The Ayrshire Cup was an annual

association football Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...

regional competition in Scotland. The cup competition was a knockout tournament between football clubs in the historic county of

Ayrshire Ayrshire ( gd, Siorrachd Inbhir Àir, ) is a historic county and registration county in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine and it borders the counties of ...

. The Ayrshire Cup was first held in 1877–78, with the first winners being

Mauchline Mauchline (; gd, Maghlinn) is a town and civil parish in East Ayrshire, Scotland. In the 2001 census Mauchline had a recorded population of 4,105. It is home to the National Burns Memorial. Location The town lies by the Glasgow and South West ...

. The competition was most recently held in the 1997–98 season, when it was won by

Kilmarnock Kilmarnock (, sco, Kilmaurnock; gd, Cill Mheàrnaig (IPA: ʰʲɪʎˈveaːɾnəkʲ, "Marnock's church") is a large town and former burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland and is the administrative centre of East Ayrshire, East Ayrshire Council. ...

. Although the Cup has not been competed for since, discussions have taken place between all the major participating clubs ( Ayr United,

Girvan Girvan ( gd, Inbhir Gharbhain, "mouth of the River Girvan") is a burgh and harbour town in Carrick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. Girvan is situated on the east coast of the Firth of Clyde, with a population of about 6,450. It lies south of Ay ...

and Kilmarnock) who have stated that they would welcome the return of the Ayrshire Cup.

Format

History

The first time the Ayrshire Cup was competed for was in 1877–78, with the first winners being

. 26 clubs entered the first year of the competition, consisting of

Catrine Catrine is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland which was formerly a centre of cotton manufacture. It has a population of around () Geography The village lies on the River Ayr which previously provided water power for local industry. It is in ...

, Largs Western, Beith Thistle, Dalry Rangers, Kilmarnock,

Kilbirnie Kilbirnie ( Gaelic: ''Cill Bhraonaigh'') is a small town of 7,280 (as of 2001) inhabitants situated in the Garnock Valley area of North Ayrshire, on the west coast of Scotland. It is around southwest of Glasgow and approximately from Paisl ...

, Ayr Academicals, Kilmarnock Cricket and Football Club, Kilmarnock Portland, Kilmarnock Dean, Kilmarnock Hawthorn, Kilmaur Floors, Irvine,

, Burnfoothill Ramblers, Maybole Carrick,

Tarbolton Tarbolton ( sco, Tarbowton) is a village in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is near Failford, Mauchline, Ayr, and Kilmarnock. The old Fail Monastery was nearby and Robert Burns connections are strong, including the Bachelors' Club museum. Meanin ...

Beith Beith is a small town in the Garnock Valley, North Ayrshire, Scotland approximately south-west of Glasgow. The town is situated on the crest of a hill and was known originally as the "''Hill o' Beith''" (hill of the birches) after its ''Court ...

, Maybole Ladywell,

Cumnock Cumnock ( Scottish Gaelic: ''Cumnag'') is a town and former civil parish located in East Ayrshire, Scotland. The town sits at the confluence of the Glaisnock Water and the Lugar Water. There are three neighbouring housing projects which lie ...

, Rankinston Mountaineers, Lanemark, Stewarton, Kilmarnock Star, Vale of Irvine,

Hurlford Hurlford (Scottish Gaelic: ''Baile Àtha Cliath'') is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It has a population of 4,968. Hurlford's former names include Whirlford and Hurdleford. The village was named Whirlford as a result of a ford crossing ...

. The number of entrants for the cup peaked prior to

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

at over 40, however by 1946 Ayr United and Kilmarnock were the only entrants. In 1978–79 Girvan joined the competition, however the last winner outside the 'big two' (being Ayr United and Kilmarnock) was

in 1926–27. Penalty shoot-outs were introduced in 1970–71.

Performance by club

Ayrshire Cup Finals

Key

Finals

Notes

Ayrshire Cups in other categories

''Ayrshire Cups'' continue to operate at Junior level – the region's clubs have a strong presence nationally, winning the

Scottish Junior Cup The Scottish Junior Cup is an annual football competition organised by the Scottish Junior Football Association. The competition has been held every year since the inception of the SJFA in 1886 and, as of the 2022–23 edition, 108 teams compet ...

on multiple occasions – and in the local amateur league. The Ayrshire Cup was last run in the 2017-18 season, with Kilwinning Rangers winning the last edition after defeating Largs Thistle.

References

{{Kilmarnock F.C. Football cup competitions in Scotland 1877 establishments in Scotland Football in South Ayrshire Recurring sporting events established in 1877 Ayr United F.C. Kilmarnock F.C. Defunct football cup competitions in Scotland Football in East Ayrshire