Southern Counties Cup

The Southern Counties Cup is an association football cup competition for clubs in the historic counties of Dumfriesshire, Wigtownshire, and Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. The competition was founded in 1891.

Format The competition is a knock-out tournament contested by the member clubs of the Southern Counties Football Association, which was formed at the end of the 1890–91 season, with J. J. Cook of the 5th K.R.V. as initial president. The competition soon became the most prestigious competition in the region, supplanting the Churchill Cup.

Initial entrants

5th K.R.V. Annan Dalbeattie Dumfries St John's Garliestown Gladstonians Mid-Annandale Moffat Newton Stewart Athletic Queen of the South Wanderers Rising Thistle St Cuthbert's Wanderers Thornhill

History

The first competition, in 1891–92, was won by the 5th K.R.V., who beat Mid-Annandale 9–1 in the final. The score remains the highest margin of victory in the final. The two clubs had met in the final of the Churchill Cup two months before with the Mids winning 3–0; however, in the Southern Counties, one Mids player was sent off, three others walked off in sympathy, and the Volunteers scored three times from the penalty mark.

From 1898 there was also a Consolation Cup, for clubs eliminated before the final of the main competition. The last edition was in 1926–27, replaced by the short-lived South of Scotland Cup, the winners being awarded to Consolation Cup trophy.

The current (2023–24) holders are Caledonian Braves, who beat Dalbeattie Star 3–1 in the final at Galabank thanks to two late goals.

Finals (incomplete) YearWinner ScoreRunner-up1891–925th K.R.V.9–1Mid-Annandale1892–93Queen of the South Wanderers2–1Newton Stewart1893–945th K.R.V.4–1Queen of the South Wanderers1894–95Maxwelltown Thistle1–1, 3–25th K.R.V.1895–96St Cuthbert's Wanderers4–1Douglas Wanderers1896–976th G.R.V.8–0St Cuthbert's Wanderers1897–98Dumfries2–1Dumfries Hibernians1898–996th G.R.V.4–1Douglas Wanderers1899–1900Dumfries4–26th G.R.V.1900–01Dumfries4–36th G.R.V.1901–02Dumfries3–0Maxwelltown Volunteers1902–03Dumfries3–1Douglas Wanderers1903–04Nithsdale Wanderers4–1Vale of Dryfe1904–05Maxwelltown Volunteers2–16th G.R.V.1905–06Dumfries2–0Nithsdale Wanderers1906–07Nithsdale Wanderers1–0Douglas Wanderers1907–08Maxwelltown Volunteers5–1Dalbeattie Star1908–09Dalbeattie Star2–1Nithsdale Wanderers1909–10Dumfries1–0Nithsdale Wanderers1910–11Nithsdale Wanderers3–2Dumfries1912–13Solway Star3–3, 2–2, 1–0Dumfries1913–14Nithsdale Wanderers4–3Whithorn1924–255th K.O.S.B.2–1St Cuthbert's Wanderers1919–20Nithsdale Wanderers2–0St Cuthbert's Wanderers1920–21Queen of the South1–0Nithsdale Wanderers1921–22Nithsdale Wanderers2–2, 2–0Queen of the South2022–23Caledonian Braves3–1Dalbeattie Star2023–24Caledonian Braves7–0Newton Stewart

Wins by club

TeamWins First winLast win5th K.O.S.B.11914–15-5th K.R.V.31891–921896–97Annan Athletic51989–902010–11Bonnyton Thistle12018–19-Caledonian Braves22022–232023–24Creetown11984–85-Dalbeattie Star131908–092021–22Dumfries81897–981909–10Gretna12004–05-Greystone Rovers11957–58-Lincluden Swifts21977–781978–79Maxwelltown Thistle11894–95-Maxwelltown Volunteers21904–051907–08Newton Stewart61948–491983–84Nithsdale Wanderers101903–041945–46Queen of the South Wanderers11892–93-Queen of the South191920–212015–16St Cuthbert's Wanderers61895–962009–10Solway Star21912–131937–38Stranraer201925–261994–95Tarff Rovers61949–502001–02Threave Rovers61964–652007–08Whithorn11954–55-Wigtown & Bladnoch12013–14-

The most successful club in the Consolation Cup was the second Mid-Annandale club, with four wins between 1909–10 and 1922–23. The only other club which won the Consolation Cup without ever winning the Southern Counties Cup was Vale of Dryfe, which won the Consolation Cup in 1901–02 and 1902–03.

External links Results

References