2.5.16

The Edinburgh Cup

By my reckoning this competition (still played for today in the guise of the East of Scotland Shield) is the third oldest Association football cup tournament in the World. This despite the apparent slowness of the east of Scotland in taking to the game (Rugby was the favoured code).



Hibernian 1880


11.03.76
Third Edinburgh Rifle Volunteers
6
0
Thistle

3ERV became St Bernard’s in 1878.

1876–77
Thistle
Walk over
Third Edinburgh Rifle Volunteers

Revenge after a fashion for Thistle as 3ERV did not turn up.

20.04.78
Heart of Midlothian
3
2
Hibernian

This match required 4 replays to produce a winner, and is credited with cementing the popularity of both clubs.

1
09.02.78
Heart of Midlothian
0
0
Hibernian


2
16.02.78
Heart of Midlothian
1
1
Hibernian


3
23.02.78
Heart of Midlothian
1
1
Hibernian


4
06.04.78
Heart of Midlothian
1
1
Hibernian


5
20.04.78
Heart of Midlothian
3
2
Hibernian




29.03.79
Hibernian
2
0
Heart of Midlothian

Another replay, following a 1-1 draw (01.03.79) . 4,000 watched the first match, whereas the average attendance for the 5 matches the previous season had been 1200.

20.03.80
Hibernian
5
0
Dunfermline

Another replay, albeit in different circumstances. Hibernian won the original match (06.03.80) by 6 goals to 3. Dunfermline protested that crowd encroachment had affected the game so a rematch was ordered. Dunfermline were not connected with the present day Dunfermline Athletic

02.04.81
Hibernian
1
0
St Bernard’s

Hibernian were awarded the trophy in perpetuity having won it 3 times in succession.