It is natural to suppose that the Queen's Park, having taken such a deep interest in the foundation of the Scottish Football Association, and subscribed £5 towards procuring a cup to be competed for by Scottish clubs only, should put forth its best energies to win that cup in the first year of the Association and of the competition. The idea of instituting both was its own, borrowed from the Football Association, which, while eight years in existence, had only the preceding season, 1871-72 decided to have a cup competition. For this cup also, Queen's Park was one of the first competitors. Football was at the time in its extreme infancy, so far as the Northern Kingdom was concerned, and the Queen's Park club the guiding and controlling spirit of the game in Scotland. On looking over the list of clubs—sixteen in number—which took part in this first competition for the Scottish Gup, we find practically the names of all the clubs then in Scotland, with the exception of Rangers. The new game had its genesis in the West, and there also was Association football practised. The names of the sixteen clubs are: Queen's Park, Vale of Leven, Dumbarton, Renton, Kilmarnock, Eastern, Rovers, Blythswood, Western, Alexandria Athletic, Callander, Clydesdale, Granville, Dumbreck, 3rd Lanark, and Southern. Though the Rangers, consisting of a number of Garelochhead youths, had been banded into a club, and played on the Green in 1872, it was late in entering for the cup that first season. Hamilton Gymnasium, Airdrie, and Thistle, each opponents of Queen's Park, are also absent. The Queen's Park had to meet Dumbreck in the first round, and this tie was the first game played on first Hampden Park, and in it were worn, also for the first time, the famous black and white colours, which superseded the blue jersey of the preceding season. It was only to be expected that Queen's Park, who had "never lost a goal nor even a touch down"

in club matches, should win the cup on this occasion, defeating in turn Dumbreck, 7-0; Eastern, 1-0; Renton, 2-0; and Clydesdale, in the final, 2-0. Clydesdale had had a considerable accession of strength by the defection of R. Gardner, the great goalkeeper ; the brothers Wotherspoon, in the early part of 1874; and before this Fred. Anderson, and these desertions told a tale, when the Queen's Park and Clydesdale became again opponents in the fourth round of the cup competition of 1874 75. It took no fewer than three games before the Titwood combination was shaken off, the scores in the three ties being 0-0, 2-2, and 1-0. The Queen's Park gained the final from Renton by 3-0. Twenty-five clubs participated in the competition of that season, and forty-nine in that of 1875-76; therefore it is clear the Scottish Association had come to stay. It increased in numbers rapidly by the accession of clubs, and the Association itself grew in authority and usefulness. It now becomes evident from the narrowness of the majorities obtained by the Queen's Park in the ties of the second and third seasons of the competition, and also in ordinary games, that other clubs were prepared to contest its supremacy. Somehow Clydesdale and Queen's Park seemed fated to meet each season, and no love was lost between them. In the third round of the 1875-76 competition, Queen's Park put out Clydesdale by 2-0, after a stubborn fight. Dumbreck, beaten in the fourth by similar figures, did much better than in the first tie for the cup on Hampden in 1873. Vale of Leven, in the fifth round, stole the first goal Queen's Park had ever lost. For the third consecutive time the Queen's Park won the cup, defeating 3rd Lanark in the final by 2-0. Season 1876-77 was a fatal year for the Queen's Park, hitherto invincible at home. In it the club had to admit, for the first time, the supremacy of a home club—harder to bear probably than the English reverse by Wanderers in the previous season— Vale of Leven, an old and determined opponent since the days of the Recreation Ground, ousting Queen's Park from the cup competition in the fifth or semi-final round by 2-1. It was an unpleasant episode, especially in its after-results. This was the famous "crows' feet" game, as the Vale characterised the spike marks which the Queen's Park alleged it discovered on Hampden Park on the Tuesday after the tie, the epistolatory controversy over which led to the estrangement of the clubs for a couple of seasons. Vale of Leven won the cup that season for the first time, defeating Rangers by 3-2. In the following season, 1877-78, Queen's Park did not travel further than the third round, and even in that limited journey came up against Clydesdale in the second, the Titwood club succumbing by 2-0. 3rd Lanark had ample satisfaction in the third round for their overthrow in the final of two years before, as they disposed of Queen's Park by 1-0, and fell again in the final, Vale of Leven winning the cup on the second consecutive occasion by 1-0. Pre-eminence for the Queen's Park could, at this stage, no longer be claimed. Many other clubs had now reached the same level, and had obtained confidence in themselves. Not that the "premier club" had in any way deteriorated. The old science of the team was there, but it had now become an asset common to all clubs who possessed the skill, enthusiasm, and determination. Much of this levelling up was unquestionably due to the Scottish Cup competition. The issue at stake is greater than in club matches, the nervous tension often extreme; and some clubs excel others as cup-tie fighters, where coolness and confidence are two valuable assets in such games. The football enthusiast will rarely miss a cup tie, while his attendance at any ordinary match depends very much on the excitement he anticipates from it. The further a club progresses in the cup competition, the greater is its cash balance, and that is another important con- | sideration associated with such matches. While Queen's Park, each season, made substantial progress in the cup competition, it was baulked in its ambition, often at the eleventh hour. For instance, in 1878-79 it made a triumphal progress through the first five rounds (in the third it had a bye), and obtained twenty-four goals and lost none. Then it came up against Rangers, a tough and exciting battle going to the "Light Blues" by 1-0. In the final Rangers, dissatisfied with the decision of the umpires and referee in disallowing a second goal claimed by them—a claim disallowed also by the Association committee—refused to turn out again to meet Vale of Leven at Hampden Park, and the Vale were awarded the cup. In the competition of 1879-80 Queen's Park won the cup for the fourth time, defeating Thornliebank on Cathkin Park in the final by 3-0; all final ties had hitherto been decided on old Hampden. In the competition of that season the club gained fifty-three goals and lost five. In the very first round Rangers, the conquerors of the previous season, received a nasty knock from Queen's Park, who were the victors by 5-1. Dumbarton gave a lot of trouble in the semi-final, Queen's Park winning by 1-0. Both the finalists of 1880-81, Queen's Park and Dumbarton, had to face little opposition in the preliminary rounds. Queen's Park had really nothing to stop its way, yet had to win the final twice —both games were played on Kinning Park—as Dumbarton, defeated by 2-1, successfully protested on the ground of encroachment by the spectators. The committee were so incensed over the decision of the Scottish Association in the matter of the protest against Dumbarton that it was seriously considered, and actually moved by Mr. Thomas Lawrie at the annual general meeting in 1881, "That this meeting remit full power to the new committee, to withdraw from the competition for the Scottish Association football cup during next season, should they deem it judicious," in a very able and telling speech, in which he reviewed both sides of the question. Mr. C. Campbell, always ready to throw oil on troubled waters, carried an amendment by a large majority, "That the club remain in the cup ties." At this same meeting a sharp discussion arose over the words, " blundering and plundering,' used by the match secretary (Mr. A. Geake) in his report, wherein he referred to the action of the Scottish Football Association regarding the final tie with Dumbarton. The words were taken objection to by some members, who wished them deleted. Mr. Morton moved as an amendment " That the report be adopted in its entirety," which was carried by a large majority. The club felt very strongly over this matter. A statement appeared in the " Glasgow News," 5th December, 1881, to the effect that Dumbarton and Queen's Park would play no club match next season, and Mr. Geake was authorised to contradict this statement in a letter to the "Glasgow News," which contradiction appeared on 12th December. However, in September, 1882, when Mr. A. M'A. Kennedy, secretary of the Dumbarton club, wrote regarding matches, "after due consideration of the same, the committee decided that the Queen's Park honorary secretary should write Mr. Kennedy, stating their regret, that our respective match secretaries were unable to arrange fixtures for the ensuing season." There is a great difference between lability to arrange a fixture, and actual refusal. Thus was a breach opened which lasted two seasons, the story of which is told elsewhere. This was the fifth occasion the Queen's Park had won the cup, and a second series of three consecutive wins had to be recorded, as in both 1881-82, on Cathkin Park, the senior club was again successful in annexing the cup. Dumbarton was again the opponent. At this period the team that represented the Queen's Park was one of the best, if not the best, that had ever appeared on a football field. Certainly it helped much to uphold the honour of the black and white, and at a strenuous time accomplished many brave deeds. In 1881-82 the team scored sixty goals and lost six before the cup came into its possession, and had to meet Dumbarton twice—2 - 2 and 4 -1—before the county team succumbed. Dumbarton was a power in the land in those days, yet somehow, when it came to the final tie, luck deserted it, and only once in its history has it been able to have its name inscribed on the Scottish Cup, though it has fought out five final ties. In 1882-83 the only serious opponent Queen's Park had in the early ties was Rangers, who went out by 3-2, in the second round. Meeting Dumbarton again in the semi-final, the senior club went under by 3-1. After two games—2-2 and 2-1—Dumbarton won the cup for the first and only time in its history, Vale of Leven furnishing the opposition. The game was played on old Hampden Park.

The course of events went on smoothly for a few years between Vale of Leven and Queen's Park after the friction between the clubs, when another difficulty arose over the final tie for the Scottish Cup, which was to be decided at Cathkin Park, 23rd February, 1884. The clubs, however, were not at variance on any question, as it was a matter entirely between the Scottish Association and the Vale. The latter having team troubles, and not prepared to their satisfaction to play this important match against such a foe as the Queen's Park, applied to the Scottish Football Association for a post ponement, which was refused. Consequently the Vale took the management of affairs into their own hands, defied the Association, and declined to play on the date fixed. The Vale had some justification for not turning up to play this final on 23rd February, 1884, though their reasons could not be accepted as a general practice, else the Scottish Association would never get through the cup competition were clubs to play only when they considered they were fully represented. The Vale alleged their best players were on the injured list, and consequently the team could not turn out in full force. Forbes, their great back, certainly was, and three other members of the team were among the sick and injured. The Association justly refused their application for a postponement, and it was only after this refusal that the Vale communicated officially with the Queen's Park, and informed the club they would not play the tie on Saturday, and no reason whatever was given for taking this step. This was scarcely courteous. The Vale never requested the Queen's Park to oblige by putting back the tie. The Queen's Park came on Cathkin Park, with the umpires and referee appointed by the Association, and when the Vale did not put in an appearance the referee intimated that, so far as he was concerned, the match was theirs. 3rd Lanark filled the bill that afternoon, and lost by 4-0. At a special meeting of the Queen's Park on 26th February, 1884, Mr. Geake was instructed to write to the Association, claiming the tie and the cup. Some of the committee looked at the money aspect of the question, but sordid feelings of this kind never influenced the club, who were above considerations of gate-money. The, Queen's Park was awarded the cup by the Business Committee of the Association, and accepted it. There was an hour's debate at the meeting of the General Committee of the Scottish Football Association over the adoption of the minutes of the Business Committee, who had ordered the tie to go on. Mr. J. W. Mackay at length moved their adoption, Mr. R. Robinson seconding. An amendment, moved by Mr. Sutherland, seconded by Mr. A. Campbell (Dumbarton), to reject the minutes was defeated by seven votes to six—a very narrow majority, but sufficient. The Queen's Park, however, did not shirk the issue, and were quite willing, indeed anxious, to play the Vale of Leven. Mr. Thomas Lawrie, 4th March, 1884, moved at the Queen's Park committee meeting, "That in view of the unusual and in a sense unsatisfactory termination of the contest, that the match secretary be instructed to communicate with the Vale of Leven club, offering to play them an independent match, and expressing their willingness, with the permission of the Vale, to devote the proceeds to public charities," which was carried. As events had developed unpleasantly, the match committee thought it right to take up a more dignified attitude, and allowed the matter to drop, which did not quite please the major committee, who discussed adversely the action of the match committee fa not first consulting them before declining to carry out the instructions given them. Mr. Campbell thought the match committee had acted wisely, while Mr. R. Browne was of opinion the ruling of the committee should not have been departed from. These expressions of opinion ended the matter. It seems strange that Vale of Leven, in thus acting, had not profited by the fate of the Rangers in the Scottish final of 1878-79, which club, after playing a drawn game of one goal each with Vale of Leven, refused to meet the Vale again as ordered by the Scottish Committee, and Vale of Leven were awarded the cup. The Association Committee unanimously sustained this decision, resolving "That on account of the Rangers club having refused, and failed, to play the Vale of Leven, in accordance with the instructions of the committee of the Association, the cup be awarded to the Vale of Leven club." This precedent was disregarded by the Vale.

Battlefield now engross attention in the Scottish Cup competition, as in the competition of 1884-85, in a most sensational tie in the third round, that club defeated Queen's Park on Hampden Park by 3-2. The wholly unexpected had happened. It was scarcely possible, and many people were incredulous, when rumour reached the city that the Queen's Park had been ejected from the ties by these mere youths. Battlefield, however, had suffered few defeats that season, and their success was no fluke. Here for the first time Queen's Park decided to enter a protest against certain members of the Battlefield not being properly registered with the Scottish Association. There were irregularities in this respect, but the Association Committee did not consider them of sufficient importance to warrant the upsetting' of the result, so they dismissed the protest. Members of the Battlefield immediately after this victory gave substantial help to the Queen's Park when in stress for players, and in subsequent years became, as members of the Queen's Park, prominent players, one especially, William Sellar, filling the office of president of the club for three years. Battlefield reached the semi-final in this season, falling unexpectedly to Cambuslang by 3-1. Renton, another Dumbartonshire club, secured the. cup for the first time, beating Vale of Leven by 3-1 on Hampden Park. Any disappointment the Queen's Park may have met with that season, and it certainly was a bitter experience, was compensated for in season 1885-86, when luck attended the club in the drawings for the preliminary rounds. Not until the semi-final was any serious work necessary. Then 3rd Lanark were encountered, and worsted by 3-0. This was the famous snow semi-final, played 16th January, 1886. Snow and sleet came down from the regions above with steady persistency, and a high and piercingly cold wind swept over Cathkin Park. Conditions could not have been worse. Had the clubs acted with common sense, the tie should have been put off, and trust put in the wisdom of the Scottish Football Association to sanction their action. After ten minutes' play the teams held a consultation re adjournment, the Volunteers being already benumbed, and having now to face the storm. The crowd, however, began to demonstrate, and the game went on to half-time, the Queen's Park then standing 3-0 up, Christie scoring the first, and Somerville the other two. All were pinched with the extreme cold, and half frozen. When the teams reached the pavilion— Gillespie getting there under the shade of a friendly umbrella —proposal was made to stop the game, but while J. J. Gow, who captained the Queen's Park, was himself willing to stop, his team wanted the thing finished, as the Corinthians had to be played in London on the following Saturday. The "Third'' were unanimous to a man for stopping, as three of their team were benumbed with cold, and Thomson had to be given restoratives to get up the circulation. The Queen's Park, with three goals ahead, held out. The Volunteers wanted Mr. Aitken, of Johnstone, the referee, to rule, the weather conditions precluded further play. That gentleman had no objection, provided both clubs could agree on the point, not otherwise. Eight members of 3rd Lanark were willing to turn out. Ultimately the club lodged a protest against the weather, and declined to play further. The Queen's Park team went on the field, kicked the ball through the goal, and the referee had no alternative but to award the tie to Queen's Park—a decision subsequently confirmed by the Association. This termination was unfortunate, and tested the patience of a drenched and frozen crowd, who hooted their indignation outside the pavilion. There were no hot baths in club-houses in those days, and the cruel experience of both teams might have had serious consequences to themselves from a health point of view.

Renton, the holders, did not fare much better in the final than the Volunteers, as Queen's Park had a 3-1 victory. A great game it was, witnessed by 10,000, on a wet and disagreeable afternoon, at Cathkin Park, 13th February, 1886. Little incidents connected with the game were freely criticised after it was all over. Renton claimed that the second goal taken by Queen's Park was off-side. Hamilton centered the ball, Christie played it, and Harrower, who was in front of Christie, put it through. Were there three Renton men between Harrower and the goal?—a point over which there was great difference of opinion. The Queen's Park said "Yes." Renton, as strongly, "No." The officials also said " Yes." The Queen's Park, on the other hand, maintained the first goal scored by Renton should not have been allowed, as Kelso sent the ball through from a free kick without touching a player on either side. Opinions again differed, but the officials sided with Renton. A third matter in dispute was that Renton had been allowed a corner kick, after an exciting maul, out of which Gillespie crept over the line. The officials gave a kick from goal. However, the result of the game would not have been affected, even had the Queen's Park not been allowed their second goal, as there was no doubt about the other two. The Queen's Park now had its name again on the cup, only to lose the trophy in 1886-87, Dumbarton turning up trumps in the semi-final, after a hard game, by 2-1. Hibernians were the ultimate winners, making their debut as cupholders, Dumbarton succumbing in the final, also by 2-1, on Hampden Park. Another run, in 1887-88, by the Queen's Park to the fatal semi-final was checked at this stage by Renton, who not only disposed of the premier club in that round by 3-1, but also won the much-coveted trophy from Cambuslang, on Hampden, by 6-1. In 1888-89 3rd Lanark appear as Scottish Cup holders for the first time. The Volunteers had a substantial victory over Queen's Park in the third round by 4-2, after a protested game of 2-1. Celtic, formed in 1888, were defeated by the Volunteers in the final by 2-1, at Hampden, after another protested game —not bad for a first essay. This was the famous "snow" final. The clubs decided to play a friendly match without the authority of the referee, the Volunteers winning by 3-0. A protest followed, and the game was replayed. When Queen's Park secured the cup for the ninth time, in season 1889-90, it had by no means an easy passage through the ties. In the first round, Celtic, then in its second year of usefulness, stood up manfully to the seniors, though, so far as playing experience is concerned, the Celts were quite the matured article, having gathered together the best players of older clubs, and produced a team of all the talents, which became at once a force in Scottish football. This force had reached the final the previous year, and now was prepared to contest the opening round with Queen's Park. A stiff and determined struggle it proved, and the survivor did not press into the next round until two games had been played, neither scoring in the first, and Queen's Park winning the second game by the narrow majority of 2-1. The Queen's Park obtained thirty-two goals and lost one in the following three rounds. Then St. Mirren proved the stiff obstacle-won by only 1-0. Leith Athletic came next—gained 1 - 0; and then Abercorn, who lost by only 2-1. The final lay between the old firms, Queen's Park and Vale of Leven, who met at Ibrox Park, and the games—there had to be two played before a decision was obtained—were worthy the occasion, and the clubs. After a draw of 1-1, Queen's Park got through by 2-1. Pretty hard fighting this, but no club was exempt from similar experiences in the Scottish ties. Thus, in season 1890-91, Queen's Park and 3rd Lanark had to meet thrice—1-1, 2-2, 4-1—in the sixth round before the Volunteers passed through, to meet, and be beaten by, Heart of Midlothian in the semi-final by 4-1, the Hearts gaining the custody of the cup for the first time by overthrowing Dumbarton in the final, at Hampden, by 1-0.

In 1891-92 the Scottish Association divided the cup competition into preliminary and final stages, and exempted sixteen of the principal clubs, including Queen's Park, from the preliminary ties. Our Boys declined the honour of exemption. The sixteen survivors of the preliminary were drawn, along with the sixteen exempts, and formed the final stage of the competition. In the third round of this final stage Dumbarton disputed the right of the Queen's Park to proceed further, and so determinedly that the first game was drawn (2-2), and the second won by the Queen's Park (4-1). Renton took up where Dumbarton left off, with the same experience, a draw (1-1) and a victory for Queen's Park by 3-0. In the final, Celtic and Queen's Park were dissatisfied with the conditions at Ibrox Park, though the Celts were in the majority of 1-0 at its finish, and both clubs lodged protests with the Association, who granted their Petitions, and fixed the replay for 9th April, 1892, when Celtic at last secured the cup, after several disappointments, by the respectable majority of 5-1. The grave question of professionalism had engrossed the attention of the Scottish Football Association for several years, and its efforts to check the evil had failed. The Football Association long before had taken the professional clubs to its bosom, in their own interests, and the Scottish Association, seeing the ranks of clubs under its jurisdiction depleted, was forced to legislate for. and recognise professionalism in 1893. The Scottish League had its birth in season 1890-91, and Queen's Park were left outside this bund. The issue before the Queen's Park became now a most serious one. It decided, without hesitation, not to abandon its ideals, and would stand or fall under the amateur banner. It was a determination which might have meant the absolute ruin of the club, yet for ten whole years it stood outside the League, until 1900-01, when it decided to join that body in the hope of better fortunes, holding fast, however, to its amateur principles. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that the following season saw its tenth, and last cup victory, when it wrested the laurels from Celtic, the chief apostle of the League system, at Ibrox, by 2-1. Queen's Park has only once since appeared in a Scottish final, and that was in 1899-1900, when Celtic were the victors, at Ibrox, by 4-3. In the interval between 1893 and 1900, Queen's Park never got beyond the third round of the final stage, and twice, in 1894-95 and 1896-97, fell respectively, in the first round, to Celtic, 4-1, and to St. Bernards, 2-1, St. Bernards also defeating Queen's Park, in the third round, 1895-96, by 3-2. Beaten by Heart of Midlothian, 2-1, in the second round, in 1900-01, it fell to Hibernians, 7-1, in the third round, in 1901-02; to Motherwell, 2-1, first round, 1902-03; to Dundee, 3-0, first round, 1903-04; Aberdeen, 2-1, first round, 1904-05; Airdrieonians, 2-1, second round, 1905-06 ; got as far as the, fourth round in 1906-07, beating Arbroath (after draw—1-1) 4-1, 3rd Lanark 3-1, and Renton 4-1, respectively, in the three preceding ties, Heart of Midlothian finally stopping its way by 1-0. In 1907-08, St. Bernards had the better of Queen's Park in the first round, after three games had been played—1-1, 1-1, 1-0. In 1908-09, Rangers disposed of Queen's Park in the third round, 1-0. This was the year in which a serious riot took place. A disorderly crowd, disappointed that Celtic and Rangers did not play an extra half;, hour after a second drawn game, wrecked Hampden Park. In 1909-10, Clyde settled the chances of the Queen's Park in the third round, after three meetings—2-2, 2-2, 2-1; and in 1910-11, Clyde, in the second round, beat Queen's Park, 4-1. It is a rather undignified position to find Queen's Park relegated to the Qualifying stage in season 1911-12. Not being one of the exempts, it was forced to compete for the Qualifying Cup, and with very poor success, as in the second round Motherwell put the amateurs out by 5-1. We find Queen's Park back again in the final stage, and one of the exempts in season 1912-13, and, after a bye in the first round, it put out Dundee Hibernians in the second, 4-2, only to submit to Clyde in the third, 1-0. The last competition for the Scottish Cup proper, prior to the Armistice, took place in 1913-14, when Queen's Park occupied a better position in the ties, reaching the fourth round, in which Hibernians were the conquerors by 3-1. Though the Qualifying Cup competition was carried through in 1914-15, the Scottish Association decided not to proceed with the final stages for the challenge cup, and no further competitions took place until 1919-20. Celtic were the last winners of the Scottish Cup, which lay in commission during the war. As in the Scottish Cup competition, so in the Scottish League competition, the Queen's Park just failed to win its games. Its defeats were never by large majorities. It did not exactly win, as was to be expected, where pure and unadulterated amateurs compete with professionals—men who devote all their spare time to training, are paid high wages, and are under a severe discipline. The Queen's Park holds the championship for drawn games in the League, and as a drawing power at the gates the club is an invaluable asset. The great bulk of the public sympathise with it, are proud of its stand for amateurism, understand its difficulties, and when it meets with success, are lavish in its praise. This was fully demonstrated in the year of grace 1918, when, blessed with a splendid team, it met with great success, winding up a most satisfactory season with a total of thirty-four points, or one point per match, and occupying seventh place on the League table. Further, for the first time since it joined the League in 1900-01, it had a majority of goals, even though it is only a bare majority—sixty-four goals won and sixty-three lost. Opponents will say its success is due to the fact that the best professional players had gone to the war. So have the best amateur players, and no Scottish club has suffered more in this respect than the Queen's Park, whose Roll of Honour speaks for itself. The club had to disband its Victoria and Hampden Elevens during the war, and rely solely on the Strollers and the schools for recruits. The club has done well, and its managers deserve the congratulations of every lover of football on the invaluable services rendered, as valuable in its way as those of the early pioneers, who, in 18G7, founded the club, and introduced and fostered Association football in Scotland.

The following is a list of the positions Queen's Park occupied in the Scottish Gup ties since the commencement of the competition :—