1877 Scottish Cup Final

1877 Scottish Cup Final
Event 1876–77 Scottish Cup
Date 17 March 1877
Venue Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow
Replay
Date 7 April 1877
Venue Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow
Second replay
Date 13 April 1877
Venue Hampden Park, Glasgow

The 1877 Scottish Cup Final was the 4th final of Scottish football's most prestigious knockout association football competition, the Scottish Cup. The original match took place at Hamilton Crescent on 17 March 1877 and was contested by Vale of Leven and Rangers. The match was the first final to require two replays to decide a winner.[1]

Both clubs entered the competition in the first round. Rangers won all of its matches before the final at the first attempt. However, the club received two byes through the duration of the tournament, one in the third round and one in the semi-final. Vale of Leven played in all rounds and also won all of their ties without needing a replay, conceding only one goal in the process.

This was the first final not to feature Queen's Park, who had won all three previous tournaments. The club was defeated by Vale of Leven in the quarter-finals. It was both Vale of Leven's and Rangers début appearance in the Scottish Cup final.

The original match ended in a 1–1 draw. Robert Paton opened the scoring for Vale of Leven, but Rangers equalised courtesy of an own goal from John McDougall. In the replay three weeks later, McDougall evened the scores for Vale of Leven after William Dunlop had opened the scoring for Rangers to force a second replay. In what turned out to be the decider, an early own goal from Jimmy Watson and two late winners from John Baird and Robert Paton were enough to seal a narrow 3–2 victory for Vale of Leven to win the tournament for the first time.

Route to the final

Round Opposition Score
First round Helensburgh 1–0
Second round Vale of Leven Rovers 7–0
Third round 3rd Lanark RV 1–0
Fourth round Busby 4–0
Quarter-final Queen's Park 2–1
Semi-final Ayr Thistle 9–0

Vale of Leven

Rangers

Round Opposition Score
First round Queen's Park Juniors 4–1
Second round Towerhill 8–0
Third round Rangers received a bye
Fourth round Mauchline 3–0
Quarter-final Dumbarton 3–0
Semi-final Rangers received a bye

Match details

Original

17 March 1877
15:00[2]
Vale of Leven 1–1 Rangers
Paton  10' McDougall  65' (o.g.)
Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow[2]
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: James Kerr (Hamilton)

Replay

7 April 1877
15:00[1]
Vale of Leven 1–1 Rangers
McDougall  70' Dunlop  20'
Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow[1]
Attendance: 14,000
Referee: James Kerr (Hamilton)

Second replay

13 April 1877
15:00[3]
Vale of Leven 3–2 Rangers
Watson  15' (o.g.)
Baird  70'
Paton 88'
McNeil  47'
Campbell  50'
Hampden Park, Glasgow[3]
Attendance: 7,500
Referee: James Kerr (Hamilton)

References