Trophy Article Series: Shropshire Senior Cup
Tue 24th September 2019 | General | By Stewart Taylor
There is a real bit of football history associated with this trophy which lays claim to be the oldest piece of football silverware in the world.
Quite a statement and we need to recall, as told in the introductory article to this series, that County FAs have a long history and amongst the first to be established were the Shropshire FA. The history of the Shropshire FA tells the story.
The Shropshire Football Association came into formal existence on October 8th 1877 following an inaugural meeting at The Lion Hotel in Shrewsbury.
Twelve affiliated clubs took part in the first competition run by the fledgling Association, with Shrewsbury FC defeating Wellington Parish Church Institute 1-0 in the final in April 1878, thus initiating the oldest footballing rivalry in the county, with that competition developing into the Shropshire Senior Cup. The original trophy is still competed for by the County’s senior clubs, making it the oldest piece of football silverware in the world.
It is perhaps worth noting that the Shrewsbury FC referred to as the first winners of this trophy are not associated with the current Shrewsbury Town. Shrewsbury Town were formed in 1886 by which time Shrewsbury FC were dissolved in 1879.
We have a description of the trophy which is:-
The Shropshire Premier County Cup is 24.5 inches high and 10 inches in diameter and weighs 115 oz. It has a tapered vase shaped body heavily embossed bows, flower and leaf pattern around centre cartouche engraved contemporary football scene. The rear cartouche engraved five town crests, square topped reeded and knot handles, embossed stem with fluted and embossed spread foot, the cover with plain rim and embossed centre surmounted by cast figure of seated woman and children. Hallmarked London 1887, maker Charles Bishop standing on a double circular wood plinth 13in diameter with 2in deep silver plated band.
A look at the photo accompanying this article confirms the very heavy embossing which, as we have seen from previous articles in this series, nails this one as Victorian in design.
Attempts to find solid references to Charles Bishop as a silversmith in the later Victorian era have been unsuccessful It is just possible that the attribution to Charles Bishop via a CB hallmark could refer to Charles Boyton who we will come across in a later article concerning a trophy which is hallmarked for 1874. Again, if you know, please get in touch.
Over the years, the competition has been dominated by the county's two leading football teams, Shrewsbury Town and Telford United, and more recently, AFC Telford United following the demise of the old Telford United in 2004.
The inclusion of Welsh based clubs in English Leagues has been discussed for many a long year. In the case of this trophy – clearly and English County FA trophy - we find in the record that the winners as recently as 2011 were The New Saints. Something of the reverse of the above as, of course, The New Saints are an English based club playing in a Welsh League. Nevertheless, they were specifically invited to play in the competition that season by the Shropshire FA and continued to do so for 2 or 3 seasons.
Current NWCFL member clubs affiliated to the Shropshire County FA are Ellesmere Rangers, FC Oswestry Town, St Martins and Whitchurch Alport.
Whitchurch Alport meets Shrewsbury Town at Montgomery Waters Meadow (home of Shrewsbury Town) in the final of this competition on tonight - kick off 1930hrs.
Our thanks to Roy Waterfield, CEO of Shropshire FA, for providing the information on which this article is based.
Trophy Article Series: Shropshire Senior Cup
Tue 24th September 2019 | General
By Stewart Taylor
There is a real bit of football history associated with this trophy which lays claim to be the oldest piece of football silverware in the world.
Quite a statement and we need to recall, as told in the introductory article to this series, that County FAs have a long history and amongst the first to be established were the Shropshire FA. The history of the Shropshire FA tells the story.
The Shropshire Football Association came into formal existence on October 8th 1877 following an inaugural meeting at The Lion Hotel in Shrewsbury.
Twelve affiliated clubs took part in the first competition run by the fledgling Association, with Shrewsbury FC defeating Wellington Parish Church Institute 1-0 in the final in April 1878, thus initiating the oldest footballing rivalry in the county, with that competition developing into the Shropshire Senior Cup. The original trophy is still competed for by the County’s senior clubs, making it the oldest piece of football silverware in the world.
It is perhaps worth noting that the Shrewsbury FC referred to as the first winners of this trophy are not associated with the current Shrewsbury Town. Shrewsbury Town were formed in 1886 by which time Shrewsbury FC were dissolved in 1879.
We have a description of the trophy which is:-
The Shropshire Premier County Cup is 24.5 inches high and 10 inches in diameter and weighs 115 oz. It has a tapered vase shaped body heavily embossed bows, flower and leaf pattern around centre cartouche engraved contemporary football scene. The rear cartouche engraved five town crests, square topped reeded and knot handles, embossed stem with fluted and embossed spread foot, the cover with plain rim and embossed centre surmounted by cast figure of seated woman and children. Hallmarked London 1887, maker Charles Bishop standing on a double circular wood plinth 13in diameter with 2in deep silver plated band.
A look at the photo accompanying this article confirms the very heavy embossing which, as we have seen from previous articles in this series, nails this one as Victorian in design.
Attempts to find solid references to Charles Bishop as a silversmith in the later Victorian era have been unsuccessful It is just possible that the attribution to Charles Bishop via a CB hallmark could refer to Charles Boyton who we will come across in a later article concerning a trophy which is hallmarked for 1874. Again, if you know, please get in touch.
Over the years, the competition has been dominated by the county's two leading football teams, Shrewsbury Town and Telford United, and more recently, AFC Telford United following the demise of the old Telford United in 2004.
The inclusion of Welsh based clubs in English Leagues has been discussed for many a long year. In the case of this trophy – clearly and English County FA trophy - we find in the record that the winners as recently as 2011 were The New Saints. Something of the reverse of the above as, of course, The New Saints are an English based club playing in a Welsh League. Nevertheless, they were specifically invited to play in the competition that season by the Shropshire FA and continued to do so for 2 or 3 seasons.
Current NWCFL member clubs affiliated to the Shropshire County FA are Ellesmere Rangers, FC Oswestry Town, St Martins and Whitchurch Alport.
Whitchurch Alport meets Shrewsbury Town at Montgomery Waters Meadow (home of Shrewsbury Town) in the final of this competition on tonight - kick off 1930hrs.
Our thanks to Roy Waterfield, CEO of Shropshire FA, for providing the information on which this article is based.
