Lanarkshire Cup

Weekend Tournament 1979-1985

The Lanarkshire Cup was a competition played in the post war era by Lanarkshire’s four senior football clubs – Airdrieonians , Albion Rovers , Hamilton Accies and Motherwell.

The tournament was a damp squib in the mid to late 1970s with games sporadically played and in many cases no final being played.

It was decided in 1979 to make the tournament a two day event pre season in August at one venue with each club hosting in rotation.

This was quite successful with each team playing two games in two days as a curtain raiser for the season and fans seeing two games each day. The exception being 1983.

This is a look at these two day tournaments.

1979 – Fir Park Motherwell (4th /5th August)

The fist semi final was fairly tame with First Division Hamilton Accies defeating Albion Rovers 2-0

The second semi final saw Motherwell who had been relegated from the Premier League play fellow First Division side Airdrieonians, in an incredible game saw Motherwell score first before Airdrie romped into a 4-1 lead. Motherwell fought back but Airdrie held out to win 4-3.

The 3rd / 4th playoff saw Motherwell beat Albion Rovers 2-0.

Airdrie opened the final with 2 early goals and looked to have the game won when they made it 3-0 before Accies staged a late comeback but the Broomfield side held out to win the cup 3-2.

1980 – Douglas Park , Hamilton (2nd / 3rd August)

Airdrieonians now in the Premier League beat Hamilton Accies in the first semi final 2-0 before Motherwell comfortably saw off Albion Rovers 4-1.

Hamilton Accies John Denney scored 4 goals as they beat Albion Rovers 5-2 to claim third spot.

Motherwell scored a spectacular opening goal in the final before Sandy Clark’s equaliser looked to have sent the game to extra time. Ian Clinging however won the cup for Motherwell 2-1 late in the 90mins.

1981 – Broomfield Park , Airdrie (1st/2nd August)

Second Division Albion Rovers came from a goal down to shock Hamilton Accies in the first semi final and reach the Final for the first time in the new format.

Airdrieonians and Motherwell failed to score during the 120mins of the second semi final and it was Motherwell keeper Hugh Sproat who was the penalty shoot out hero as Motherwell won 5-4 on pens.

Hamilton Accies finished third with a 4-2 win over the hosts Airdrieonians as the shocks continued.

The major shock however was reserved for the final where after a 1-1 draw Albion Rovers beat Motherwell 3-2 on pens.

Second Division Albion Rovers were the cup winners while Premier Division Airdrieonians finished 4th.

1982 – Cliftonhill , Coatbridge ( 7th / 8th August)

Airdrieonians had been relegated to the First Division and Motherwell promoted as Champions to the Premier League.

Airdrieonians drew 1-1 with Hamilton Accies in the first semi final but Accies won the penalty shoot out 4-3.

It was a fairly easy task for Motherwell under new manager Jock Wallace to beat the hosts Albion Rovers 2-0.

The competition organisers dispensed with the 3rd/4th place play off so the Sunday saw Hamilton Accies play Motherwell. Accies took an early lead and fans could hear Jock Wallace tear into his players at half time.

Motherwell improved in the second half and equalised to take the game to extra time where their superior fitness proved decisive as they went on to win 5-1 after extra time

1983 – Games played at home grounds in May with Airdrieonians beating Hamilton Accies 4-3 on pens after a 3-3 draw at Broomfield

1984 – Fir Park , Motherwell (4th Aug / 7th Aug)

The 1984 version saw all games played at Fir Park but after the Saturday semi final double header, the Final was played the following Tuesday.

Airdrieonians came from 2-1 down to Hamilton Accies to win 3-2, before Motherwell who had been relegated from the Premier League beat Albion Rovers 2-1.

The hosts then returned to win the trophy on the Tuesday evening beating Airdrieonians 3-1.

1985 – Douglas Park, Hamilton (3rd/6th August)

Airdrie opened the scoring after 17mins in the first semi final , but a Accies side who would go on to win the First Division came back to destroy their county neighbours 6-1.

It would take a 5-4 penalty shoot out triumph for Premier Division Motherwell to overcome Second Division Albion Rovers after a 1-1 draw.

After a 51 year wait Hamilton Accies finally got their hands on the Lanarkshire Cup the following Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Motherwell, with Gerry Phillips scoring as Motherwell’s Gary McAllister and Ali Mauchlen departed for Leicester City after the game.