The 1877–78 Scottish Cup – officially the Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup – was the fifth season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. For the first time, over 100 teams took part in the competition which began with the first round on 22 September 1877. The cup was won by Vale of Leven for a second time after they defeated Glasgow club 3rd Lanark RV 1–0 in the final on 30 March 1878.
Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian were drawn to face each other in the first round in what would be the first competitive Edinburgh derby. Hibernian won 2–1 after a replay.
Calendar
The exact dates of some matches are unknown as newspaper coverage of football in the late 19th century was not as comprehensive as it would become.
RoundFirst match dateFixturesClubsOriginalByesReplaysFirst round22 September 18775543116 → 61Second round20 October 1877285561 → 34Third round10 November 1877162234 → 19Fourth round1 December 187791319 → 12Fifth round22 December 187760012 → 6Quarter-finals12 January 18783006 → 3Semi-finals9 March 18781123 → 2Final30 March 18781002 → 1
2 teams qualified for the second round after drawing their first round replay. 2 teams qualified for the third round after drawing their second round replay. 2 teams qualified for the fourth round after drawing their third round replay. Barrhead were disqualified after winning their fourth round match against Partick, due to discrepancies in their third round match against Renfrew. Both Renfrew and Partick were reinstated.
Teams All 116 teams entered the competition in the first round. AyrshireDunbartonshireGlasgow and SuburbsRenfrewshireAyr Academicals Ayr Thistle Beith Catrine Cumnock Dean Girvan Hurlford Kilbirnie Kilmarnock Kilmarnock Cricket and Football Club Kilmarnock Portland Mauchline Maybole Carrick Maybole Thistle St Andrew's Tarbolton Burntonians Vale of CalderAlclutha Alexandria Dumbarton Helensburgh Kilmaronock Thistle Lennox Milngavie Renton Renton Thistle Star of Leven Vale of Leven Vale of Leven Rovers Waverley 10th Dumbarton RVAilsa Albatross Alexandra Athletic Blackfriars Blythswood Caledonian Clyde Clydesdale Craig Park Dennistoun Derby Dumbreck Govan Havelock Hyde Park Locomotive Works John Elder Jordanhill Kelvinbank Lancefield Lenzie Northern Our Boys Oxford ParkgrovePartick Petershill Pollokshields Athletic Possilpark Queen's Park Queen's Park Juniors Ramblers Rangers Rosslyn Rovers Sandyford Shaftesbury South Western Stonefield Strathclyde Telegraphists Union West End Whiteinch Winton 1st Lanark RV 3rd Lanark RV 4th Renfrew RVArthurlie Barrhead Busby Glenkilloch Levern Morton Pollokshaws Port Glasgow Renfrew Thornliebank Wellington Park 17th Renfrew RV 23rd Renfrew RVEdinburghForfarshireGallowayLanarkshireStirlingshireEdinburgh Thistle Hanover Heart of Midlothian Hibernian Swifts 3rd Edinburgh RVDunfermline Dunmore St Clement'sQueen of the South Wanderers StranraerAirdrie Avondale Drumpellier Glengowan Hamilton Mount Vernon Newmains Shotts Stonelaw UddingstonClifton & Strathfillan Grasshoppers Shaugraun
First round Matches Glasgow and Suburbs Caledonian received a bye to the second round.
Renfrewshire district 17th Renfrew RV received a bye to the second round.
Lanarkshire district
Dunbartonshire district
Ayrshire district
Edinburgh district
Forfarshire district Dunmore received a bye to the second round.
Galloway district
Stirlingshire district Grasshoppers received a bye to the second round.
Replays Glasgow and Suburbs
Renfrewshire district
Lanarkshire district
Ayrshire district
Edinburgh district
Notes
Sources:
Second round Matches Ayrshire and Dumfriesshire district
Forfarshire district
Dunbartonshire district Renton Thistle received a bye to the third round.
Renfrewshire district Barrhead received a bye to the third round.
Edinburgh district Swifts received a bye to the third round.
Glasgow and Suburbs Stonefield received a bye to the third round.
Lanarkshire district Drumpellier received a bye to the third round.
Stirlingshire district
Replays Ayrshire and Dumfriesshire district
Dunbartonshire district
Edinburgh district
Glasgow and Suburbs
Notes
Sources:
Third round Matches Glasgow and Suburbs
Lanarkshire district
Renfrewshire district
Dunbartonshire district
Ayrshire district Kilbirnie received a bye to the fourth round.
Edinburgh district St. Clement's received a bye to the fourth round.
Replays Glasgow and Suburbs
Lanarkshire district
Renfrewshire district
Notes
Sources:
Fourth round Jordanhill received a bye to the fifth round.
Matches
Replays
Notes
Sources:
Fifth round
Matches
Replay
Sources:
Quarter-finals
Matches
Replays
Sources:
Semi-finals Vale of Leven received a bye to the final.
Match
Replay
Second Replay
Sources:
Final
See also 1877–78 in Scottish football
References
External links Season 1877-78 Vale of Leven [results list], The Beautiful Dribbling Game Scottish Cup 1877/78, RSSSF