George Wilson Cup

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George Wilson Cup
Organising bodyIrish Football Association
Founded1953
Abolished2019
RegionNorthern Ireland
Last championsKnockbreda Reserves (2018–19)
Most successful club(s)Glentoran II (11 titles)

The George Wilson Memorial Cup is a competition open to the reserve football teams of member clubs of the NIFL Premiership. Initially it was open to all members of the B Division, both "attached and unattached" (i.e. reserve sides and independent intermediate clubs), but since 1977–78 it has been limited to reserve sides only. It has not been played since 2019.

History[edit]

Founded in the 1952–53 season in memory of Crusaders official, George Wilson the final has been traditionally held at Crusaders' home ground Seaview (with a few exceptions when matches have been held at Taylor's Avenue (Carrickfergus), Ballymena Showgrounds and Mourneview Park). Appropriately, the first winners were Crusaders Reserves.

The format has varied over the years between league format, straight knock-out and group format.

Past winners[edit]

Performance by club[edit]

Team No. of wins Winning years
Glentoran II 11 1965–66, 1966–67, 1979–80, 1986–87, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14
Linfield Swifts 10 1953–54, 1961–62, 1976–77, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1988–89, 1998–99, 2008–09, 2010–11
Cliftonville Olympic 5 1999–00, 2007–08, 2012–13, 2015–16, 2016–17
Coleraine Reserves 4 1954–55, 1985–86, 1991–92, 1995–96
Dundela 4 1964–65, 1967–68, 1971–72, 1974–75
Larne 4 1958–59, 1959–60, 1968–69, 1970–71
Ballyclare Comrades 3 1955–56, 1960–61, 1962–63
Bangor Reserves 3 1992–93, 1994–95, 1997–98
Crusaders Reserves 3 1952–53, 2006–07, 2014–15
Distillery II 3 1956–57, 1981–82, 1987–88
Ards II 2 1957–58, 1982–83
Ballymena United Reserves 2 1989–90, 1990–91
Dungannon Swifts Reserves 2 2003–04, 2005–06
Larne Olympic 2 1977–78, 1978–79
Ballyclare Comrades Reserves 1 1993–94
Brantwood 1 1972–73
Dungannon Swifts 1 1973–74
Glenavon Reserves 1 1963–64
Harland & Wolff Welders U20 1 2017–18
Knockbreda Reserves 1 2018–19
Limavady United 1 1975–76
Portadown Reserves 1 1996–97

References[edit]

  • Daily Mirror Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 2008-09 (Ed. Malcolm Brodie) Page 79
  • 1996/97 George Wilson Cup Final Programme (Glenavon Reserves vs Portadown Reserves) Page 4

See also[edit]