The 1993 OVD Scottish Junior Cup Final
Tayport Violet FC, in 1926/27, was the last club from the town to play Junior Football until 1990/91 when a Tayport club once again joined the Scottish Junior Football Association.
From 1899 until Violet relinquished their Junior status in 1927, Tayport’s clubs had mixed fortunes in the Scottish Junior Cup, their best achievement being a 6th round tie in 1909.
However, in the modern era, it would take only a third season for the Junior newcomers to make their mark on the national stage. Wins against Cumbernauld United, Benburb, Aberdeen East End, Cumnock, Shettleston and a marathon 3 game quarter final versus local rivals Downfield had propelled Tayport into the semi-final of the 1992/93 competition
The semi-final win, a stunning 3-0 victory over cup favourites Auchinleck Talbot, created shock waves throughout Scottish football and put Tayport firmly on the Scottish football map.
Ayrshire’s Glenafton Athletic awaited Tayport in the final at Partick Thistle’s Firhill Stadium on Sunday 23rd May 1993.
Here we look at how Junior Football’s magazine the game!previewed the cup final and also some of the memorabilia generated by Tayport FC’s appearance in the 1993 Scottish Junior Cup Final, the first of six Scottish Junior Cup final appearances during the following 12 years.
TAYPORT’S 1993 SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP FINAL
Scottish Junior Football’s magazine of the day pre-viewed the match
As the excitement in the town mounted in the weeks before the Final, the FIFE HERALD produced a four page spread which is re-produced below
History records that Tayport lost that final 1-0 but in the succeeding 12 years, the club would contest another five Scottish Junior Cup Finals, winning three.
The following day, as the local Press reported, despite the defeat, the Tayport public was proud of its team’s efforts. This was ably demonstrated by the reception received on their return home from Glasgow on Sunday evening when an open top bus was led through the town by Tayport Instrumental Band.
The Cup Final had been finely balanced until, with 5 minutes remaining and extra time looming, Glenafton’s Johnny Miller scored what would be described as a ‘worldie’, the only goal of the game, to take the cup to Ayrshire.
SOME CUP FINAL TRIVIA
*The game was televised live by STV
*The official attendance was 5,061
*Tayport supporters took 14 buses, including two double-deckers, to the final at Partick Thistle’s Firhill Stadium
* Prior to the Final, Tayport FC received many cards and telegrams wishing them success, including from Fife and Tayside Junior clubs and their Associations, Dundee FC, Forfar Athletic FC, Arbroath FC, clubs beaten by Tayport on the road to the final, Madras RFC, local organisations, former players in China and South Africa and more.
Below are some documents relative to the organisation of the Final:
The teams list
The financial breakdown (1)
The financial breakdown (2)
Cost of Policing the Final
The Club thanks the fans in the FIFE HERALD
Correspondence
Amongst correspondence received after the Final is a letter of appreciation (below) received by the club from a notable resident of the town, Jim Rodger, the former Tayport FC player, local bookmaker and publican. Note the prescient comment in the 3rd paragraph
A few photographic memories of Cup Final day
Leading up to the Final the pubs, shops and businesses were decorated in the club’s red & white colours. Above is Cobbies Inn with familiar regulars at the bar being looked after by barman ‘Shadow’. Below is Pat Irvine’s newspaper shop window at the top of Nelson Street.
Impromptu make-up sessions at Canniepairt before getting on the buses for Glasgow
Arrival in Glasgow after the 85 miles journey to Partick Thistle’s Firhill Stadium
Above as the buses arrive, the supporters pile out and approach the stadium. Below the girls – and Tam Campbell – are a colourful sight. l-r Nikki Barnett, Kate Barnett, ?, Louise Gilmour, Maggie Gilmour and Grace Moore
…and some of the club’s amateur players are in good voice
The Big Match
Skipper Andy Sommerville with mascot Steven Archer leads out the Tayport players, followed by goalie Fraser Mann and to the right, team manager Davie Baikie. Below we see a colourful array of Tayport supporters
Semi-final hat-trick hero Hamish Mackay (centre) goes close to scoring with a header as Tayport attack the Glenafton goal
The homecoming
Fans applaud the team’s open top bus as it approaches the top of Castle Street to join up with Tayport Instrumental Band
Passing McKenzie’s in Castle Street and below, approaching market Square
The team bus ends its tour of the town at the Tayport Arms aka the Ponderosa (Pondy) where more supporters are waiting
Tayport F.C. Archive 