MCLGA Inter-Club (5-Aside Matches)
(this page is under development)

.At the 1910 AGM, following practice in England, it was agreed unanimously to play inter-club matches in order to further the interests of the Association "by inducing new members to join, bring younger players forward and provide good practise". The President Mr Inglis Lindsay intimated he would present a Shield. Inter-club Matches (5-asides) were thus inaugurated in 1911 with clubs in Midlothian playing for the Lindsay Interclub Shield (President's Trophy). At the AGM in 1912 it was reported that the Interclub matches had been won by the Edinburgh Ladies Golf Club for the second year in succession. It was agreed that the existing rule "that no 'plus' players be allowed to play in inter club matches should be retained".

At the 1913 AGM it was reported that the Craigmillar Club was leading in the Inter-club matches, having only lost one match but, owing to a misunderstanding, Murrayfield and Baberton had not played home & home matches by the due date of October 31st. Unless Craigmillar objected, it was agreed that Murrayfield and Baberton should play their matches before December 31st. It was suggested that match results should only be inserted in the press if both teams agreed. This was not approved and all results would continue to be published.

MCLGA restarted in February 1920 after WWI. The intention was to restart the Inter-club matches in 1920, but this did not happen At AGM in November 1920 Club Secretaries to be asked to restart Inter-Club matches for 1921. In 1922 it was reported that Cramond Brig Ladies won had won the Lindsay Shield with 22 points out of 30.

From 19/11/1923 the Rules for Interclub Matches were:
1. The 7 regular members of the County Team are ineligible to play in Interclub matches, but any reserves may play.
2. Wins to count by number of individual wins not by matches
3. Every match must be played to a finish - no halved matches
4. If a club can raise a team of 3 players they are bound to play
5. All dates for matches to be sent to the Hon Sec.
6. No change of date is allowed unless with consent of both Club Secretaries, and the altered date to be submitted to the Hon. Sec
7. In the case of a walkover, the walkover to be given to the last player (no 5)

It would appear that 6 clubs competed for the Interclub between 1923 and 1925. In 1923 Murrayfield were the 5-aside winners with Craigmillar Park second. In 1924 Liberton won, with Craigmillar second. In 1924 Liberton won again, with Craigmillar second. Both Liberton and Cammo had had their top players promoted to the County Team and appeal went out to MCLGA members to try and get more players so that the Interclub matches might continue and be as successful as in the past. In 1925 the Interclub Shield was won by Liberton, after a tie with Craigmillar Park. Murrayfield scored the most points, but Murrayfield and Kingsknowe were disqualified owing to an infringement of the Rules. At the AGM it was agreed that all Interclub matches should start at one time, ie 2:30pm, no players to start later than 3pm.

In 1926 the Interclub Shield was again won by Liberton (7 clubs competing). The following amendments were made to the Rules
Rule 6.The acting captains of Interclub teams, may at the time of starting arrange to postpone a match owing to weather conditions. Such a change to be reported to the Hon Sec. as soon as possible
Rule 8. All players in interclub matches must start as nearly as possible one after the other
In 1927 the Interclub Shields was won by Liberton, with Craigmillar second.

In 1928 the following clubs (7) played in the Internclub Tournament: Cramond Brig, Craigmillar Park, Kingsknowe, Liberton, Murrayfield, Prestonfield & Royal Musselburgh. The final was played at Bruntsfield on 15th October, when Murrayfield beat Craigmillar Park 3/2. At the AGM it was agreed "that instead of playing Interclub matches in two divisions, in future all clubs shall play each other in one match yearly. A draw to be made the first year to decide home or away matches." It was agreed that individual wins should score. Baberton and Turnhouse would join the competition in 1929.

In 1929 the following clubs (9) played in the Interclub Tournament:- Baberton Cramond Brig, Craigmillar Park, Kingsknowe, Liberton, Murrayfield, Prestonfield, Royal Musselburgh & Turnhouse. Craigmillar Park won the Shield with 31 points, runners up were Liberton with 27 points. A proposal that Interclub matches be played under handicap was not approved.

In 1930, the following clubs (8) played in the Interclub matches: Dalmahoy, Craigmillar Park, Kingsknowe, Liberton, Murrayfield, Prestonfield, Royal Musselburgh & Turnhouse. Murrayfield & Liberton tied, each on 22 pts, tied for the Shield. Liberton won 4/1 in the play-off at Dalmahoy

In 1931 the following clubs (9) played: - Baberton, Dalmahoy, Craigmillar Park, Kingsknowe, Liberton, Murrayfield, Prestonfield, Royal Musselburgh & Turnhouse. Craigmillar Park won the Lindsay Shield with 34 pts, Murrayfield and Liberton were second with 31 pts. It was agreed that all the results of the Interclub Matches had to be sent to the Hon Sec. by October 1st. In 1932 the same 9 clubs played. Murrayfield and Dalmahoy tied for the Shield, both on 34 pts, On the play-off, at Prestonfield, Murrayfield won by 3/2.

During 1933-1935 ten clubs played in the Inter-Club Matches (Baberton, Craigmillar, Dalmahoy, Glencorse, Kingsknowe, Liberton, Murrayfield, Royal Musselburgh, Prestonfield, Turnhouse). (Results for 1933-1938 available here)

At 24/05/1933 the Rules for Interclub Matches were:-
1. The seven regular members of the County Team are ineligible to play in Interclub Matches, but any reserves may play.
2. Wins to count by number of individual wins, not by matches
3. Every match to be played to a finish, no halved matches
4. If a Club can raise a team of 3 players they are bound to play
5. The Acting Captain of Interclub Team may at time of starting arrange to postpone a match, owing to weather conditions
6. In the case of a walkover, the walkover to be given to the last player - no 5.
7. All players must start as nearly as possible one after the other
8. All the results of the Interclub matches must be sent to the Hon Secy by October 1st

Revisions 01/11/1935
3. Matches all square at the 18th to count as a half point each
6. All matches should start at same time - 2 pm and all players as nearly as possible one after each other.

Revision 06/05/1937 It was agreed to make a rule "In the event of a team playing out of handicap order, that team will be deemed to lose by 3 matches to 2, unless they have already lost the match, in which case the actual result will stand".

In 1936 Lothianburn joined making a total of 11 clubs. In 1938 the matches were played in two Divisions:- Division I - Craigmillar, Dalmahoy, Murrayfield, Royal Musselburgh, Prestonfield, Turnhouse; Division II - Baberton, Glencorse, Kingsknowe, Liberton Lothianburn. (Results for 1933-1938)

After World War II the records resume in 1947 (results to be published later) when 8 clubs competed: Baberton, Dalmahoy, Kingsknowe, Liberton, Lothianburn, Murrayfield, Prestonfield and Turnhouse. For 1948 and 1949 they were joined by Merchants of Edinburgh. Lothianburn dropped out in 1950, leaving 8 clubs to compete up to and including 1958 (The Ingliston club joined and competed for one year only in 1957.).

Numbers dropped again in 1959 with Baberton, Dalmahoy, Liberton, Merchants, Murrayfield and Prestonfield remaining in the the league. They were joined in 1961 by Craigmillar Park taking numbers back up to 7. Turnhouse rejoined again in 1970, but dropped out again in 1973. In 1978 Lothianburn and Ratho Park joined taking the number of teams up to 8. Turnhouse rejoined again in 1980 and Kingsknowe in 1982.

In 1987 the league was split into two divisions: Division I with Baberton, Craigmillar Park, Kingsknowe, Lothianburn, Merchants, Murrayfield and Prestonfield; Division II with Broomieknowe, Dalmahoy, Liberton, Ratho Park and Turnhouse. Thereafter at the end of each season the bottom two teams from Division I were demoted and the top two teams from Division II were promoted.

Other teams joined: Musselburgh in 1988; Harburn in 1990; Liberton in 1991; Glencorse in 1992 and there were then 8 teams in each Division.