The preliminary rounds for the 1891–92 Scottish Cup took place between 5 September and 5 December 1891 to decide the 17 teams that would join the 15 exempt clubs in the first round. This was the first season to feature preliminary rounds following a change to the competition format from the previous 18 editions.
A total of 167 teams entered the preliminary rounds which were open to all members of the Scottish FA.
Following the creation of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) in 1873, membership swelled to 81 by 1876 and entrants to the Scottish Cup regularly exceeded 100 between 1877 and 1891. This, coupled with some heavily one-sided ties – including Arbroath's world-record 36–0 win against Bon Accord – prompted calls for a system of exemption for the leading clubs.[1] The formation of the Scottish Football League in 1890 created a sea change and allowed the leading clubs to bring forward a change to the competition format. At the SFA's annual general meeting on 12 May 1891, Mr Kennedy of Dumbarton proposed that the Scottish Cup be split into two parts; a preliminary stage and a final stage. This would see 16 clubs given an exemption from competing in the preliminary stage while the rest of the competition entrants would play-off for the 16 remaining places in the first round of the final stage. The resulting vote came down to the chairman's casting vote and he sided in favour of introducing the preliminary stages.[1][2]
Format
Alongside the four semi-finalists from the previous season, 12 further teams were voted to be exempt from competing in the preliminary rounds. The names of the remaining clubs were placed into lots according to their districts and drawn into pairs. The home team would be the first team drawn unless only one of the clubs in a pair had a private ground. In the event of a draw, the second team drawn would have the choice of ground for the replay. This process was repeated for the second and third preliminary rounds. All competing clubs were placed into a single lot for the fourth preliminary round.[3]
Linthouse, Ayr, Bridge of Allan, East Stirlingshire, Mid-Annandale, Dunblane, Broxburn Shamrock, St Bernard's and Kilmarnock Athletic received a bye to the first round.
^No team was eliminated in two ties which resulted in drawn replays and all four teams advanced.
^Cambuslang St Bride's scratched and Carrington advanced to the second preliminary round.
^Uddingston scratched and Kelvinside Athletic advanced to the second preliminary round.
^Summerton Athletic failed to appear for the tie on 5 September 1891 so Glengowan were granted a walkover to the second preliminary round.
^Fairfield scratched and Whifflet Shamrock advanced to the second preliminary round.
^United Abstainers scratched and Battlefield advanced to the second preliminary round.
^Maryhill scratched and Airdrieonians advanced to the second preliminary round.
^Maybole scratched and Mauchline advanced to the second preliminary round.
^Tillicoultry scratched and Falkirk advanced to the second preliminary round.
^Vale of Leven Wanderers scratched and Duntocher Harp advanced to the second preliminary round.
^Lochgelly United scratched and Broxburn Shamrock advanced to the second preliminary round.
^The Arbroath vs. Brechin match was abandoned after 87 due to crowd trouble. Following a protest by Arbroath, a replay was ordered.
^Lochgilphead scratched and Oban Rangers advanced to the second preliminary round.
^Caledonian scratched and Aberdeen advanced to the second preliminary round.
^Inverness Union scratched and Fort William advanced to the second preliminary round.
^Wick Rovers scratched and Inverness Thistle advanced to the second preliminary round.
^Rising Thistle scratched and Newton Stewart Athletic advanced to the second preliminary round.
^Newton Stewart scratched and Annan advanced to the second preliminary round.
^The East Stirlingshire vs. King's Park match was abandoned after 42 minutes following a blizzard.
^A protest by Campsie was upheld and a replay was ordered.
^Kelvinside Athletic scratched and Monkcastle advanced to the third preliminary round.
^Whifflet Shamrock scratched and Linthouse advanced to the third preliminary round.
^ abThe four teams involved in drawn replays – Cowlairs, Royal Albert, Kilmarnock Athletic and Stevenston Thistle – advanced to the third preliminary round.
^Fort William scratched and Inverness Thistle advanced to the third preliminary round.
^Selkirk scratched and 5th Kirkcudbright RV advanced to the third preliminary round.
^Newton Stewart Athletic scratched and Mid-Annandale advanced to the third preliminary round.
^Coupar Angus scratched and Dunblane advanced to the fourth preliminary round.
^Annan scratched and Mid-Annandale advanced to the fourth preliminary round.
^A protest by 5th Kirkcudbright RV was upheld and a replay was ordered.
References
^ abDavidson, Stewart (1995). The Scottish Qualifying Cup 1895–1995. Renfrew: Stewart Davidson.
^"Scottish Football Association Adjourned Annual Meeting". Dundee Courier: 4. 13 May 1891.
^ abScottish Football Association (1891). Scottish FA Annual 1891-92. Glasgow: Hay Nisbet & Co. pp. 27–28, 43. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
^"Scottish Football Association". The Scotsman: 3. 12 June 1891.
^"Scottish Football Association". Dundee Evening Telegraph: 4. 19 August 1891.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyMathers, Stewart (2017). The Beautiful Dribbling Game: The Scottish F.A. Challenge Cup in the 19th Century. Great Britain: Amazon. pp. 181–187, 320–323. ISBN978-0-9956998-0-9.
