–0 [23] Crown (Inverness)Cameron BarracksFirst ever cup final

Performance by club

Club!Wins!Years
1892–93, 1894–95, 1895–96, 1899–1900, 1904–05, 1906–07, 1921–22, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1954–55, 1959–60, 1965–66, 1970–71, 1988–89, 1990–91
1901–02, 1908–09, 1919–20, 1922–23, 1929–30, 1936–37, 1949–50, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1991–92, 1994–95
Golspie Sutherland1968–69, 1974–75, 1975–76, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2007–08, 2015–16, 2016–17
1890–91, 1893–94, 1900–91, 1909–10, 1925–26, 1930–31, 1931–32
Muir of Ord Rovers1933–34, 1934–35, 1937–38, 1967–68, 1982–83, 2009–10, 2012–13
St Duthus1924–25, 1978–79, 1983–84, 1986–87, 1989–90, 2017–18, 2021–22
Nelson (Inverness)1905–06, 1907–08, 1928–29, 1932–33, 1935–36, 1953–53
1946–47, 1950–51, 1958–59, 1969–70, 1972–73, 1992–93
Balintore1984–85, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2004–05
Invergordon1987–88, 2018–19, 2022–23, 2023–24
Alness United1973–74, 1999–2000, 2013–14
Dingwall Victoria United1902–03, 1903–04, 1927–28
Halkirk United2005–06, 2008–09, 2011–12
1896–97, 1897–98, 1920–21
Thurso2001–02, 2003–04, 2010–11
Wick Academy1979–80, 1980–81, 1985–86
Bishopmill United1911–12, 1912–13
Bonar Bridge1977–78, 1993–94
Bunillidh Thistle1971–72, 1981–82
Cameron Highlanders1888–89, 1926–27
Albert (Inverness)1913–14
Black Rock Rovers (Evanton)1966–67
Brora Rangers reserves1964–65
Crown Strollers (Inverness)1891–92
Crusaders (Inverness)1887–88
Dingwall Thistle1976–77
Fearn Thistle1995–96
Fortrose & Rosemarkie Union 1923–24
Grantown Athletic 1910–11
Heatherley FC (Inverness)1898–99
Highland Light Infantry1938–39
1998–99
Inverness City2006–07
1889–90
Lewis & Harris2014–15
Loco Rangers1951–52
1953–54

References

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  2. Web site: North Caledonian Cup - North Caledonian Football Association. North Caledonian FA Official Website. en. 2019-02-04.
  3. Web site: Saints stun Golspie to lift North Caledonian Cup. www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk. 2019-02-04.
  4. Web site: Saints win North Caledonian Cup St Duthus Football Club - Tain, Highland, Scotland. Club. St Duthus Football. stduthusfc.co.uk. en. 2019-02-05.
  5. Web site: Revenge for Golspie as they triumph in cup final. www.northern-times.co.uk. 2019-02-04.
  6. Web site: Golspie dominant, but lose Caley Cup final. www.northern-times.co.uk. 2019-02-04.
  7. Web site: Rovers lift cup after Dance hits double. www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk. 2019-02-04.
  8. Web site: Golspie goalie saves the day. www.northern-times.co.uk. 2019-02-06.
  9. Web site: Golspie Sutherland lose out in penalty drama. www.northern-times.co.uk. 2019-02-06.
  10. Web site: Thurso FC Season 2003/04 - DOUBLE CUP WINNERS !!!. www.thursofc.info. 2019-02-05.
  11. Web site: Caithness CWS - Front Page Bulletins - February 2004 - Barn Fire - Index. www.caithness.org. 2019-02-05.
  12. Web site: Match report from Thurso 1V Balintore- PCT Cup Final – Sat 21st Feb 2004 – By Iain Grant – THURSO FOOTBALL CLUB. en-US. 2019-02-05.
  13. Web site: Thurso FC Season 2001/02. www.thursofc.info. 2019-02-05.
  14. Book: NIALL., HARKISS. ROSS-SHIRE FOOTBALL'S FORGOTTEN PIONEERS : saint duthus football club.. 2014. K & N Publishing. 978-0992882518. [Place of publication not identified]. 1047796196.
  15. Web site: 2 May 1914 . Highland News . 26 June 2024 . British Newspaper Archive.
  16. Web site: 10 April 1913 . North Star and Farmers' Chronicle . 26 June 2024 . British Newspaper Archive.
  17. Web site: 29 March 1912 . Ross-shire Journal . 26 June 2024 . British Newspaper Archive.
  18. Web site: 12 April 1911 . Northern Chronicle and General Advertiser for the North of Scotland . 26 June 2024 . British Newspaper Archive.
  19. Web site: 16 March 1909 . Inverness Courier . 26 June 2024 . British Newspaper Archive.
  20. Web site: 28 January 1908 . Inverness Courier . 26 June 2024 . British Newspaper Archive.
  21. Web site: 13 February 1907 . Northern Chronicle and General Advertiser for the North of Scotland . 26 June 2024.
  22. Web site: 2 May 1906 . Northern Chronicle and General Advertiser for the North of Scotland . 26 Jun 2024 . British Newspaper Archive.
  23. Web site: History North Caledonian Football Association. North Caledonian FA Official Website. en. 2019-02-05.