The 1997 Scottish Cup Final was the 112th final of the Scottish Cup, Scottish football's most prestigious knockout association football competition. The match took place at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow on 24 May 1997 and was contested by Scottish Premier Division club Kilmarnock and Scottish Division One club Falkirk. It was Kilmarnock's eighth Scottish Cup Final and Falkirk's third. The match was the first Scottish Cup final in forty years not to feature a club from one of Scotland's cities, Falkirk and Kilmarnock being towns, the last coming when the same clubs previously met in the 1957 final.
As Premier and Division One clubs, both Kilmarnock and Falkirk entered the competition in the third round. Neither club won all four of their ties at the first attempt. Kilmarnock defeated three teams from the three tiers below the Premier Division before needing a replay to defeat Dundee United in the semi-finals. Falkirk required two replays to reach the final. They defeated three Premier Division clubs and needed a replay to see off Division Two club Berwick Rangers as well as Celtic in the semi-finals.
The match was Kilmarnock's eighth appearance in the final and Falkirk's third. Kilmarnock had previously won the final twice whilst Falkirk had won both of its previous final appearances. Falkirk's last appearance was in 1957 in a victory over Kilmarnock, whilst it was their first appearance in the final since 1960.
Kilmarnock won the match 1âÂÂ0, the only goal coming from Paul Wright in the 20th minute of the first half. With an assist from Kevin McGowne
As a Premier Division club, Kilmarnock entered the competition in the third round and were drawn against Division Three club East Stirlingshire who started in the second round. Kilmarnock won the tie 2âÂÂ0 at Rugby Park. In the fourth round the club was drawn away to Clyde and produced a narrow 1âÂÂ0 victory to progress to the quarter-finals. Morton was the opposition provided and Kilmarnock triumphed in a 7-goal thriller at Cappielow, winning 5âÂÂ2. In the semi-finals, Kilmarnock was drawn against Dundee United with the match played at the neutral venue of Easter Road in Edinburgh. The match ended 0âÂÂ0 with the replay a week later ending in a 1âÂÂ0 victory for the Ayrshire club. Kilmarnock reached the final for the first time since 1960 when they were defeated by Rangers.
Along with Kilmarnock, Falkirk started the competition in the third round and were drawn against Berwick Rangers at home. The clubs played out a 1âÂÂ1 draw with the replay a week later resulting in a 2âÂÂ1 victory for Falkirk to enter the next round. The club faced rivals Dunfermline Athletic at Brockville Park with the club winning 2âÂÂ1. The quarter-final draw paired Falkirk with other Fife club, Raith Rovers. Falkirk won the tie to set up a semi-final clash with Celtic. The first tie was played at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow and ended in a 1âÂÂ1 draw resulting in a replay. Falkirk emerged 1âÂÂ0 winners in the replay at Ibrox, progressing to their first in forty years since defeating Kilmarnock in a repeat of the fixture in the 1957 competition.