Scottish Qualifying Cup
Encyclopedia
The Scottish Qualifying Cup was a football
competition played in Scotland
between 1895 and 2007. During that time, apart from a brief spell in the 1950s, it was the only way for non-league teams to qualify for the Scottish Cup
. The Qualifying Cup was open to all full member clubs of the Scottish Football Association
, who were not members of the Scottish Premier League
or Scottish Football League
. In June 2007 the Scottish Football Association
announced a new format for the Scottish Cup
from season 2007–08 that would allow all full member clubs direct entry into the competition and consequently the Qualifying Cup competition was scrapped.
more manageable and reduce the number of mis-matched ties in the early rounds. Until season 1930-31 it was played as a single national competition, although ties were often drawn on a geographical basis so that the final would often be between the best teams in the North and South. From 1931 there were separate competitions for the North and South, and additionally in 1946-47 and 1947-48 there was a Midlands competition. There was a brief hiatus for three season between 1954-55 to 1956-57 when all clubs were given direct entry into the Scottish Cup
and the Qualifying Cup was not contested.
The four teams which reached the semi-finals (last four) in each region qualified automatically for the Scottish Cup
. Hence, eight non-league teams qualified each year for the Scottish Cup
.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
competition played in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
between 1895 and 2007. During that time, apart from a brief spell in the 1950s, it was the only way for non-league teams to qualify for the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
. The Qualifying Cup was open to all full member clubs of the Scottish Football Association
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
, who were not members of the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
or Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
. In June 2007 the Scottish Football Association
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
announced a new format for the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
from season 2007–08 that would allow all full member clubs direct entry into the competition and consequently the Qualifying Cup competition was scrapped.
History
The Qualifying Cup was introduced in 1895 to make the number of entries into the main Scottish CupScottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
more manageable and reduce the number of mis-matched ties in the early rounds. Until season 1930-31 it was played as a single national competition, although ties were often drawn on a geographical basis so that the final would often be between the best teams in the North and South. From 1931 there were separate competitions for the North and South, and additionally in 1946-47 and 1947-48 there was a Midlands competition. There was a brief hiatus for three season between 1954-55 to 1956-57 when all clubs were given direct entry into the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
and the Qualifying Cup was not contested.
Structure
In its final form, the competition was divided into two sections; The Qualifying Cup (North) and Qualifying Cup (South). Teams played each other within the North/South regions in a knockout format where teams were drawn against each other randomly. In the draw, the team who was drawn first from each tie was the home team. If the first match finished a draw then a replay was played at the ground of the second team. In the replay, if the scores were still level, extra time was played and penalties used if necessary to decide the winner of the tie.The four teams which reached the semi-finals (last four) in each region qualified automatically for the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
. Hence, eight non-league teams qualified each year for the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
.
Eligible Clubs
The following clubs were eligible to play in the last competition in 2006–07.Scottish Qualifying Cup (North)
- 15 teams in membership of the Highland Football LeagueHighland Football LeagueThe Press & Journal Highland Football League is a league of football clubs operating not just in the Scottish Highlands, as the name may suggest, but also in the north-east lowlands...
- Brora RangersBrora Rangers F.C.Brora Rangers are a non-professional senior football club from the village of Brora, Sutherland, currently playing in Scotland's Highland Football League....
- Buckie ThistleBuckie Thistle F.C.Buckie Thistle are a senior football club based in the town of Buckie, Banffshire, who currently play in Scotland's Highland Football League. Founded in 1889, they are also known as The Jags and play their football at Victoria Park, in Buckie....
- ClachnacuddinClachnacuddin F.C.Clachnacuddin F.C. are a semi-professional senior football club from the city of Inverness who currently play in Scotland's Highland Football League. They have won the most League championships in the competition's history a total of 18 times overall. Their home ground is Grant Street Park in the...
- Cove RangersCove Rangers F.C.Cove Rangers are a senior Scottish football club currently playing in the Press & Journal Highland Football League. They are based in Cove Bay, a suburb of Aberdeen and play their football at Allan Park.The current managers are Kevin Tindal and Colin Milne....
- DeveronvaleDeveronvale F.C.Deveronvale F.C. are senior football club currently playing the Highland Football League in Scotland. They were founded in 1938 and play their football at the Princess Royal Park in the town of Banff, , Scotland. The club was formed in 1938 when Deveron Valley and Banff Rovers joined together...
- Forres MechanicsForres Mechanics F.C.Forres Mechanics Football Club are a senior Scottish football club currently playing in the Highland Football League. They were founded in 1884 and play at Mosset Park in Forres. Their nickname is the Can-Cans. The club is eligible to play in the Scottish Cup.The club were one of the founder...
- Fort WilliamFort William F.C.Fort William F.C. is a senior football team from Fort William, Lochaber, Scotland. They play in the Highland Football League and have been playing at that level since joining the league in 1985.- History :-Origins and the Early Years:...
- FraserburghFraserburgh F.C.Fraserburgh Football Club are a senior football club based in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. They currently play in the Highland Football League in Scotland. Being a Non-League team in Scottish Football, Fraserburgh are eligible to enter the Scottish Cup at the first round stage.-History:The club were...
- HuntlyHuntly F.C.Huntly F.C. are a senior football club currently playing in the Highland League in Scotland.They were founded in 1928 and play their football at Christie Park, Huntly....
- Inverurie Loco WorksInverurie Loco Works F.C.Inverurie Loco Works are a semi-professional senior football club from Inverurie who currently play in the Highland League in Scotland and were founded in 1903.-Recent history:...
- KeithKeith F.C.Keith F.C. are a senior football club who currently play in the Highland League in Scotland.They were founded in 1910 and play at Kynoch Park which is at the east end of the town..Keith are the football team of Keith in Banffshire, north-east Scotland...
- LossiemouthLossiemouth F.C.Lossiemouth F.C. are a senior football club from Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland. They play in the Highland Football League.Founded in 1945, they were admitted to the Highland League in the following year and have played in that league ever since. The club play their football at Grant Park...
- Nairn CountyNairn County F.C.Nairn County F.C. are a senior football club who currently play in the Highland Football League.They were founded in 1914 and play at Station Park, Nairn.As a senior team they can play in the Scottish Cup....
- RothesRothes F.C.Rothes F.C. are a senior football club who play in the Highland Football League.They were founded in 1938 and play their football at Mackessack Park in Rothes, a small town near Elgin in North East Scotland. They play in tangerine and black strips, colours that they inherited from Dundee United...
- Wick AcademyWick Academy F.C.Wick Academy F.C. are a senior football club founded in 1893, who currently play in the Highland Football League at Harmsworth Park. They represent the Caithness burgh of Wick, making them the most northerly club in the HFL....
- Brora Rangers
- Golspie SutherlandGolspie Sutherland F.C.Golspie Sutherland F.C. are a Scottish football club from Golspie, Sutherland, that competes in the North Caledonian Football League. As Golspie are associate members of the Scottish Football Association they are eligible to compete in the Scottish Cup...
of the North Caledonian LeagueNorth Caledonian Football LeagueThe North Caledonian Football League or North Caley is an amateur football league operating in the highlands of Scotland. Founded in 1896, the league has regularly contained a number of "A" or Reserve teams of Highland Football League clubs alongside local amateur teams...
Scottish Qualifying Cup (South)
- 13 teams in membership of the East of Scotland Football LeagueEast of Scotland Football LeagueThe East of Scotland Football League is a league of football teams from south-east Scotland formed in 1923. It is one of Scotland's three "senior" non-leagues which sit below the Scottish Football League , the other two being the Highland Football League and the South of Scotland Football League...
- Annan AthleticAnnan Athletic F.C.Annan Athletic Football Club are an association football club who compete in the Scottish Third Division. They are based in the town of Annan, Dumfries and Galloway...
- Civil Service StrollersCivil Service Strollers F.C.Civil Service Strollers Football Club are a senior non-league football team from Edinburgh, Scotland currently playing in the East of Scotland Football League....
- ColdstreamColdstream F.C.Coldstream Football Club are a Scottish football club from Coldstream in the Scottish Borders. The team plays in the East of Scotland Football League and home matches are played at Home Park. The team's strip is blue and white. The team was formed in 1895 ....
- Dalbeattie StarDalbeattie Star F.C.Dalbeattie Star F.C. are senior football club currently playing in the South of Scotland Football League. Founded in 1905, the club play their home matches at Islecroft Stadium, Dalbeattie....
- Edinburgh CityEdinburgh City F.C.Edinburgh City Football Club is a semi-professional senior Scottish football club, which plays in the East of Scotland Football League. The club is based at Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh. Edinburgh City was first formed in 1928 as an amateur club. It participated in the Scottish Football League...
- Edinburgh University
- Gala FairydeanGala Fairydean F.C.Gala Fairydean F.C. is a football club currently playing in Division 1 of the East of Scotland Football League.- History :Founded in 1907 as the result of a split in the Gala Fairydean Rovers club into Gala Fairydean and Gala Rovers, they play their home matches at the Netherdale ground in Galashiels...
- Hawick Royal AlbertHawick Royal Albert F.C.Hawick Royal Albert F.C. are a Senior football club based in Hawick, currently playing in the East of Scotland Football League.Founded in 1947 following a breakaway from Hawick Railway F.C., a number of players in these early “Albert” days were from the local Denholm Village team and they initially...
- Preston AthleticPreston Athletic F.C.Preston Athletic Football Club is a Scottish senior non-league football club based in the town of Prestonpans, East Lothian. They are members of the East of Scotland Football League and currently play in its Premier Division....
- SelkirkSelkirk F.C.Selkirk Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Selkirk. They are members of the East of Scotland Football League and currently play in the Premier Division.Their ground is Yarrow Park, Selkirk TD7 5AZ- History :...
- SpartansSpartans F.C.Spartans Football Club are a Scottish football club from Edinburgh. They are managed by Sam Lynch and Mickey Lawson. They were formed in 1951 by ex-players of Edinburgh University and the original intention was to field a team of graduates of the University, however they have players from...
- Vale of LeithenVale of Leithen F.C.Vale of Leithen FC is an association football club from the town of Innerleithen, Scotland. They play in the East of Scotland League, and their home games take place at the town's Victoria Park....
- Whitehill WelfareWhitehill Welfare F.C.Whitehill Welfare F.C. are a football club currently playing in the East of Scotland Football League. Founded in 1953, they play their home matches at Ferguson Park in the village of Rosewell....
- Annan Athletic
- The following clubs from the South of Scotland Football LeagueSouth of Scotland Football LeagueThe South of Scotland Football League is an amateur football competition based in the south of Scotland. Another earlier league of the same name briefly existed during the early days of competitive football...
- Newton StewartNewton Stewart F.C.Newton Stewart Football Club are a football club from the town of Newton Stewart in the Dumfries and Galloway area of Scotland. Formed in 1884, they are nicknamed the Creesiders because the town stands on the River Cree....
- St. Cuthbert WanderersSt. Cuthbert Wanderers F.C.Saint Cuthbert Wanderers Football Club are a football club from the town of Kirkcudbright in the Dumfries and Galloway region in south-west Scotland.-History:...
- Threave RoversThreave Rovers F.C.Threave Rovers Football Club is a football club from Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Formed in October 1953, the club plays its home games at Meadow Park, in Castle Douglas....
- Wigtown & BladnochWigtown & Bladnoch F.C.Wigtown & Bladnoch F.C. are a football club from the town of Wigtown in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland who play in the South of Scotland Football League....
- Newton Stewart
- Burntisland ShipyardBurntisland Shipyard Amateur F.C.Burntisland Shipyard Amateur Football Club is a Scottish football club based at the Recreation Ground in the town of Burntisland, Fife. It was formed from the Burntisland Shipbuilding Company's recreation fund, which had been established in 1919 by weekly subscription from the workers at the...
of the Kingdom Caledonian LeagueKingdom Caledonian Football LeagueThe Kingdom Caledonian Football League is a football league competition for amateur clubs in Fife, Scotland. The league was formed in 1984 and is fully affiliated with the Scottish Amateur Football Association.-League Members:... - GirvanGirvan F.C.Girvan Football Club are a Scottish football club, based in the town of Girvan, South Ayrshire. Nicknamed the Seasiders, they were formed in 1947, and play at Hamilton Park...
of the SJFA Western Region - Glasgow UniversityGlasgow University F.C.Glasgow University are a Scottish amateur football team based at the Garscube Sports Complex in Glasgow. They have participated in the Scottish Cup a few times in recent seasons, losing in the first round to Brechin City in 2004–05, Buckie Thistle in 2007–08. and Vale of Leithen in...
of the Caledonian LeagueCaledonian Amateur Football LeagueThe Caledonian Amateur Football League is a football league competition for amateur clubs in Scotland. It was formed in 1983 as an attempt to improve facilities for amateur teams, with high standards being set for admittance to the competition...