Trophy Article Series: Staffordshire Senior Cup
Thu 17th October 2019 | General | By Stewart Taylor
This week we head to the south of our region to take a look at another County FA competition which has a significant history.
Staffordshire County FA was formed in 1877 and the Staffordshire Senior Challenge Cup competition dates from that time. The competition was instituted by Mr. T.C. Stanley who was the first Secretary of the Association.
Most County FA competitions are competed for by clubs located in that county but this one is a little bit different in that clubs from neighbouring counties have not only entered but also won this competition. One such club which is relevant to the current members of the NWCFL is Northwich Victoria who have claimed this trophy no fewer than three times in their history.
The early years were dominated by fully professional clubs and, indeed, the first honour claimed by Stoke City in their history was this competition back in the very first final in 1878. A list of competition winners from the early years shows that Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderer had lifted the trophy on 22 occasions between them before the First World War.
This domination by professional clubs continued but the trend was now towards entering Reserve teams. As time moved on after the Second World War non-league sides started to dominate the competition which still included clubs from outside the county. This involvement of clubs from outside the county gradually reduced as clubs such as Macclesfield Town gained League status and it became more difficult for clubs outside Staffordshire to fulfil additional fixtures in what was, for them, a secondary County Cup. This situation was no doubt influenced by the infamous Local Government Act of 1972 which took parts of Staffordshire, and other traditional shire counties, to form the new West Midlands County.
The entries are now almost exclusively clubs affiliated to the Staffordshire County FA with the professional clubs, Port Vale and Stoke City, entering Reserve or Development sides. Entry qualifications were changed for the 2016/17 competition with Step 6 clubs eligible to compete. The final of the competition is generally held in a major stadium with the current holders, Stafford Rangers, beating Rushall Olympic in the final played at the Bet 365 stadium last April.
The trophy competed for in this competition is hallmarked for Birmingham with a date letter for 1946. The inscription on the trophy shows the date of foundation of the Staffordshire County FA as 1887 which, as we have seen above, is not correct, and that the trophy was donated by G. H. Carder Esq in 1972. Unfortunately, the makers mark is indistinct due, no doubt, to frequent polishing. Stylistically, the trophy is of its time in that it shows very clean lines with no evidence of the heavily embossed decoration which is such a prominent feature of later Victorian trophies.
Abbey Hulton United, Eccleshall, Hanley Town and Stone Old Alleynians are the current NWCFL member clubs affiliated to the Staffordshire FA. None of these teams have yet lifted this trophy. Nevertheless, NWCFL member clubs have had success in this competition whilst being members of our League.
Eastwood Hanley were NWCFL members from the formation of the League in 1982 until 1997. They were Staffordshire Senior Cup winners in season 1985/86.
In season 2009/10, Newcastle Town, who had been members since 1987 were NWCFL Champions and Staffordshire Senior Cup winners. A memorable double for the club.
Trophy Article Series: Staffordshire Senior Cup
Thu 17th October 2019 | General
By Stewart Taylor
This week we head to the south of our region to take a look at another County FA competition which has a significant history.
Staffordshire County FA was formed in 1877 and the Staffordshire Senior Challenge Cup competition dates from that time. The competition was instituted by Mr. T.C. Stanley who was the first Secretary of the Association.
Most County FA competitions are competed for by clubs located in that county but this one is a little bit different in that clubs from neighbouring counties have not only entered but also won this competition. One such club which is relevant to the current members of the NWCFL is Northwich Victoria who have claimed this trophy no fewer than three times in their history.
The early years were dominated by fully professional clubs and, indeed, the first honour claimed by Stoke City in their history was this competition back in the very first final in 1878. A list of competition winners from the early years shows that Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderer had lifted the trophy on 22 occasions between them before the First World War.
This domination by professional clubs continued but the trend was now towards entering Reserve teams. As time moved on after the Second World War non-league sides started to dominate the competition which still included clubs from outside the county. This involvement of clubs from outside the county gradually reduced as clubs such as Macclesfield Town gained League status and it became more difficult for clubs outside Staffordshire to fulfil additional fixtures in what was, for them, a secondary County Cup. This situation was no doubt influenced by the infamous Local Government Act of 1972 which took parts of Staffordshire, and other traditional shire counties, to form the new West Midlands County.
The entries are now almost exclusively clubs affiliated to the Staffordshire County FA with the professional clubs, Port Vale and Stoke City, entering Reserve or Development sides. Entry qualifications were changed for the 2016/17 competition with Step 6 clubs eligible to compete. The final of the competition is generally held in a major stadium with the current holders, Stafford Rangers, beating Rushall Olympic in the final played at the Bet 365 stadium last April.
The trophy competed for in this competition is hallmarked for Birmingham with a date letter for 1946. The inscription on the trophy shows the date of foundation of the Staffordshire County FA as 1887 which, as we have seen above, is not correct, and that the trophy was donated by G. H. Carder Esq in 1972. Unfortunately, the makers mark is indistinct due, no doubt, to frequent polishing. Stylistically, the trophy is of its time in that it shows very clean lines with no evidence of the heavily embossed decoration which is such a prominent feature of later Victorian trophies.
Abbey Hulton United, Eccleshall, Hanley Town and Stone Old Alleynians are the current NWCFL member clubs affiliated to the Staffordshire FA. None of these teams have yet lifted this trophy. Nevertheless, NWCFL member clubs have had success in this competition whilst being members of our League.
Eastwood Hanley were NWCFL members from the formation of the League in 1982 until 1997. They were Staffordshire Senior Cup winners in season 1985/86.
In season 2009/10, Newcastle Town, who had been members since 1987 were NWCFL Champions and Staffordshire Senior Cup winners. A memorable double for the club.
