1876–77 Birmingham Senior Cup
Country | England |
---|---|
Dates | 14 October 1876 - 24 March 1877 |
Championship venue | Midlands |
Teams | 16 |
Champions | W.O.A.C. |
Runners-up | Stafford Road |
Matches played | 18 |
The 1876-77 Birmingham Senior Cup was the first edition of the first football tournament played to Football Association laws, other than the FA Cup, and therefore the first local senior tournament.
Background
The Birmingham Football Association was founded in 1875 and took a subscription of £3 from its member clubs in order to commission a trophy for a member tournament, the trophy costing £50[1] and made by Mr R Williams of Wednesbury.[2]
By 1876, the association had 16 members, with 500-600 members all told, and all clubs entered the competition.[3]
At the time, the Association laws did not specify the number of players per side, and it was agreed that the matches would be with 12 players per side.[4]
Participating teams
Team | Foundation | No. of members | Home ground | Colours |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aston Unity | 1874 | 50 | Aston Park | Royal blue & white[6] |
Aston Villa | 1874 | 45 | Wellington Road | Scarlet & royal blue jerseys |
Calthorpe | 1873 | n/a | Bristol Road | Dark blue |
Cannock | 1875 | n/a | Wolverhampton Road | Amber & black jersey, dark blue stockings |
Harborne | 1876?[7] | 40 | Church Avenue | Scarlet & black |
Harold | 1876?[8] | n/a | Aston Park[9] | n/a |
Royal | 1874 | n/a | Calthorpe Park | Navy blue & white |
Saltley College | 1873 | 80-100[10] | College Grounds | Blue |
St George's | 1875 | ? | Fentham Road | Black with white dragon[11] |
Stafford Road | 1874 | 75[12] | Stafford Road, Wolverhampton | Blue & white[13] |
Tipton | 1872 | n/a | Horseley Road | Navy blue |
Victoria Swifts | 1874 | n/a | West Bromwich Road | Amber & black |
Wednesbury Old Park | 1875 | n/a | King's Hill Fields | Red & black halves[14] |
Wednesbury Old Athletic | 1874 | n/a | Woodgreen | Scarlet & black jersey, white knickers |
Wednesbury Town | 1873 | n/a | Woodgreen | Maroon & white |
West Bromwich[15] | 1875 | 56 | Four Acres | Magenta & blue[16] |
Format
The competition was organized as a straight knockout tournament, with replays to a conclusion.
Results
All results as given in History of the Birmingham Senior Cup by Steve Carr unless otherwise stated.
First Round
Date | Home | Score | Away |
---|---|---|---|
14 October 1876 | Wednesbury Town | 2-1 | Victoria Swifts |
21 October 1876 | Aston Unity | 0–0 | Saltley College |
21 October 1876 | Calthorpe | 4–0 | Royal |
11 November 1876 | Cannock | 0-0 | St George's |
11 November 1876 | Harborne | 0–13 | Wednesbury Old Athletic |
11 November 1876 | Stafford Road | 1–0 | West Bromwich |
11 November 1876 | Wednesbury Old Park | beat[17] | Harold |
18 November 1876 | Aston Villa | 0-1 | Tipton |
Replays
Date | Home | Score | Away |
---|---|---|---|
11 November 1876 | Saltley College | 2-1 | Aston Unity |
18 November 1876 | St George's | 0-0 | Cannock |
2 December 1876 | Cannock | 2-0[18] | St George's |
Second Round
Date | Home | Score | Away |
---|---|---|---|
2 December 1876 | Saltley College | beat[19] | Tipton |
23 December 1876 | Wednesbury Old Athletic | 2-0 | Wednesbury Old Park |
30 December 1876 | Stafford Road | 3-0 | Cannock |
13 January 1877 | Wednesbury Town | 2-0 | Calthorpe |
Semi-finals
Date | Home | Score | Away | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|
17 February 1877 | Stafford Road | 2-0 | Wednesbury Town | |
24 February 1877 | Wednesbury Old Athletic | 2-0 | Saltley College | 1,500 |
Final
The Roadsters took a two goal lead in the first half-an-hour of the match, both scored by Crump, but Page shot just under the bar for a goal back shortly before half-time. Holmes scored two quick goals in the second half, which were enough to secure the trophy for the Old Uns.[20]
Wednesbury Old Athletic | 3-2 | Stafford Road |
---|---|---|
|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() W.O.A.C.
|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Stafford Road
|
Aftermath
Following the formal trophy presentation that evening, the local FA resolved to abolish the "hazardous custom" of charging in local matches, on the basis that it was too dangerous.[22]
Notes
References
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1877). Football Annual. p. 84.
- ^ "Birmingham & District Football Association". Birmingham Daily Post: 2. 29 March 1877.
- ^ "Birmingham & District Football Association". Birmingham Daily Mail: 2. 19 September 1876.
- ^ Carr, Steve (2000). History of the Birmingham Senior Cup. West Bromwich: Grorty Dick.
- ^ Unless otherwise stated, all details taken from the Charles Alcock annual of 1877
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1876). Football Annual. p. 142.
- ^ There are no recorded fixtures for the Harborne club before its entry to the Senior Cup.
- ^ There are no recorded fixtures for the Harold club before its entry to the Senior Cup.
- ^ Fixture lists in Aris' Birmingham Gazette in 1876
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1878). Football Yearbook. p. 106.
- ^ Bradbury, Mike (202). Lost Teams of the Midlands Revisited. Walsall: Black Country Research.
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1878). Football Yearbook. p. 106.
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1878). Football Annual.
- ^ Bradbury, Mike (202). Lost Teams of the Midlands Revisited. Walsall: Black Country Research.
- ^ Not the later West Bromwich Albion, but a side formed out of the Dartmouth cricket club.
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1875). Football Annual. p. 158.
- ^ no score available - given as a home win in the 1877 Alcock annual
- ^ At Bott Lane, Walsall
- ^ no score available - given as a home win in the 1877 Alcock annual
- ^ "Football". Birmingham Daily Gazette: 3. 27 March 1877.
- ^ "Grand Football Match". Birmingham Daily Post: 1. 23 March 1877.
- ^ "Birmingham & District Football Association". Birmingham Daily Post: 2. 29 March 1877.