Bell's Cup Final 2005

CUP FINAL FACTS.

One of Sunday's finalists, St. Mirren, were involved in the record attendance in this competition. A crowd of 13,763 were in attendance as Saints lost 3-0 to Falkirk in the B&Q sponsored Final at Fir Park back in season 1993/94.

So far in this season's competition, there has been a total of 87 goals scored from 28 matches played at an average of 3.1 goals per game.

Only one hat-trick has been recorded to date in this season's competition. Steven Milne's treble helped St. Johnstone to a 5-1 Third Round victory against Raith Rovers. Indeed, Milne is the leading goalscorer in this season's competition with 4 goals.

In the 28 matches played in this competition to date, there have been 13 shut-outs. Sunday's finalists have enjoyed 5 shut-outs between them with Accies having recorded 3 clean sheets en route to Sunday's Final, whilst Saints have not conceded a goal in 2 of their ties.

The highest attendance to date in this season's competition was recorded at the Semi-Final tie between St. Mirren and Morton when a crowd of 7,007 saw Saints win a nerve jangling penalty shoot-out 4-2 after a goalless 120 minutes.

Three players have started all of St. Mirren's Bell's Cup ties this season – Andy Millen, Hugh Murray and Stewart Kean. Another three players have also appeared in all of Saints matches in this season's competition - Ian Maxwell, John Potter and Alan Reid have all started in three of the ties and made a further appearance from the substitute bench.

Hamilton meanwhile, have two players who have been ever present in all of Accies Bell's Cup ties en route to Sunday's Final – Steven Thomson and Brian Carrigan. In addition, a further three players have played in all of the New Douglas Park club's four Bell's Cup ties this season with Mark McLaughlin, Brown Ferguson and Marvyn Wilson having all appeared once as a substitute.

This will be the second consecutive season that Scott MacKenzie and Charlie Adam have been adversaries in the Final of this competition. MacKenzie came out on top on that occasion as Falkirk defeated Ross County two goals to one at McDiarmid Park. Adam last season was on loan to the Dingwall club from Rangers and similarly this season, Saints have signed the midfielder on a loan period from the Ibrox club.

Apart from the aforementioned Charlie Adam, Saints Player/Assistant Manager, Andy Millen, has played in two previous Finals in this competition and has enjoyed much more success. Ironically enough, he played for Sunday's opponents, Hamilton Academical, in their two successful victories in the B&Q sponsored competition during the early 90s. He played in Accies 1-0 victory over Ayr United at Fir Park back in season 1991/92 and was again successful the following season when Hamilton defeated Morton 3-2………....at the home of Sunday's opponents, St. Mirren!

On the other hand, Hamilton Academical have six players that have appeared in previous Finals in this competition over the years, with two players, namely Scott MacKenzie and John Robertson, having winners' medals. MacKenzie has three winners' medals, having played in the Falkirk team that defeated Queen of the South in the 1997/98 Final by 1 goal to nil and also played in last season's Final when the Bairns defeated Ross County 2-1. Although he did not play in Falkirk's 3-0 victory against St. Mirren in season 1993/94, he was a member of the squad and received a medal. Robertson has a winners' medal from his time with Stranraer when he came on as a substitute in the Stair Park club's 1-0 victory over St. Johnstone in season 1996/97. In addition, David McEwan, Steven Thomson, Marvyn Wilson and Derek Fleming have runners-up medals with various clubs in this competition.

Accies' Player/Assistant Manager, Stuart Balmer, has tasted success in the English equivalent of this competition, having played in the Wigan Athletic team that defeated Millwall 1-0 in the Auto Windscreens Cup Final at Wembley back in season 1998/99.

The match referee on Sunday is Stuart Dougal and although this will be the first occasion that he has refereed the Final of this competition, he was the Fourth Official at the 1996/97 Challenge Cup Final when Stranraer defeated St. Johnstone by one goal to nil at Broadwood Stadium.

The current ground attendance record at the Excelsior Stadium was set shortly after it opened in 1998. A crowd of 8,762 saw Airdrieonians defeat Celtic 1-0 in a Third Round tie. The player that scored the only goal that knocked out the current holders of the competition at that time was…………..the current Hamilton Academical captain, Marvyn Wilson!

Hamilton Academical entered the record books by actually collecting THREE trophies in this competition although they have only won the competition twice! In season 1991/92, Accies defeated Ayr United 1-0 at Fir Park but the trophy was stolen and then replaced by the then sponsors of the competition, B&Q, before Accies went on to win the competition the following season 3-2 against Morton.

A father and son made Scottish football history by teaming up with the same club to win this trophy at Sunday's venue. Alloa Athletic boss, Terry Christie, and his son, Max, enjoyed victory in this competition when the Wasps defeated Inverness Caledonian Thistle 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out after the match had finished 4-4 after 120 minutes.