1875–76 Scottish Cup


The 1875–76 Scottish Cup – officially the Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup – was the third edition of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The number of entrants nearly doubled from the previous season with 49 teams included in the first round draw. The competition began on 2 October 1875 and concluded with the final replay on 18 March 1876. This was the first season that teams would change ends only at half time, the tradition of changing ends after a goal had been scored came to an end.
The cup was won for the third time by Queen's Park who defeated fellow Glasgow club 3rd Lanark RV 2–0 in the replayed final.

Format

As with the previous competitions, the third edition of the Scottish Cup took on the format of a traditional knockout tournament. For the earlier rounds, the names of competing teams were placed into lots according to their districts and drawn into pairs. The home team for each tie was determined by the toss of a coin unless it was mutually agreed or only one of the two clubs drawn against one another had a private ground. In the event of a draw, the team who lost the toss would have the choice of ground for the replay. A similar procedure was used for subsequent rounds however, any club which had received a bye in the previous round would first be drawn against one of the winners of the previous round. The names of winning teams were placed into one lot for later rounds. The choice of venue for the final matches was reserved to the Scottish Football Association.

Calendar

  • Six teams qualified for the second round after drawing their first round replays

Teams

All 49 teams entered the competition in the first round.

First round

Edinburgh district

Edinburgh Thistle received a bye to the second round.
DateHome teamScoreAway teamVenue
16 October 1875Heart of Midlothian0–03rd Edinburgh RVThe Meadows, Edinburgh

DateHome teamScoreAway teamVenue
23 October 18753rd Edinburgh RV0–0Heart of MidlothianThe Meadows, Edinburgh

Dunbartonshire district

DateHome teamScoreAway teamVenue
16 October 1875Dumbarton1–0LennoxLowmans Road, Dumbarton

Glasgow and Suburbs

DateHome teamScoreAway teamVenue
16 October 1875West End1–1PartickBurnbank Park, Glasgow
30 October 1875Western3–0CaledonianHolyrood Park, Glasgow

Renfrewshire district

DateHome teamScoreAway teamVenue
16 October 1875Sandyford0–023 Renfrew RVKelvinbank Park, Govan

Lanarkshire district

DateHome teamScoreAway teamVenue
16 October 1875Levern4–0ArthurlieWellington Park, Hurlet
23 October 1875Barrhead0–1DrumpellierBeacon's Field, Barrhead
23 October 1875Airdrie0–1HamiltonAcademy Park, Airdrie

Ayrshire district

Kilmarnock's 8–0 win over Ayr Eglinton set a new record for both the highest-scoring game and the biggest win in the competition.
DateHome teamScoreAway teamVenue
9 October 1875Kilmarnock8–0Ayr EglintonThe Grange, Kilmarnock
16 October 1875Kilbrinie1–0Ayr ThistleStonyholm Park, Kilbirnie
Ardrossanw/oMauchline

Sources:

Second round

Edinburgh district

DateHome teamScoreAway teamVenue
13 November 18753rd Edinburgh RV1–0Edinburgh ThistleEast Meadows, Edinburgh

Ayrshire district

DateHome teamScoreAway teamVenue
Mauchlinew/oKilbirnie

Glasgow and Suburbs

DateHome teamScoreAway teamVenue
13 November 1875Rangers1–23rd Lanark RVBurnbank Park, Glasgow

Renfrewshire district

Sources:

Third round

Sources:

Quarter-finals

Dumbarton received a bye to the semi-finals.
DateHome teamScoreAway teamVenue
18 December 1875Queen's Park2–0DumbreckHampden Park, Crosshill
18 December 1875Vale of Leven2–0RoversNorth Street Park, Alexandria
18 December 18753rd Lanark RV5–0WesternCathkin Park, Crosshill

Sources:

Semi-finals

DateHome teamScoreAway teamVenue
15 January 1876Dumbarton1–13rd Lanark RVLowmans Road, Dumbarton

DateHome teamScoreAway teamVenue
22 January 18763rd Lanark RV3–0DumbartonCathkin Park, Crosshill

Sources: