The competition was initially known as the Edinburgh F.A. Cup. Hibernian won the Cup outright by winning it in three successive years from 1879 to 1881,[2] which meant that it was renamed the East of Scotland Shield.[3] It played a significant part in establishing Hibernian ("Hibs") and Heart of Midlothian ("Hearts") as the predominant football clubs in Edinburgh, as the 1878 Edinburgh Cup went to four replays and built interest in the two newly formed clubs.[4]
Hearts and Hibs, traditionally the strongest clubs in the area, contested most of the finals. Declining attendances meant that the competition was no longer contested after 1989–90 as an adult-level cup. It continued as a youth tournament and was revived in 2004 as an annual one-off match between Hearts and Hibs youth teams, acting as a fundraiser for the East of Scotland Football Association.
Trophy
A second trophy was commissioned in 1882 to the replace the original. The centrepiece of the Shield depicted a scene from the England v Scotland match at the Oval in 1875 that was published by Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News that year (and again in 1879). The only difference was they flipped the goal so it was on the right.[5]
After replay; Hibernian had beaten Heart of Midlothian at the first attempt but the match was declared null and void because Hibernian fielded an ineligible player.[12]
Competition played over two matches between Hibernian and Heart of Midlothian. Hibernian won 4–0 at Easter Road and the match at Tynecastle was drawn 1–1.
1918–19
Heart of Midlothian
3 – 1 agg
Hibernian
Competition played over two matches between Hibernian and Heart of Midlothian. Heart of Midlothian won the first game 2–1 at Tynecastle and the second game 1–0, also at Tynecastle.
1919–20
Heart of Midlothian
3–1
Hibernian
After replay
1920–21
Hibernian
1–0
Heart of Midlothian
1921–22
Hibernian
3–2
St Bernard's
1922–23
Hibernian
2–1
Heart of Midlothian
After replay
1923–24
Hibernian
2–1
Heart of Midlothian
After replay
1924–25
Hibernian
3–0
Leith Athletic
1925–26
Hibernian
2–1
Heart of Midlothian
1926–27
Heart of Midlothian
5–1
Hibernian
1927–28
Hibernian
2–1
Heart of Midlothian
After replay
1928–29
Hibernian
3–2
Heart of Midlothian
1929–30
Heart of Midlothian
1–1
Hibernian
After replay. Heart of Midlothian won 9–5 on corner kicks.
1930–31
Heart of Midlothian
5–4
Hibernian
1931–32
Heart of Midlothian
5–1
St Bernard's
1932–33
Heart of Midlothian
4–0
Hibernian
1933–34
Heart of Midlothian
4–0
Hibernian
1934–35
Hibernian
4–2
Heart of Midlothian
1935–36
Heart of Midlothian
3–1
St Bernard's
After replay
1936–37
Heart of Midlothian
6–2
Hibernian
1937–38
Hibernian
4–0
Heart of Midlothian
1938–39
Hibernian
3–1
Heart of Midlothian
1939–40
Heart of Midlothian
3–2
Hibernian
1940–41
No competition held
Heart of Midlothian withdrew.
1941–42
Heart of Midlothian
3–2
Hibernian
1942–43
Hibernian
3–2
Heart of Midlothian
After replay
1943–44
Heart of Midlothian
2–1
Hibernian
1944–45
Hibernian
3–1
Heart of Midlothian
1945–46
Heart of Midlothian
3–2
Hiberniano
1946–47
Hibernian
2–1
Heart of Midlothian
1947–48
Hibernian
3–0
Heart of Midlothian
1948–49
Hibernian
2–1
Heart of Midlothian
Final played on Tue 15 May 1951 Hibernian 2 Hearts 1[13]
Final played at Shielfield Park on 15 May 1984. Meadowbank beat Hibernian on penalties in the semi-final.
1984–85
No competition held
1985–86
Heart of Midlothian
2–1
Hibernian
1986–87
Hibernian
2–0
Heart of Midlothian
1987–88
Heart of Midlothian
5–1
Hibernian
1988–89
Heart of Midlothian
3–3
Hibernian
Heart of Midlothian won 4–3 on penalties
1989–90
Hibernian
0–0
Heart of Midlothian
Hibernian won on 9-8 penalties
1990–2000
?
?
?
Played intermittently between Hibs and Hearts at reserve, youth or schoolboy level: results of some matches unknown.
1990–91
Hibernian
3–0
Heart of Midlothian
U21s
1991–92
Hibernian
0–0
Heart of Midlothian
Reserve XIs Hibernian won 5-3 on penalties
1992–93
Heart of Midlothian
1–0
Hibernian
Reserve XIs
1993–94
Hibs
?
Hearts
Reserve XIs Final played on 4 May 1994 result unknown
1994–95
Heart of Midlothian
1–1
Hibernian
Reserve XIs Heart of Midlothian won on penalties
1995–96
Hibernian
1–0
Heart of Midlothian
Reserve XIs
1997–98
Heart of Midlothian
0–0
Hibernian
Reserve XIs Heart of Midlothian won 3-1 on penalties
2001–02
Heart of Midlothian
3-1
Hibernian
U21s played at Easter Road crowd 595. First year of revived competition, now played as a one-off match between de facto youth teams of Hibs and Hearts. Annually, the clubs reach an informal gentlemen's agreement regarding the specific age conditions for the fixture.
[16] The match was held-over due to scheduling issues, and ultimately played toward the end of the 2007–08 season.
2007–08
No competition. After being again held-over (as with playing the 2006–07 edition during 2007–08), the Shield was put back on schedule by declaring the 2007–08 edition unplayed – and holding the 2008–09 edition in its correct season.