The George Wilson Memorial Cup is a competition open to the reserve football teams of member clubs of the NIFL Premiership. Initially it was open to all members of the B Division, both "attached and unattached" (i.e. reserve sides and independent intermediate clubs), but since 1977–78 it has been limited to reserve sides only. It has not been played since 2019.

From the 2025-26 season the trophy has been awarded to the winners of the NIFL ChampionshipIconic George Wilson Cup returns for competitive action.

History Founded in the 1952–53 season in memory of Crusaders official, George Wilson the final has been traditionally held at Crusaders' home ground Seaview (with a few exceptions when matches have been held at Taylor's Avenue (Carrickfergus), Ballymena Showgrounds and Mourneview Park). Appropriately, the first winners were Crusaders Reserves.

The format has varied over the years between league format, straight knockout and group format.

Past winners

1952–53 Crusaders Reserves 1953–54 Linfield Swifts 1954–55 Coleraine Reserves 1955–56 Ballyclare Comrades 1956–57 Distillery II 1957–58 Ards II 1958–59 Larne 1959–60 Larne 1960–61 Ballyclare Comrades 1961–62 Linfield Swifts 1962–63 Ballyclare Comrades 1963–64 Glenavon Reserves 1964–65 Dundela 1965–66 Glentoran II 1966–67 Glentoran II 1967–68 Dundela 1968–69 Larne 1969–70 not played 1970–71 Larne 1971–72 Dundela 1972–73 Brantwood 1973–74 Dungannon Swifts 1974–75 Dundela 1975–76 Limavady United 1976–77 Banbridge Town F.C. 1977–78 Linfield SwiftsBelfast News Letter, Saturday 29 April 1978, p.12 1978–79 Larne Olympic 1979–80 Glentoran II 1980–81 Linfield Swifts 1981–82 Distillery II 1982–83 Ards II 1983–84 Linfield Swifts 1984–85 Linfield Swifts 1985–86 Coleraine Reserves 1986–87 Glentoran II 1987–88 Distillery II 1988–89 Linfield Swifts 1989–90 Ballymena United Reserves 1990–91 Ballymena United Reserves 1991–92 Coleraine Reserves 1992–93 Bangor Reserves 1993–94 Ballyclare Comrades Reserves 1994–95 Bangor Reserves 1995–96 Coleraine Reserves 1996–97 Portadown Reserves 1997–98 Bangor Reserves 1998–99 Linfield Swifts 1999–00 Cliftonville Olympic 2000–01 Glentoran II 2001–02 Glentoran II 2002–03 Glentoran II 2003–04 Dungannon Swifts Reserves 2004–05 Glentoran II 2005–06 Dungannon Swifts Reserves 2006–07 Crusaders Reserves 2007–08 Cliftonville Olympic 2008–09 Linfield Swifts 2009–10 Glentoran II 2010–11 Linfield Swifts 2011–12 Glentoran IIIFA Premiership 2012–13 Cliftonville Olympic 2013–14 Glentoran IINIFL 2014–15 Crusaders ReservesNIFL 2015–16 Cliftonville Olympic 2016–17 Cliftonville OlympicCliftonville FC 2017–18 Harland & Wolff Welders U20Northern Ireland Football League 2018–19 Knockbreda ReservesNorthern Ireland Football League 2019–20 not played due to coronavirus pandemic

Performance by club Team No. of wins Winning yearsGlentoran II 11 1965–66, 1966–67, 1979–80, 1986–87, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14 Linfield Swifts 10 1953–54, 1961–62, 1976–77, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1988–89, 1998–99, 2008–09, 2010–11 Cliftonville Olympic 5 1999–00, 2007–08, 2012–13, 2015–16, 2016–17Coleraine Reserves 4 1954–55, 1985–86, 1991–92, 1995–96Dundela 4 1964–65, 1967–68, 1971–72, 1974–75Larne 4 1958–59, 1959–60, 1968–69, 1970–71Ballyclare Comrades 3 1955–56, 1960–61, 1962–63Bangor Reserves 3 1992–93, 1994–95, 1997–98Crusaders Reserves 3 1952–53, 2006–07, 2014–15Distillery II 3 1956–57, 1981–82, 1987–88Ards II 2 1957–58, 1982–83Ballymena United Reserves 2 1989–90, 1990–91Dungannon Swifts Reserves 2 2003–04, 2005–06Larne Olympic 2 1977–78, 1978–79Ballyclare Comrades Reserves 1 1993–94Brantwood 1 1972–73Dungannon Swifts 1 1973–74Glenavon Reserves 1 1963–64Harland & Wolff Welders U20 1 2017–18Knockbreda Reserves 1 2018–19Limavady United 1 1975–76Portadown Reserves 1 1996–97

References Daily Mirror Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 2008-09 (Ed. Malcolm Brodie) Page 79 1996/97 George Wilson Cup Final Programme (Glenavon Reserves vs Portadown Reserves) Page 4

See also IFA Reserve League