Highland Amateur Cup

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 the competition and therefore this competition covers one of the biggest geographiocal areas for any district amateur cup competition. Currently the affiliated associations to this competition are Caithness AFA, Sutherland AFA, North West Sutherland AFA, Ross-Shire AFA, Skye & Lochalsh AFA, Lewis & Harris AFA, Uist & Barra AFA and Orkney AFA. Shetland AFA clubs are eligible to take but due to travel distances have only entered the competition on two occasions.

History

Back, who compete in the Lewis and Harris Football League, won the cup in 2004. Ness, also of the Lewis and Harris Football League, have won this competition on four occasions; 1984, 1991, 1992 and 1995. The 1984 competition was the first time a team from the Western Isles was allowed to enter and Ness' cup run ended with a 41 victory over Bishopmill Villa at Victoria Park, Dingwall. Lochs (2003 & 2005) and Point (1994) are the other Lewis and Harris Football League teams to have won this cup while Stornoway Athletic have been runners-up on two occasions (1990 and 2003). Contin reached the final in 1997 & 1999 winning the final in 1999. Pentland United (who are the most successful club), have won the competition seven times. Pentland United won the final in 2008 beating fellow Caithness team Castletown 30.

2007 Final

The 2007 final took place at Grant Street Park, Inverness 18 August 2007 between Avoch and Point. Avoch were competing in their 4th successive final, having beaten Lochs in the semi-final.[1] Avoch beat Point in the final.

2008 Final

The 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 FC 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 FC.[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 with the other. This was Avoch's fourth cup triumph in seven years.[6]

Past winners

Season Winner Score Runner-Up
1978 Blackmuir
1979 South Ronaldsay
1980 Thurso Pentland
1981 Thurso Pentland
1982 Halkirk
1983 Thurso Pentland
1984 Ness
1985 Halkirk
1986 Maryburgh
1987 Pentland United
1988 Kirkwall Thorfinn
1989 Dingwall Thistle
1990 Maryburgh
1991 Ness
1992 Ness
1993 Pentland United
1994 Point
1995 Ness
1996 Dingwall Thistle
1997 Kirkwall Rovers
1998 Pentland United
1999 Contin
2000 Pentland United
2001 Wick Thistle
2002 Pentland United
2003 Lochs
2004 Back
2005 Lochs
2006 Avoch
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

1 Kirkwall Thorfinn won on penalties

Performance by Club

This table only features runner-up information from the 2007 competition onwards.

Club Wins Last win Runners-up Last final lost
Pentland United 7 2010
Avoch 5 2014 2 2015
Ness 4 1995
Thurso Pentland 3 1983
Wick Groats 2 2015 1 2012
Kirkwall Thorfinn 2 2009 1 2013
Lochs 2 2005
Dingwall Thistle 2 1996
Maryburgh 2 1990
Halkirk 2 1985
Back 1 2004 1 2011
Point 1 1994 1 2007
Contin 1 2009
Wick Thistle 1 2007
Kirwall Rovers 1 1997
South Ronaldsay 1 1979
Blackmuir 1 1978
Carloway 0 1 2014
Golspie Stafford 0 1 2010
Castletown 0 1 2008

References

  1. "Sport | Football | Avoch march on to final of Amateur Cup". Ross-shire Journal. 2012-09-24. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
  2. "Pentland United F.C - 2008". Pentland United F.C. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
  3. "Thorfinn Football Club - 2009 Highland Amateur Cup". Orkneycommunities.co.uk. 2010-07-21. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
  4. "Home | Stafford's Highland Cup hopes thwarted by the woodwork". Northern Times. 2010-08-20. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
  5. "Back lose Highland Amateur". Hebrides-news.com. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
  6. "Sport | Football | There's no stopping Avoch!". Ross-shire Journal. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
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