The 1953–54 Gold Cup was the 35th edition of the Gold Cup, a cup competition in Northern Irish football.[1]

1953–54 Gold Cup
Tournament details
Country Northern Ireland
Teams12
Defending championsPortadown
Final positions
ChampionsArds (1st win)
Runner-upDistillery
Tournament statistics
Matches played13
Goals scored42 (3.23 per match)

The tournament was won by Ards for the 1st time, defeating Distillery 2–1 in the final at Seaview.[2] Both the Ards manager George Eastham Sr. and his son George Eastham played in the final (with Eastham Sr. scoring).[3]

Results

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[4]

First round

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Team 1  Score  Team 2
Ards 5–4 Cliftonville
Bangor 1–2 Ballymena United
Glentoran 3–1 Glenavon
Linfield 0–0 Derry City
Distillery bye
Coleraine bye
Portadown bye
Crusaders bye

Replay

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Team 1  Score  Team 2
Derry City 0–0 Linfield

Second replay

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Team 1  Score  Team 2
Linfield 7–0 Derry City

Quarter-finals

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Team 1  Score  Team 2
Ballymena United 1–4 Glentoran
Distillery 1–0 Coleraine
Linfield 0–2 Ards
Portadown 1–0 Crusaders

Semi-finals

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Team 1  Score  Team 2
Ards 3–1 Portadown
Distillery 2–1 Glentoran

Final

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Ards2–1Distillery
Walker   50'
Eastham Sr.   65'
Report Johnson   18'
Referee: G. Gibson (Manchester)

References

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  1. ^ "Irish League Archive, Gold Cup". Irish League Archive. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Missed penalty was costly for Distillery". Ireland's Saturday Night. 15 May 1954. p. 8.
  3. ^ "Missed penalty was costly for Distillery". Cup Medals For Father And Son. 15 May 1954. p. 8.
  4. ^ "Gold Cup Results". Irish League Archive. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
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