Scottish Football Championship Belt

Inspired by @UFWC_Football, this account will trace the history of Scottish football's "championship belt" from the first ever Scottish Cup match in 1873 right through to today. It's a big game of winner stays on - the only way to win the belt is to beat the current champions.

Game 5481: Celtic (C) v Rangers. This will be the 172nd meeting of these sides for our belt - Celtic 63 wins, Rangers 71 wins and 36 draws. Celtic have won 4 of the last 5 meetings in title matches - Rangers' only win in that period came almost exactly a year ago at Ibrox.

Game 5481: Celtic (C) v Rangers. Celtic as holders: P932 W636 D150 L146 Rangers as challengers: P313 W167 D58 L88 Celtic in title matches: P1236 W783 D219 L234 Rangers in title matches: P1500 W971 D276 L253

Game 5481: Celtic (C) v Rangers. Celtic's next defence of their belt comes against their city rivals, and also has huge implications for the league title. Their last meeting for the title belt was back in December, also at Parkhead, when Celtic won the belt thanks to a 2-1 win.

Game 5480: Celtic 3-0 Hearts (Prem, 04/05/2024). Celtic held on to the belt and also moved a step closer to a league title.

Game 5479: Celtic (C) v Heart of Midlothian. Celtic as holders: P931 W635 D150 L146 Hearts as challengers: P320 W100 D68 L152 Celtic in title matches: P1235 W782 D219 L234 Hearts in title matches: P663 W286 D125 L252

Game 5479: Celtic (C) v Hearts. Celtic will be hoping to defend their belt and also take another step closer to a league title. The last meeting in a belt match was just two months ago, when Hearts won it from Celtic thanks to a 2-0 win at Tynecastle.

Game 5478: Dundee 1-2 Celtic (Prem, 28/04/2024). Celtic retain the belt with a narrow victory at Dens Park. Next up is a home game against Hearts on Saturday.

Game 5478: Dundee v Celtic (C). Celtic as holders: P930 W634 D150 L146 Dundee as challengers: P250 W68 D42 L140 Celtic in title matches: P1234 W781 D219 L234 Dundee in title matches: P456 W150 D98 L208

Game 5478: Dundee v Celtic (C). These sides will meet in a title match for the second time this season - the other was back in February when Celtic beat Dundee 7-1 at Celtic Park. However, this is their first title meeting at Dens Park since April 2003, when the sides drew 1-1.

Game 5477: Aberdeen 3-3 Celtic [aet, 5-6 pens] (20/04/2024, Scottish Cup). Celtic take back the belt after a Scottish Cup classic at Hampden. It is just the 12th time a title match has gone to penalties - the last one was St Johnstone's Scottish Cup QF win at Ibrox in 2021.

Game 5477: Aberdeen (C) v Celtic. All Scottish Cup belt matches: #5260: Cel 3-0 Abdn (2018/19 - SF) #3677: Abdn 2-1 Cel [aet] (1983/84 - F) #3620: Abdn 1-0 Cel (1982/83 - SF) #2848: Cel 2-0 Abdn (1966/67 - F) #2045: Abdn 1-0 Cel (1949/50 - R3) #721: Cel 1-0 Abdn (1910/11 - SF)

Game 5477: Aberdeen (C) v Celtic. These sides have faced each other for the belt on 84 previous occasions. Celtic have 41 wins, Aberdeen have 22 wins and the other 21 have been drawn. The last Scottish Cup belt meeting came in the 2018/19 semi-final, Celtic winning 3-0.

Game 5477: Aberdeen (C) v Celtic. Aberdeen as holders: P327 W178 D62 L87 Celtic as challengers: P303 W147 D68 L88 Aberdeen in title matches: P620 W266 D146 L208 Celtic in title matches: P1233 W781 D218 L234

Game 5477: Aberdeen (C) v Celtic The belt will be contested at Hampden for the third time this season - the last time was the League Cup final which Aberdeen lost to Rangers. These sides last competed for the belt back in February - a 1-1 draw at Pittodrie saw Celtic retain it.

Game 5476: Aberdeen 0-0 Dundee (13/04/2024, Prem). Aberdeen keep the belt, and Dundee will have to console themselves with a top six spot. It's the first time there have been back-to-back 0-0 draws for the belt since September 2009 when Rangers drew with Motherwell & Killie.

Game 5476: Aberdeen v Dundee. Last 5 title games: #5063: Aberdeen 3-3 Dundee (17/01/2015, Prem) #4542: Aberdeen 3-3 Dundee (15/03/2003, SPL) #4537: Dundee 2-0 Aberdeen (22/02/2003, Sc Cup) #4471: Dundee 1-4 Aberdeen (29/09/2001, SPL) #4370: Aberdeen 1-2 Dundee (08/05/1999, SPL)

Game 5476: Aberdeen v Dundee. Aberdeen as holders: P326 W178 D61 L87 Dundee as challengers: P249 W68 D41 L140 Aberdeen in title matches: P619 W266 D145 L208 Dundee in title matches: P455 W150 D97 L208

Game 5476: Aberdeen (C) v Dundee. These sides have faced each other for the title on 36 previous occasions - Aberdeen 17 wins, Dundee 10 wins, 9 draws. Last two belt matches between these sides finished 3-3. Dundee aiming to win the belt for the first time since January 2019.

Game 5475: Livingston 0-0 Aberdeen (06/04/2024, Prem). Aberdeen hold on to the belt despite having a late winner ruled out by VAR. The next challengers will be Dundee, who visit Pittodrie next week.

Game 5475: Livingston v Aberdeen (C). Aberdeen as holders: P325 W178 D60 L87 Livingston as challengers: P62 W19 D10 L33 Livingston in title matches: P125 W48 D25 L52 Aberdeen in title matches: P618 W266 D144 L208