George Halley

Football history has countless coincidences with the FA Cup win enjoyed by George Halley on Saturday, April 25, 1914 a typical example.

He played in what was Burnley’s first, and so far only, win in an FA Cup Final as well as being a member of the league championship winning side of 1921.

Their opponents were Liverpool, who had never won the famous trophy.

This was the case until a certain Glenbuck man led the Merseysiders to their first win more than 50 years later ­— Bill Shankly was at the helm in 1965 when they beat Leeds in their third final.

Back to 1914, Burnley won the final 1-0 in the last final to be played at Crystal Palace in London.

In the heart of their midfield was George Halley who had played for The Cherries before signing for Kilmarnock in 1907.While at Kilmarnock he had represented The Scottish League in February 1910 against The English League.

From Rugby Park he went to Bradford Park Avenue, then Burnley where he made more than 150 appearances and scoring five goals.

He served with the Royal Engineers in World War I, with spells of duty in France.

Local rivals

As predicted in the preview, right, of the Cumnock and District Cup Final, a tight match was expected.

That turned out to be the case as Glenbuck Cherrypickers and Muirkirk Athletic fought out a 0-0 draw.

It was back to New Station Park in Cumnock for the replay which took place on the evening of Wednesday, June 3, 1914.

Such was the interest in the match that a special train ran from Muirkirk while the gate was £12.

What proved to be the winner, in fact the only goal of the match, was scored after 10 minutes by The Cherries’ striker Menzies.

Keeper Sandy Park looked to have saved the shot from a tight angle but the referee deemed that it had crossed the line.

Much debated ensued on and off the park but the match official’s word was final and the cup was coming back to Glenbuck on the special train where players of both sides would be served tea and snacks.

Glenbuck’s team was ­— Docherty; James Wallace, Bain, R Barr, G Wallace, James Davidson, D Barr, Whitefield, Menzies, John Davidson, A Davidson.

The teams were to meet again in the Mauchline Cup Final, but after another 0-0 draw it was decided to withhold playing the replay until the start of the following season.