1991 Scottish Challenge Cup Final
Encyclopedia
The 1991 Scottish Challenge Cup Final was played on 8 December 1991, at Fir Park
in Motherwell
and was the 2nd staging of the final in the history of the tournament. It was played between and The final was won by Hamilton who defeated Ayr 1–0, to win the tournament for the first time in their history.
Ayr United faced Dundee away from home in the first round with Ayr producing a 2–0 victory. The second round draw saw Ayr United travel to Ochilview Park
to face Stenhousemuir, in another away game with United winning 2–0 for the second consecutive game to progress to the quarter-final. The reward for reaching the quarter-final the first home game of the tournament against Stranraer, who were defeated 2–0 to earn Ayr United their third 2–0 win and third clean sheet of the tournament. The semi-final opposition was Queen of the South, and a second home game at Somerset Park
with Ayr United winning 3–2 to book a place in the Scottish Challenge Cup Final for the second time, since losing the 1990 final the year before.
Hamilton Academical were drawn against Alloa Athletic in a home game at Douglas Park
in the first round which saw the team emerge 5–1 winners. The second round was game on the road against Partick Thistle with Accies producing a 2–1 victory to progress to the quarter-finals. Another away game of the tournament saw Hamilton travel to East Fife and win 3–2. The reward for reaching the semi-final was a final home game, with the opponents in the form of Raith Rovers. Hamilton Academical won 2–1 to book a place in the final for the first time.
and Douglas Park
, and two away games in the rounds preceding the final. Ayr United scored a total of nine goals and conceded only two before the final, compared with Hamilton Academical's twelve goals scored and five conceded. Ayr United kept a total of three clean sheets whilst Hamilton Academical kept none. This was the first appearance for Hamilton in the Scottish Challenge Cup Final, whereas Ayr United had been defeated in final of the previous season in the competition's inaugural year.
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Hamilton Academical:
|
GK
1
Rab McCulloch
DF
2
Kevin McKee
DF
3
Colin Miller
MF
4
Andy Millen
DF
5
Jim Weir
DF
6
Paul McKenzie
FW
7
Colin Harris
MF
8
Billy Reid
FW
9
George McCluskey
MF
10
Gary Clark
MF
11
Paul McDonald
Substitutes:
?
?
?
?
Manager:
Billy McLaren
Fir Park
Fir Park Stadium is a football stadium situated in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The stadium plays host to the home matches of Scottish Premier League club Motherwell.- History :...
in Motherwell
Motherwell
Motherwell is a town and former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, south east of Glasgow. The name "Moderwelt" appears on a map of Lanarkshire made by Timothy Pont some time between 1583 and 1611 and printed in the Netherlands in around 1652, although the settlement was probably little more...
and was the 2nd staging of the final in the history of the tournament. It was played between and The final was won by Hamilton who defeated Ayr 1–0, to win the tournament for the first time in their history.
Ayr United
Ayr United faced Dundee away from home in the first round with Ayr producing a 2–0 victory. The second round draw saw Ayr United travel to Ochilview Park
Ochilview Park
Ochilview Park is a football stadium in Stenhousemuir, Scotland. It is the home ground of Stenhousemuir who currently share it with local rivals East Stirlingshire.-History:...
to face Stenhousemuir, in another away game with United winning 2–0 for the second consecutive game to progress to the quarter-final. The reward for reaching the quarter-final the first home game of the tournament against Stranraer, who were defeated 2–0 to earn Ayr United their third 2–0 win and third clean sheet of the tournament. The semi-final opposition was Queen of the South, and a second home game at Somerset Park
Somerset Park
Somerset Park is a football stadium located in Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland.It has been the home of Ayr United since they were founded in 1910. Prior to that, it was the home ground of Ayr F.C.. It currently has a capacity of 10,185 of which 1,597 is seated, making it one of the largest capacity...
with Ayr United winning 3–2 to book a place in the Scottish Challenge Cup Final for the second time, since losing the 1990 final the year before.
Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical were drawn against Alloa Athletic in a home game at Douglas Park
Douglas Park
Douglas Park was a football stadium in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, the home ground of Hamilton Academical FC from 1888 to 1994.The stadium holds the record for Hamilton Academical's largest ever attendance, 28,690 people against Hearts in 1937...
in the first round which saw the team emerge 5–1 winners. The second round was game on the road against Partick Thistle with Accies producing a 2–1 victory to progress to the quarter-finals. Another away game of the tournament saw Hamilton travel to East Fife and win 3–2. The reward for reaching the semi-final was a final home game, with the opponents in the form of Raith Rovers. Hamilton Academical won 2–1 to book a place in the final for the first time.
Analysis
Both Ayr United and Hamilton Academical played two games each at their respective homes of Somerset ParkSomerset Park
Somerset Park is a football stadium located in Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland.It has been the home of Ayr United since they were founded in 1910. Prior to that, it was the home ground of Ayr F.C.. It currently has a capacity of 10,185 of which 1,597 is seated, making it one of the largest capacity...
and Douglas Park
Douglas Park
Douglas Park was a football stadium in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, the home ground of Hamilton Academical FC from 1888 to 1994.The stadium holds the record for Hamilton Academical's largest ever attendance, 28,690 people against Hearts in 1937...
, and two away games in the rounds preceding the final. Ayr United scored a total of nine goals and conceded only two before the final, compared with Hamilton Academical's twelve goals scored and five conceded. Ayr United kept a total of three clean sheets whilst Hamilton Academical kept none. This was the first appearance for Hamilton in the Scottish Challenge Cup Final, whereas Ayr United had been defeated in final of the previous season in the competition's inaugural year.
Match
Teams
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | Ayr United: | ||
| GK | 1 | David Purdie David Purdie David Purdie is a Scottish ex professional footballer who played for Ayr United and home town club Queen of the South. Purdie was a goalkeeper.-Playing career:... |
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| DF | 2 | David Kennedy |
|
| DF | 3 | Garry Agnew |
|
| DF | 4 |  Willie Furphy |
|
| DF | 5 | Nigel Howard |
|
| MF | 6 | Paul McLean Paul McLean (footballer) Paul McLean in a Scottish former footballer, who played for Queen's Park, Motherwell, Ayr United and Stranraer.- External links :*, www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com... |
|
| MF | 7 | Lee Gardner Lee Gardner (footballer) Lee Gardner is a Scottish former footballer, who played for Aberdeen, Oxford United, Ayr United, Meadowbank Thistle, Arbroath, Albion Rovers, Clydebank, Alloa, Brechin, Airdrieonians and Airdrie United.- External links :... |
|
| FW | 8 | Tommy Bryce Tommy Bryce Tommy Bryce is a Scottish former association football player. Bryce had a playing career spanning 21 seasons from 1980-81 with Scottish Football League clubs Kilmarnock, Stranraer, Queen of the South of Dumfries, Clydebank, Ayr United and Arbroath. Bryce also served as player-manager of Partick... |
|
| FW | 9 | Ally Graham Ally Graham Alistair Graham is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a striker.-Career:Graham began his professional career in 1986 with Clydebank, making three appearances for The Bankies, also playing a game on loan for Stenhousemuir... |
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| MF | 10 | Tommy Walker |
|
| FW | 11 | Mike Smith |
|
| Substitutes: | |||
| FW | 12 | Greg Shaw |
|
| ? | ? | ||
| Manager: | |||
| George Burley George Burley George Elder Burley is a Scottish football manager and former player and manager, formerly the manager of Crystal Palace Football Club. Burley had a professional career spanning 21 years as a player making 628 appearances and earning 11 Scotland caps... |
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Rab McCulloch Kevin McKeeKevin McKee
Kevin McKee is a Scottish former footballer, who played for Hibernian, Hamilton, Partick Thistle and Stenhousemuir in the Scottish Football League.- External links :*, www.ihibs.co.uk*, www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com...
Colin Miller Andy MillenAndy Millen
Andrew "Andy" Frank Millen is a Scottish ex-professional association footballer who is now assistant manager at Queen of the South.Millen played for Queen's Park after making his comeback at the age of 45...
Jim WeirJim Weir
James "Jim" McIntosh Weir is a Scottish former professional footballer who is currently the manager of Brechin City.-Playing career:...
Paul McKenzie Colin HarrisColin Harris
Colin Harris is a Scottish former professional association football player, who played for several clubs, most notably Raith Rovers, Hibernian and Hamilton Academical....
Billy ReidBilly Reid (football)
Billy Reid is a Scottish former footballer and is currently manager of Scottish First Division club Hamilton Academical.-Life and career:...
George McCluskeyGeorge McCluskey
George McKinley Cassidy McCluskey is a Scottish former association football player for clubs including Celtic and Leeds United. He finished as the top scorer in the Scottish Football League Premier Division in the 1981–82 season....
Gary Clark Paul McDonaldPaul McDonald (footballer)
Paul Thomas McDonald is a Scottish former football defender.After playing for a local boy's club in his hometown McDonald was spotted by Hamilton Academical and signed for the club in June 1986...
Billy McLarenBilly McLaren
Billy McLaren is a Scottish former association football player and manager.-Player:McLaren was something of a journeyman as a player, serving eight different Scottish league clubs. His longest service was to Dumfries club, Queen of the South...