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.

Highland Amateur Cup
Founded1978 (1978)
RegionScottish Highlands
Current championsWick Groats
(4th title)
Most successful club(s)Pentland United
(8 titles)
Website

All teams affiliated to Highland Associations are eligible to enter - and therefore this competition covers one of the largest geographical areas for any district amateur cup competition.

Currently, the affiliated Associations to the Highland Amateur Cup are:

Shetland FA clubs are eligible to take part, but due to travel distances, have rarely entered the competition.

History

Pentland United are the most successful club, having won the competition eight times.

Western Isles teams

The 1984 tournament was the first time a team from the Western Isles was allowed to enter, and Ness' cup-run culminated in a 4–1 victory over Bishopmill Villa at Victoria Park, Dingwall. Ness have won the competition on three other occasions; 1991, 1992 and 1995.

Back, who also compete in the Lewis and Harris Football League, won the cup in 2004.

Lochs (2003 & 2005) and Point (1994) are the other Lewis and Harris Football League teams to have won the cup, while Stornoway Athletic have been runners-up on two occasions (1990 & 2003). Carloway also finished runners-up in 2014.

2007 Final

The 2007 final took place at Grant Street Park, Inverness on 18 August, between Avoch and Point. Avoch were competing in their 4th successive final, having beaten Lochs in the semi-final.[1] The match finished 5-0 to the team from the Black Isle.

2008 Final

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 F.C. 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.[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 grabbing the other. This was Avoch's fourth cup triumph in seven years.[6]

Past winners
Season Winner Score Runner-Up
1978Blackmuir2–0Thurso Pentland
1979South RonaldsaybeatHalkirk
1980 Thurso Pentlandbeat?
1981Thurso Pentland1–0Wick Groats
1982HalkirkbeatThurso Pentland
1983 Thurso Pentlandbeat?
1984Ness4–1Bishopmill Villa
1985 Halkirkbeat?
1986 Maryburghbeat?
1987Pentland United1–0Wick Groats
1988 Kirkwall Thorfinn2–1?
1989Dingwall Thistle2–1Halkirk
1990Maryburgh3–1Stornoway Athletic
1991Ness1–0Dingwall Thistle
1992Ness1–0Kirkwall Thorfinn
1993Pentland United6–2Southend
1994 PointbeatCromarty
1995Ness4–2Avoch
1996 Dingwall Thistlebeat?
1997Kirkwall Rovers4–2Contin
1998Pentland United3–1Inverness British Legion
1999ContinbeatPentland United
2000Pentland United4–0Cromarty
2001Wick Thistle2–1Avoch
2002Pentland United2–1Portree
2003Lochs3–2Stornoway Athletic
2004Back2–1Avoch
2005Lochs3–1Avoch
2006Avoch2–0Fortrose & Rosemarkie Union
2007Avoch5–0Point
2008Pentland United3–0Castletown
2009Kirkwall Thorfinn12–2Avoch
2010Pentland United1–0Golspie Stafford
2011Avoch5–1Back
2012Avoch4–0Wick Groats
2013Wick Groats1–0Kirkwall Thorfinn
2014Avoch2–1Carloway
2015Wick Groats3–1Avoch
2016Wick Groats10–0Kirkwall Thorfinn
2017Avoch2–1Staxigoe United
2018Pentland United2–1 (a.e.t.)Lerwick Spurs
2019Wick Groats1–0Avoch

1 Won on penalties

Performance by Club

This table features runner-up information, only where known.

As of after 2019
Club Wins Last win Runners-up Last final lost
Pentland United8201811999
Avoch6201772019
Wick Groats4201932012
Ness41995
Thurso Pentland3198321982
Kirkwall Thorfinn2200932016
Halkirk2198521989
Dingwall Thistle2199611991
Lochs220050—
Maryburgh21990
Back1200412011
Contin1199911997
Point1199412007
Wick Thistle12001
Kirkwall Rovers11997
South Ronaldsay11979
Blackmuir11978
Stornoway Athletic0—22003
Cromarty0—22000
Lerwick Spurs0—12018
Staxigoe United0—12017
Carloway0—12014
Golspie Stafford0—12010
Castletown0—12008
Fortrose & Rosemarkie Union0—12006
Portree0—12002
Inverness British Legion0—11998
Southend0—11993
Bishopmill Villa0—11984

References
  1. "Sport | Football | Avoch march on to final of Amateur Cup". Ross-shire Journal. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  2. "Pentland United F.C - 2008". Pentland United F.C. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  3. "Thorfinn Football Club - 2009 Highland Amateur Cup". Orkneycommunities.co.uk. 21 July 2010. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  4. "Home | Stafford's Highland Cup hopes thwarted by the woodwork". Northern Times. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  5. "Back lose Highland Amateur". Hebrides-news.com. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  6. "Sport | Football | There's no stopping Avoch!". Ross-shire Journal. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
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