The early days of the Cup saw it take up almost permanent
residence in Queen's Park's own trophy room until strong challengers
like long-gone Vale of Leven and Renton, as well as
more familiar names such as Hibernian and Dumbarton
and the more recently departed Third Lanark emerged to capture
the prize. Until the formation of the Scottish League in
1890 Queen's Park won the trophy nine times. They
have managed just one since.
1890-1914
The League's establishment saw the big guns take over.
Celtic had reached the Final in their first year of existence
and they won the cup nine times up until the outbreak of the First
World War. Surprisingly Rangers record was nowhere near as
good. It took the Gers 20 years before recording their first success
in 1894 (in the first Old Firm Final). And while they won another
three times up until 1903, it took an amazing quarter of a century
after that before the Scottish Cup was carried up the marble Ibrox
staircase.
Hearts enjoyed great success too winning four
times in five year spells, 1891,1896,1901,1906. The 1896 Final was
an oddity. Played between two Edinburgh clubs (Hearts and
Hibs) on the Edinburgh ground of the Cup holders (St Bernard's).
Over 100 years later there has never been another Edinburgh 'derby'
Cup Final.
Hibs brought the Cup to the capital as well while
Queen's Park had their tenth triumph and Third Lanark their second
to give the other Glasgow clubs a look-in and Dundee won
their first and only Cup in 1910. The most remarkable victory during
this period though was that of Falkirk in 1913. The first
time in 25 years that the Cup had been won by a team from outwith
a major city. While in 1909 it wasn't won at all. Rioting Old Firm
fans saw to that - a salutary tale for those who think football's
crowd problems have only emerged during the past 30 years.
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1919-39
The Scottish Cup entered an exciting phase of its development after
1919 with several of the so-called 'smaller' sides winning the tournament.
Kilmarnock, Partick Thistle, Morton, Airdrie and St Mirren
were all successful before the Old Firm took the reins once more.
From 1927-37 inclusive, Kilmarnock in 1929 were the solitary non-Old
Firm winners.
But just before the Second World War came two amazing successes
in Finals in which neither of the Glasgow giants appeared. First
came East Fife, the only Second Division winners in 1938
followed a year later by Clyde, the smallest of the Glasgow
clubs.
Although first contested in 1873-74, the Scottish Cup was
suspended during both World Wars. As a result the 100th Final wasn't
until 1985.
For the Scottish Cup Post-1945 click here
For the League Cup from 1946 click here |