Arbroath 36–0 Bon Accord in the Scottish Cup

Background. Bon Accord was a bona fide football club formed in 1884, distinct from the scratch team description often cited. Arbroath had a tougher warm-up match against Clyde on 5 September, losing 3-2, with some players also representing the Forfarshire FA select. Bon Accord had previously beaten Aberdeen Rovers 5-3 in February 1885.

Match Details. The match was played on 12 September 1885. Arbroath led 15–0 by half time and added 21 further goals in the second half. The Scottish Athletic Journal reported that the ball landed between the posts 41 times, with five of those disallowed, while other reports claim only four goals were chalked off. Referee Dave Stormont later claimed that a harder line with the Aberdeen team could have produced a 43–0 victory. Enthusiasts were seen with scoring sheet and pencil in hand, noting goals as one would score runs at a cricket match.

Record Status. Arbroath holds the world record for the largest winning margin in a senior football match. This record remains valid despite a 149-0 result in 2002 involving deliberate own goals, which is not considered a contested match. A 41-0 result in 2000 was not ratified as it was not in a professional competition.