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Remembering the Fairs Cup Over 30s Football Tournament 2002-2019

Remembering the Fairs Cup Over 30s Football Tournament 2002-2019

In 2002 a group of footballers in their thirties met in the upstairs room of Bridgeness Miners Welfare Club to see how they could help raise Bo’ness Fair funds.

They devised a football competition for those over the 30s involving former pupils of the town’s five primary schools, together with a team of “Incomers”.

Teams played for the Ian Reid Memorial Shield and the player of the tournament was awarded the Colin Duncan (“Toje”) Memorial Trophy, named after two great pals.

The initial Fairs Cup Over 30s Football Tournament was held on 16th June 2002 at Newtown Park, when St Mary’s A team defeated Deanburn A on penalties in the Final.

Former pupils of St Mary’s would go on to win the tournament a record five times.

 

In 2003 the tournament moved to Douglas Park to enable us to have more activities for families and supporters.

In 2009 the two teams from the Public faced each other in the Final.

In 2012 a women’s match was introduced with former pupils of Grange, St. Marys’ and Public representing Bo’ness East versus Bo’ness West, with pupils from Kinneil, Deanburn, and Incomers.

In 2018 a new refreshed format saw the five schools, and one team from Caledonian Produce, compete in a league format in two categories, over 25s, and Over 35s.

In the final tournament in 2019, the former pupils of the Deanburn Primary School were victorious in the Over 35s competition whilst Kinneil PS former pupils triumphed in the Over 25s competition.

The global pandemic in 2019 saw an end to the tournament but not before it had raised over £50K for the Fair over the years.

Thanks to all who contributed to making the Fairs Cup such a success over the years.

Alan Gow “the match reporter” you can read his previous stories from the years over on the Memories pages

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