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 4–1 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 3–0.
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 beat 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 | - | 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 |
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 | ||
| Ness | 5 | 1995 | ||
| Avoch | 4 | 2012 | 1 | 2009 |
| Thurso Pentland | 3 | 1983 | ||
| Kirkwall Thorfinn | 2 | 2009 | ||
| Lochs | 2 | 2005 | ||
| Dingwall Thistle | 2 | 1996 | ||
| Maryburgh | 2 | 1990 | ||
| Halkirk | 2 | 1985 | ||
| Back | 1 | 2004 | 1 | 2011 |
| Wick Thistle | 1 | 2007 | ||
| Contin | 1 | 2009 | ||
| Kirwall Rovers | 1 | 1997 | ||
| Point | 1 | 2004 | 1 | 2007 |
| South Ronaldsay | 1 | 1979 | ||
| Blackmuir | 1 | 1978 | ||
| Wick Groats | 0 | - | 1 | 2012 |
| Golspie Stafford | 0 | - | 1 | 2010 |
| Castletown | 0 | - | 1 | 2008 |
References
- ↑ "Sport | Football | Avoch march on to final of Amateur Cup". Ross-shire Journal. 2012-09-24. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
- ↑ "Pentland United F.C - 2008". Pentland United F.C. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
- ↑ "Thorfinn Football Club - 2009 Highland Amateur Cup". Orkneycommunities.co.uk. 2010-07-21. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
- ↑ "Home | Stafford's Highland Cup hopes thwarted by the woodwork". Northern Times. 2010-08-20. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
- ↑ "Back lose Highland Amateur". Hebrides-news.com. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
- ↑ "Sport | Football | There's no stopping Avoch!". Ross-shire Journal. Retrieved 2012-10-03.