Glasgow Cup

Glasgow Cup - Kerrydale StreetA one time prestigious honour in Scottish football, the Glasgow Cup came in to existence in season 1887/88.

The tournament was organised by the Glasgow Football Association at a time when regional associations were powerful bodies in the game. Originally member club’s were resistant to the idea as they believed playing games against local sides would not be as lucrative as their regular friendly clashes with teams from England. However when the Scottish Football Association banned its members from competing in the English FA Cup clubs saw this regional tournament as a means to recoup lost earnings caused by the ban.

In season 1891-92 Celtic claimed the trophy for the first time with a 4-0 victory over Third Lanark. The Glasgow Cup became a keenly contested competition during the earliest decades of Celtic’s existence and was a tournament which attracted huge crowds and witnessed some classic matches – especially between Celtic and Rangers.

Even as relatively late as 1975 the tournament could attract crowds of 75,000 but in truth its prestige and appeal was significantly devalued after the end of World War II when a third national domestic competition – the League Cup – and then European football were added to football’s crowded calendar. Regional competitions – even for trophies as handsome as the Glasgow Cup – were now regarded as more of a hindrance. By the start of season 1989/90 the Glasgow Cup was revamped as a competition for youth teams.

The tournament undoubtedly provided many wonderful memories for Celtic supporters over the years though. Notable highlights include the 5-3 victory over Rangers in the 1955 final replay, Bobby Lennox’s hat-trick in the 4-0 rout of Rangers at Ibrox in August 1966 and the 8-0 thrashing of Clyde in the 1968 final. Celtic won 29 times.

As a youth competition…

  • 2008 Celtic 3 Rangers 1
  • 2009 Rangers 2 Celtic 1
  • 2010 Rangers 2 Celtic 1

Alex Thomson MedalReverse of Medal

Glasgow Cup