Trophy Article Series: NWCFL First Division Champions
Wed 18th September 2019 | General | By Stewart Taylor
This trophy shows a design which can be described as elegant with clean lines showing nothing of the elaborate detail which, as we have seen, is a major feature of trophies designed and manufactured in the Victorian era. From this simple description we can have a good stab at when this trophy was made – post Second World War perhaps?
And, indeed, we would be correct in that the trophy is hallmarked for London in 1953 and manufactured by the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company of Regent Street, London.
We are into the very highest end of the jewellery and silversmiths trades with this one as the next couple of paragraphs will demonstrate.
This large business of retail jewellers and silversmiths was established in 1880 at 112 Regent Street. The original partners were William Gibson and John Lawrence Langman. Following the absorption in 1893 of the Goldsmiths' Alliance Ltd, the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co was converted into a limited liability company. In 1952 the company was amalgamated with Garrard & Co.
The date on the trophy hence has some interest in that it is the year after this amalgamation with Garrard & Co. The name Garrard is synonymous with the highest quality of work as jewellers, dealers in precious stones, silversmiths, electroplaters and watch and clock makers and has been connected to the royal family for many years. The company currently holds a Royal Warrant as Jewellers, Goldsmiths and Silversmiths, appointed by HRH The Prince of Wales.
This just goes to show yet again that the trophies which were commissioned by both the Lancashire Combination and the Cheshire County Football League were sourced from the finest makers and were of the highest quality. It is our privilege to be custodians of these trophies and to see them used on an annual basis.
The inscription reveals this trophy to have been originally the Cheshire County Football League Division 2 League Championship Trophy and, as with other Cheshire County League trophies passed into the hands of the NWCFL in 1982.
The records of the Cheshire County Football League indicate that a Division 2 was established as late as 1978 and lasted until the League was disbanded at the end of the 1981/82 season. Just four winners of this trophy during that time being Bootle, Prescot Town, Accrington Stanley and Congleton Town.
So, not for the first time, we see a gap in the history of a trophy in that the date mark is 1953 but the competition for which is was awarded can be traced back to 1978. Perhaps someone out there knows what this trophy was used for between 1953 and 1978? If so, please let us know.
What we might call the “second tier” of the NWCFL has seen a couple of changes since the inception of the League. From the inaugural season of 1982/83, the second tier was called Division 2 until 2008/09. Then with the re-branding of the First Division as the Premier Division, what was Division 2 became Division 1. The winners of this trophy during this period are again a reflection of the varying fortunes of clubs playing in the NWCFL. We see clubs which have gone on to higher levels in the football pyramid e.g. Fleetwood Town and Ashton United, alongside clubs who no longer ply their trade on a football field such as Oldham Town and Haslingden.
The most recent change at First Division level came for the start of the 2018/19 season when two Leagues operating at Step 6 in the National League System were formed, namely the NWCFL First Division North and South. In order to find one winner to be presented with this rather stylish trophy at the end of the season, it was necessary to introduce a First Division North Champions v. First Division South Champions match.
This match was played at AFC Darwen on April 30th 2019 with First Division South Champions, Rylands, taking the trophy after a 3-0 victory over First Division North Champions Longridge Town – both clubs having won their respective divisions at the end of their first seasons in the NWCFL. A fine achievement with both clubs being promoted to the NWCFL Premier Division for season 2019/20.
Trophy Article Series: NWCFL First Division Champions
Wed 18th September 2019 | General
By Stewart Taylor
This trophy shows a design which can be described as elegant with clean lines showing nothing of the elaborate detail which, as we have seen, is a major feature of trophies designed and manufactured in the Victorian era. From this simple description we can have a good stab at when this trophy was made – post Second World War perhaps?
And, indeed, we would be correct in that the trophy is hallmarked for London in 1953 and manufactured by the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company of Regent Street, London.
We are into the very highest end of the jewellery and silversmiths trades with this one as the next couple of paragraphs will demonstrate.
This large business of retail jewellers and silversmiths was established in 1880 at 112 Regent Street. The original partners were William Gibson and John Lawrence Langman. Following the absorption in 1893 of the Goldsmiths' Alliance Ltd, the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co was converted into a limited liability company. In 1952 the company was amalgamated with Garrard & Co.
The date on the trophy hence has some interest in that it is the year after this amalgamation with Garrard & Co. The name Garrard is synonymous with the highest quality of work as jewellers, dealers in precious stones, silversmiths, electroplaters and watch and clock makers and has been connected to the royal family for many years. The company currently holds a Royal Warrant as Jewellers, Goldsmiths and Silversmiths, appointed by HRH The Prince of Wales.
This just goes to show yet again that the trophies which were commissioned by both the Lancashire Combination and the Cheshire County Football League were sourced from the finest makers and were of the highest quality. It is our privilege to be custodians of these trophies and to see them used on an annual basis.
The inscription reveals this trophy to have been originally the Cheshire County Football League Division 2 League Championship Trophy and, as with other Cheshire County League trophies passed into the hands of the NWCFL in 1982.
The records of the Cheshire County Football League indicate that a Division 2 was established as late as 1978 and lasted until the League was disbanded at the end of the 1981/82 season. Just four winners of this trophy during that time being Bootle, Prescot Town, Accrington Stanley and Congleton Town.
So, not for the first time, we see a gap in the history of a trophy in that the date mark is 1953 but the competition for which is was awarded can be traced back to 1978. Perhaps someone out there knows what this trophy was used for between 1953 and 1978? If so, please let us know.
What we might call the “second tier” of the NWCFL has seen a couple of changes since the inception of the League. From the inaugural season of 1982/83, the second tier was called Division 2 until 2008/09. Then with the re-branding of the First Division as the Premier Division, what was Division 2 became Division 1. The winners of this trophy during this period are again a reflection of the varying fortunes of clubs playing in the NWCFL. We see clubs which have gone on to higher levels in the football pyramid e.g. Fleetwood Town and Ashton United, alongside clubs who no longer ply their trade on a football field such as Oldham Town and Haslingden.
The most recent change at First Division level came for the start of the 2018/19 season when two Leagues operating at Step 6 in the National League System were formed, namely the NWCFL First Division North and South. In order to find one winner to be presented with this rather stylish trophy at the end of the season, it was necessary to introduce a First Division North Champions v. First Division South Champions match.
This match was played at AFC Darwen on April 30th 2019 with First Division South Champions, Rylands, taking the trophy after a 3-0 victory over First Division North Champions Longridge Town – both clubs having won their respective divisions at the end of their first seasons in the NWCFL. A fine achievement with both clubs being promoted to the NWCFL Premier Division for season 2019/20.
