November 1974: Selkirk win Qualifying Cup for the first time!
2nd November 1974 (First Leg)
Selkirk 2
St. Cuthbert Wanderers 1
Selkirk can be quite confident about making the long trip to Kirkcudbright on Saturday for the return Leg of this Scottish Qualifying Cup (South) Final. They defeated St, Cuthbert Wanderers by a single goal and, although there are still 90 minutes of football to go, they must be favourites to take the trophy. The game was tight, neither side wanting to give away any silly goals which might cost them dearly in the end. The experienced visitors had the offside trap perfected and several times, when on the attack, the Souter forwards were whistled up when they moved too quickly. But there was no chance of catching Selkirk offside when Brian McConnell put them in the lead. He accepted a good through ball from Dougie Davidson to hit the net with a rasping shot. This goal stirred St. Cuthbert’s into action and just a couple of minutes later Riddell moved well though the Selkirk defence to slam the ball home and put Selkirk back to where they started. Eventually it took a great solo run by Sandy Bell (pictured) to crack the curtain. Bell took on the whole St, Cuthbert’s defence, drew Dyer out, rounded him and then stroked the ball into the net for a great goal.
Teams:
Selkirk: McConnell, Colville, McFadzean, Bell, Rutherford, McLaren, Whitehead, Brown, B. McConnell, Davidson, Fairgrieve. Subs: Tait, Anderson.
St Cuthbert Wanderers: Dyer, Cooper, McKnight, Bryan, Roy, Taylor, McGowan, Gardiner, Riddell, Barbour, McDouglas, Sub: Kirkpatrick.
Referee: A.F.J. Webster, Falkirk.
9th November 1974 (Second Leg)
St. Cuthbert Wanderers 1
Selkirk 2
Selkirk made history at Kirkudbright when the defeated St. Cuthbert Wanderers to take the Scottish Qualifying Cup (South) for the first time ever. It was a tremendous display by Selkirk and the victory was followed by a week-end of celebrations and parties as the Ettrick Park men carried the trophy home in triumph. The 2-1 win in the second leg meant a 4-2 aggregate score.
Riddell at centre forward for St. Cuthbert’s was giving Selkirk Centre half Kenny Rutherford a hard time of it and he almost opened the scoring but was stopped by a tremendous double save from Dave McConnell. Saints suffered a bad blow 15 minutes into the second half when centre half Roy broke his leg while attempting to tackle Brian McConnell. Shortly afterwards McConnell opened the scoring when Dougie Davidson, deep in his own half worked a one-two with Ian Whitehead before taking on the defence himself. He squared to McConnell who tucked the ball away.
With 15 minutes to go the Souters got a shock when a ball, which should have been cleared, was fired home by McGowan to put his side back in the hunt. Selkirk weathered this spell and came back to score a second goal when Ian Whitehead accepted a through ball from McConnell to run through and shoot past the advancing Dyer. This goal sealed the game and the destiny of the cup. The result will be a day to remember in the long history of Selkirk football Club but their tremendous run in this tournament has not stopped yet, as they go through to the first round proper of the Scottish Cup where they will meet Second Division Montrose.
Teams:
St Cuthbert Wanderers: Dyer, Cooper, McKnight, Bryan, Roy, Taylor, McGowan, Gardiner, Riddell, McDowell, Roberson, Subs: Kirkpatrick, Barbour.
Selkirk: McConnell, Colville, McFadzean, Bell, Rutherford, McLaren, Whitehead, Brown, B. McConnell, Davidson, Fairgrieve. Subs: Tait, Anderson.
Referee: J.R. Grant, Larbert.
The Scottish Qualifying Cup (South) a brief early history:
In 1895 a national cup competition was launched in order to allow clubs which were members of the SFA, but did not participate in the national leagues to qualify for Scotland’s premier knock out competition- the Scottish Cup. Initially there was a nation-wide trophy with the four semi-finalists earning the right to enter the first round proper of the national cup. Leith Athletic and Bathgate were the most prolific champions, each winning the Qualifying cup on three occasions.
Between the years 1908 and 1913, the Qualifying cup was supplemented by the Consolation Cup, a competition for clubs which had been knocked out of the Qualifying Cup at an early stage. St Johnstone was to be the most fruitful entrant in this trophy appearing in three of the seven finals winning two in the process.
In 1930 the SFA decided that the Qualifying cup should become a regional competition and split the member clubs into those who would compete provincially for the North and South Cups. Selkirk was henceforth entitled to enter the Scottish Qualifying Cup (South). From 1950 to 1982 the final was always played over two home and away legs.