The competition is a knock-out tournament contested by the member clubs of the East of Scotland Football Association.
In 1886, the sportswear manufacturer and seller Percival King donated a cup to the Edinburgh Football Association.
[1] A modified version of this suggestion - that the tournament be open to all members of the Edinburgh Association, other than holders of district and charity cups - was accepted.
[5] Shamrock was duly disqualified, but rather than award the cup to Rovers, the East of Scotland FA selected Shamrock's beaten semi-final opponents - Gala Fairydean, also the Cup holders - to take its place; this "has not been received with enthusiasm in Peebles", on the basis that Fairydean had been eliminated fairly and squarely, and Rovers refused to play.
[8][9] Lochore Welfare lifted the trophy for the first time in 2022–23, with a 2–1 win over Dunipace at Whitburn's Central Park, having eliminated the holders in the second round.