Highland Amateur Cup
| Founded | 1978 |
|---|---|
| Region | Scottish Highlands |
| Current champions | Pentland United (8th title) |
| Most successful club(s) | Pentland United (8 titles) |
| Website | [1] |
The Highland Amateur Cup is an annual football cup competition run by the Highland Executive branch of the Scottish Amateur Football Association.
All teams affiliated to Highland Associations are eligible to enter - and therefore this competition covers one of the largest geographical areas for any district amateur cup competition.
Currently, the affiliated Associations to the Highland Amateur Cup are:
- Caithness AFA
- North West Sutherland AFA
- Inverness and District FA
- Skye & Lochalsh AFA
- Lewis & Harris FA
- Uist & Barra AFA
- Orkney AFA
Shetland FA clubs are eligible to take part, but due to travel distances, have rarely entered the competition.
History
Pentland United are the most successful club, having won the competition eight times.
Western Isles teams
The 1984 tournament was the first time a team from the Western Isles was allowed to enter, and Ness' cup-run culminated in a 4–1 victory over Bishopmill Villa at Victoria Park, Dingwall. Ness have won the competition on three other occasions; 1991, 1992 and 1995.
Back, who also compete in the Lewis and Harris Football League, won the cup in 2004.
Lochs (2003 & 2005) and Point (1994) are the other Lewis and Harris Football League teams to have won the cup, while Stornoway Athletic have been runners-up on two occasions (1990 & 2003).
2007 Final
The 2007 final took place at Grant Street Park, Inverness on 18 August, between Avoch and Point. Avoch were competing in their 4th successive final, having beaten Lochs in the semi-final.[1] The match finished 5-0 to the team from the Black Isle.
2008 Final
Harmsworth Park, Wick, was the venue for the 2008 final between local rivals Castletown and Pentland United. Pentland took the lead in the first half before adding another two to win the game 3–0.[2]
2009 Final
The 2009 final was played at Harmsworth Park, Wick, between Avoch and Kirkwall Thorfinn. The game came down to a penalty shoot-out after Thorfinn 'threw away' a 2–0 lead - only for Avoch to draw level. The match went to penalties where Kirkwall were victorious and earned their first Amateur Cup win since 1988.[3]
2010 Final
Golspie Stafford took on Pentland United in front of a 500 strong crowd in the final on 14 August 2010 at Dudgeon Park, Brora. A Garry MacLeod free kick was all that came between the two sides in what was a fiercely contested game that ended 1–0 to Pentland United.[4]
2011 Final
Lewis-based side Back F.C. were up against Avoch in the final of the 2011 season. The game took place at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Inverness on 20 August 2011. Avoch ran out 5-1 winners, for their first success in the cup since 2007. A brace by Paul Brindle, followed by goals from Charlie Christie, Shaun Kerr and Gary Urqhuart, secured the win, with Martin Maclean scoring for Back.[5]
2012 Final
Avoch played Wick Groats in the final on 4 August 2012, at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Inverness. Avoch won 4–0 on the day, with Shaun Kerr scoring a hat-trick and Ronnie Jones grabbing the other. This was Avoch's fourth cup triumph in seven years.[6]
Past winners
| Season | Winner | Score | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Blackmuir | 2–0 | Thurso Pentland |
| 1979 | South Ronaldsay | beat | Halkirk |
| 1980 | Thurso Pentland | beat | ? |
| 1981 | Thurso Pentland | 1–0 | Wick Groats |
| 1982 | Halkirk | beat | Thurso Pentland |
| 1983 | Thurso Pentland | beat | ? |
| 1984 | Ness | 4–1 | Bishopmill Villa |
| 1985 | Halkirk | beat | ? |
| 1986 | Maryburgh | beat | ? |
| 1987 | Pentland United | 1–0 | Wick Groats |
| 1988 | Kirkwall Thorfinn | 2–1 | ? |
| 1989 | Dingwall Thistle | 2–1 | Halkirk |
| 1990 | Maryburgh | 3–1 | Stornoway Athletic |
| 1991 | Ness | 1–0 | Dingwall Thistle |
| 1992 | Ness | 1–0 | Kirkwall Thorfinn |
| 1993 | Pentland United | 6–2 | Southend |
| 1994 | Point | beat | ? |
| 1995 | Ness | 4–2 | Avoch |
| 1996 | Dingwall Thistle | beat | ? |
| 1997 | Kirkwall Rovers | 4–2 | Contin |
| 1998 | Pentland United | 3–1 | Inverness British Legion |
| 1999 | Contin | beat | Pentland United |
| 2000 | Pentland United | 4–0 | Cromarty |
| 2001 | Wick Thistle | 2–1 | Avoch |
| 2002 | Pentland United | 2–1 | Portree |
| 2003 | Lochs | 3–2 | Stornoway Athletic |
| 2004 | Back | 2–1 | Avoch |
| 2005 | Lochs | 3–1 | Avoch |
| 2006 | Avoch | 2–0 | Fortrose & Rosemarkie Union |
| 2007 | Avoch | 5–0 | Point |
| 2008 | Pentland United | 3–0 | Castletown |
| 2009 | Kirkwall Thorfinn | 12–2 | Avoch |
| 2010 | Pentland United | 1–0 | Golspie Stafford |
| 2011 | Avoch | 5–1 | Back |
| 2012 | Avoch | 4–0 | Wick Groats |
| 2013 | Wick Groats | 1–0 | Kirkwall Thorfinn |
| 2014 | Avoch | 2–1 | Carloway |
| 2015 | Wick Groats | 3–1 | Avoch |
| 2016 | Wick Groats | 10–0 | Kirkwall Thorfinn |
| 2017 | Avoch | 2–1 | Staxigoe United |
| 2018 | Pentland United | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Lerwick Spurs |
1 Won on penalties
Performance by Club
This table features runner-up information, only where known.
- As of after 2018
| Club | Wins | Last win | Runners-up | Last final lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pentland United | 8 | 2018 | 1 | 1999 |
| Avoch | 6 | 2017 | 6 | 2015 |
| Ness | 4 | 1995 | ||
| Wick Groats | 3 | 2016 | 3 | 2012 |
| Thurso Pentland | 3 | 1983 | 2 | 1982 |
| Kirkwall Thorfinn | 2 | 2009 | 3 | 2016 |
| Halkirk | 2 | 1985 | 2 | 1989 |
| Lochs | 2 | 2005 | 0 | — |
| Dingwall Thistle | 2 | 1996 | 1 | 1991 |
| Maryburgh | 2 | 1990 | ||
| Back | 1 | 2004 | 1 | 2011 |
| Contin | 1 | 1999 | 1 | 1997 |
| Point | 1 | 1994 | 1 | 2007 |
| Wick Thistle | 1 | 2001 | ||
| Kirkwall Rovers | 1 | 1997 | ||
| South Ronaldsay | 1 | 1979 | ||
| Blackmuir | 1 | 1978 | ||
| Stornoway Athletic | 0 | — | 2 | 2003 |
| Lerwick Spurs | 0 | — | 1 | 2018 |
| Staxigoe United | 0 | — | 1 | 2017 |
| Carloway | 0 | — | 1 | 2014 |
| Golspie Stafford | 0 | — | 1 | 2010 |
| Castletown | 0 | — | 1 | 2008 |
| Fortrose & Rosemarkie Union | 0 | — | 1 | 2006 |
| Portree | 0 | — | 1 | 2002 |
| Cromarty | 0 | — | 1 | 2000 |
| Inverness British Legion | 0 | — | 1 | 1998 |
| Southend | 0 | — | 1 | 1993 |
| Bishopmill Villa | 0 | — | 1 | 1984 |
References
- ^ "Sport | Football | Avoch march on to final of Amateur Cup". Ross-shire Journal. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ^ "Pentland United F.C - 2008". Pentland United F.C. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ^ "Thorfinn Football Club - 2009 Highland Amateur Cup". Orkneycommunities.co.uk. 21 July 2010. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Home | Stafford's Highland Cup hopes thwarted by the woodwork". Northern Times. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ^ "Back lose Highland Amateur". Hebrides-news.com. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ^ "Sport | Football | There's no stopping Avoch!". Ross-shire Journal. Retrieved 3 October 2012.