Heathside return to scene of glory
Hampden heroes mark 30th anniversary of cup triumph
Heathside heroes are marching back to Hampden – 30 years after their greatest ever season.
The squad will return to the national stadium on Saturday to mark the anniversary of winning the Scottish Amateur Cup for the first time.
A bus will leave Ayr and the players will recreate their big day with a museum tour of Hampden before enjoying a buffet and refreshments in a Superbox.
Heathside grabbed the headlines on May 16, 1992 when goals from Jimmy McMillan and Tony McInally beat Viewfield Rovers 2-0 for their first national honour since being formed in 1971.
The Ayr team had started on the road to Hampden with a 1-0 win over Glenburn MW at Prestwick Oval and sealed their final place by beating High Blantyre 2-0 at Somerset Park in the semis.
The Hampden history makers were: Colin Hume; Bobby Gibson (captain), Robert Scullion, Julian Orr, Billy Speir; Tony McInally, Scott Laverty, Jimmy McMillan, Scott McIntosh; Chris Fleming, Tony McLaughlin. Subs: Gordon Smith, Darren Guthrie. Manager: Archie McPike and
assistant Scott Kelly.
Giants behind the scenes included club worthies John Somerville, Kerr Dickson, John Derwent and Billy Duthie.
That glory season saw Heathside do a clean sweep of the Ayrshire honours with their only blip being a 1-0 defeat to Bannockburn in the West of Scotland Cup.
It really was a golden era.
In season 92/93, they went all the way to the Scottish semis before losing 3-2 to Cardross Rock at Somerset Park.
In 93/94, they took revenge on Cardross when they beat them on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the final of the West.
Then in 94/95, Heathside returned to Hampden for the third time in four years to win the Scottish for the second time, beating Norton House 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in extra-time.
Sadly, Heathside folded in 2002 due to a lack of players.
After an absence, they reformed but have been out of the game since the onset of Covid.
Special thanks go to Tony McLaughlin, who was top scorer in 91/92, for organising the Hampden reunion.