| Event | 1996–97 Scottish Cup | ||||||
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| Date | 24 May 1997 | ||||||
| Venue | Ibrox Stadium,Glasgow | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Andy Gray | ||||||
| Referee | Hugh Dallas | ||||||
| Attendance | 48,953 | ||||||
←1996 1998 → | |||||||
The1997 Scottish Cup Final was the 112th final of theScottish Cup,Scottish football's most prestigious knockoutassociation football competition. The match took place atIbrox Stadium inGlasgow on 24 May 1997 and was contested byScottish Premier Division clubKilmarnock andScottish Division One clubFalkirk. It was Kilmarnock's eighthScottish Cup Final and Falkirk's third. The match was the first Scottish Cup final in forty years not to feature a club from one of Scotland's cities,Falkirk andKilmarnock being towns, the last coming when the same clubs previously met in the1957 final.[1]
As Premier and Division One clubs, both Kilmarnock and Falkirk entered the competition in the third round. Neither club won all four of their ties at the first attempt. Kilmarnock defeated three teams from the three tiers below the Premier Division before needing a replay to defeatDundee United in the semi-finals. Falkirk required two replays to reach the final. They defeated three Premier Division clubs and needed a replay to see off Division Two clubBerwick Rangers as well asCeltic in the semi-finals.
The match was Kilmarnock's eighth appearance in the final and Falkirk's third. Kilmarnock had previously won the final twice whilst Falkirk had won both of its previous final appearances. Falkirk's last appearance was in 1957 in a victory over Kilmarnock, whilst it was their first appearance in the final since 1960.
Kilmarnock won the match 1–0, the only goal coming fromPaul Wright in the 20th minute of the first half. With an assist fromKevin McGowne
| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Third round | East Stirlingshire | 2–0 |
| Fourth round | Clyde | 1–0 |
| Quarter-final | Greenock Morton | 5–2 |
| Semi-final | Dundee United | 0–0 |
| Semi-final replay | Dundee United | 1–0 |
As a Premier Division club, Kilmarnock entered the competition in the third round and were drawn against Division Three clubEast Stirlingshire who started in the second round. Kilmarnock won the tie 2–0 atRugby Park. In the fourth round the club was drawn away toClyde and produced a narrow 1–0 victory to progress to the quarter-finals.Morton was the opposition provided and Kilmarnock triumphed in a 7-goal thriller atCappielow, winning 5–2. In the semi-finals, Kilmarnock was drawn againstDundee United with the match played at the neutral venue ofEaster Road inEdinburgh. The match ended 0–0 with the replay a week later ending in a 1–0 victory for the Ayrshire club. Kilmarnock reached the final for the first time since 1960 when they were defeated byRangers.
| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Third round | Berwick Rangers | 1–1 |
| Third round replay | Berwick Rangers | 2–1 |
| Fourth round | Dunfermline Athletic | 2–1 |
| Quarter-final | Raith Rovers | 2–0 |
| Semi-final | Celtic | 1–1 |
| Semi-final replay | Celtic | 1–0 |
Along with Kilmarnock, Falkirk started the competition in the third round and were drawn againstBerwick Rangers at home. The clubs played out a 1–1 draw with the replay a week later resulting in a 2–1 victory for Falkirk to enter the next round. The club faced rivalsDunfermline Athletic atBrockville Park with the club winning 2–1. The quarter-final draw paired Falkirk with otherFife club,Raith Rovers. Falkirk won the tie to set up a semi-final clash withCeltic. The first tie was played atIbrox Stadium inGlasgow and ended in a 1–1 draw resulting in a replay. Falkirk emerged 1–0 winners in the replay at Ibrox, progressing to their first in forty years since defeating Kilmarnock in a repeat of the fixture in the 1957 competition.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Kilmarnock | ![]() ![]() Falkirk |
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Match officials
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