1951–52 Festival of Britain Cup
{{infobox football tournament season
| title = Festival of Britain Cup
| year = 1951–52
| country = Northern Ireland
| num_teams = 12
| defending_champions = Glentoran
| winners = {{nowrap|Ballymena United (1st win)}}
| second = Crusaders
| matches = 28
| goals = 109
| prev_season = 1950–51
| next_season = 1952–53
}}
The 1951–52 Festival of Britain Cup was the fourth edition of the Ulster Cup, a cup competition in Northern Irish football.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishleaguearchive.org/northern-ireland|title=Irish League Archive, Ulster Cup|publisher=Irish League Archive|accessdate=24 April 2023}} The tournament was renamed from the Ulster Cup for one season only as part of the Festival of Britain celebrations that were held that year.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishleaguearchive.org/northern-ireland|title=Irish League Archive, Festival of Britain Cup|publisher=Irish League Archive|accessdate=24 April 2023}}
Ballymena United won the tournament for the 1st time, defeating Crusaders 3–0 in the final.{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004162/19520517/128/0006|title=Ballymena 3, Crusaders 0|work=Ireland's Saturday Night|date=17 May 1952|page=6|url-access=subscription}}{{cite web|url=https://www.irishleaguearchive.org/festival-of-britain-cup|title=Festival Of Britain Cup Results|publisher=Irish League Archive|accessdate=24 April 2023}}
Group stage
=Section A=
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|show_limit=5
|res_col_header=Result
|winpoints=2
|use_goal_ratio=y
|team1=GLT|name_GLT=Glentoran
|team2=ARD|name_ARD=Ards
|team3=BAN|name_BAN=Bangor
|win_GLT=3|draw_GLT=0|loss_GLT=1|gf_GLT=11|ga_GLT=7
|win_ARD=2|draw_ARD=0|loss_ARD=2|gf_ARD=7|ga_ARD=5
|win_BAN=1|draw_BAN=0|loss_BAN=3|gf_BAN=5|ga_BAN=11
|col_A=#ccffcc|text_A=Advance to semi-final
|result1=A
|update=complete|source=[https://www.irishleaguearchive.org/festival-of-britain-cup-tables Irish League Archive]
}}
=Section B=
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|show_limit=5
|res_col_header=Result
|winpoints=2
|use_goal_ratio=y
|team1=BAL|name_BAL=Ballymena United
|team2=COL|name_COL=Coleraine
|team3=DER|name_DER=Derry City
|win_BAL=3|draw_BAL=0|loss_BAL=1|gf_BAL=14|ga_BAL=10
|win_COL=3|draw_COL=0|loss_COL=1|gf_COL=13|ga_COL=6
|win_DER=0|draw_DER=0|loss_DER=4|gf_DER=2|ga_DER=13
|col_A=#ccffcc|text_A=Advance to semi-final
|result1=A
|update=complete|source=[https://www.irishleaguearchive.org/festival-of-britain-cup-tables Irish League Archive]
}}
==Playoff==
=Section C=
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|show_limit=5
|res_col_header=Result
|winpoints=2
|use_goal_ratio=y
|team1=GLA|name_GLA=Glenavon
|team2=LIN|name_LIN=Linfield
|team3=POR|name_POR=Portadown
|win_GLA=3|draw_GLA=1|loss_GLA=0|gf_GLA=12|ga_GLA=2
|win_LIN=1|draw_LIN=1|loss_LIN=2|gf_LIN=2|ga_LIN=4
|win_POR=1|draw_POR=0|loss_POR=3|gf_POR=4|ga_POR=12
|col_A=#ccffcc|text_A=Advance to semi-final
|result1=A
|update=complete|source=[https://www.irishleaguearchive.org/festival-of-britain-cup-tables Irish League Archive]
}}
=Section D=
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|show_limit=5
|res_col_header=Result
|winpoints=2
|use_goal_ratio=y
|team1=CRU|name_CRU=Crusaders
|team2=CLI|name_CLI=Cliftonville
|team3=DIS|name_DIS=Distillery
|win_CRU=3|draw_CRU=0|loss_CRU=1|gf_CRU=12|ga_CRU=8
|win_CLI=2|draw_CLI=0|loss_CLI=2|gf_CLI=9|ga_CLI=9
|win_DIS=1|draw_DIS=0|loss_DIS=3|gf_DIS=6|ga_DIS=10
|col_A=#ccffcc|text_A=Advance to semi-final
|result1=A
|update=complete|source=[https://www.irishleaguearchive.org/festival-of-britain-cup-tables Irish League Archive]
}}
Semi-finals
{{OneLegStart}}
{{OneLegResult|Ballymena United||1–0|Glentoran}}
{{OneLegResult|Crusaders||1–21|Glenavon}}
{{end}}
1Glenavon were dismissed from the competition for fielding an ineligible player. Crusaders progressed to the final.
Final
{{football box
|date=17 May 1952
|time=
|team1=Ballymena United
|score=3–0
|aet=
|report=[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004162/19520517/128/0006 Report]
|team2=Crusaders
|goals1=Lyness {{goal}}{{goal}}
Walsh {{goal}}
|goals2=
|attendance=
|referee=H. Collinge (Sale)
}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.irishleaguearchive.org/trophy-winners Ulster Cup Winners]
{{Ulster Cup}}
{{1951–52 in Northern Ireland association football}}
{{Association football in Northern Ireland}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1951-52 Festival of Britain Cup}}