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American Cup

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

American Cup
The trophy as depicted in an illustration published in 1891
Organizing bodyAFA
Founded1884; 140 years ago (1884)
Abolished1924; 100 years ago (1924)
RegionUnited States
Number of teamsOpen
Related competitionsNational Challenge Cup
Last champion(s)Bethlehem Steel (1924)
Most successful club(s)Bethlehem Steel
(6 titles)

The American Football Association Challenge Cup (also known as the American Association Cup or simply American Cup) was the first major U.S. soccer competition open to teams beyond a single league. It was first held in 1884, and organised by the American Football Association (AFA).

In the 1910s, it gradually declined in importance with the establishment of the National Challenge Cup. The competition was last held in 1924.[1]

History

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Founded in 1884, the American Football Association (AFA) was the first non-league organizing body in the United States.[2]: 27  Allied with the Football Association,[3] the AFA sought to standardize rules for teams competing in northern New Jersey and southern New York.

Player medal for the 1890 running of the American Cup competition

Within two years, this region began to widen to include teams in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.[4] Within a year of its founding, the AFA organized the first non-league cup in U.S. soccer history.[2] Teams from New Jersey and Massachusetts dominated the first twelve years. Then in 1897, Philadelphia Manz brought the title to Pennsylvania for the first time. By the mid-1890's soccer in American was struggling due to New England going through difficult economic times.[5]

As a result, the AFA suspended the cup from 1899 until 1906.[6] By that time, the growth in the sport had led to a confusion of rules and standards. This led to a movement to create a truly national body to oversee U.S. soccer. Drawing on both its position as the oldest soccer organization and the status of the American Cup, the AFA argued that it should be the nationally recognized body. In October 1911, a competing body, the American Amateur Football Association (AAFA) was created.[7] It quickly spread outside the northeast U.S. and began its own cup in 1912, the American Amateur Football Association Cup.[8]

That year, both the AFA and AAFA applied for membership in FIFA, the international organizing body for soccer. In 1913, the AAFA gained an edge over the AFA when several AFA organizations moved to the AAFA. On April 5, 1913, the AAFA reorganized as the United States Football Association. FIFA quickly granted a provisional membership[9] and USFA began exerting its influence on the sport. This led to the establishment of the National Challenge Cup that fall.[10] The National Challenge Cup quickly grew to overshadow the American Cup. However, both cups were played simultaneously for the next ten years. Declining respect for the AFA led to the withdrawal of several associations from its cup in 1917. Further competition came in 1923 when USFA created the National Amateur Cup.[1] That spelled the death knell for the American Cup. It played its last season in 1924.[1]

Trophy

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The trophy was made by Tiffany & Co. and is described as "a very elegant sterling silver trophy. It is a vase about thirteen inches high surmounted by a Roman athlete. On either side is a foot ball and goal post, while in front on a large shield is the inscription".[11]

Champions

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List of finals

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Ed. Year Champion Score Runner-up
1
1885 Clark ONT (1) 1–0 New York F.B.C.
2
1886 Clark ONT (2) 3–1 Kearny Rangers
3
1887 Clark ONT (3) 3–2 Kearny Rangers
4
1888 Fall River Rovers (1) 5–1 Newark Almas
5
1889 Fall River Rovers (2) 4–0 Newark Caledonians
6
1890 Fall River Olympics (1) 4–3 Kearny Rovers
7
1891 Fall River East Ends (1) 3–1 Brooklyn Longfellows
8
1892 Fall River East Ends (2) 5–2 New York Thistle
9
1893 Pawtucket Free Wanderers (1) 3–1 New York Thistle
10
1894 Fall River Olympics (2) 4–1 Paterson True Blues
11
1895 Newark Caledonians (1) 4–0 Pawtucket Free Wanderers
12
1896 Paterson True Blues (1) 7–2 Fall River Olympics
13
1897 Philadelphia Manz (1) 5–2, 2–2 Paterson True Blues
14
1898 Arlington A.A. (1) 4–2 Kearny A.C.
1899–1905
(Not held)
15
1906 West Hudson (1) 3–1 Paterson True Blues
16
1907 Clark (1) 4–0 Scottish Americans
17
1908 West Hudson (2) 3–2 Paterson True Blues
18
1909 Paterson True Blues (2) 2–1 East Newark Clark
19
1910 Tacony (1) 2–1 Scottish Americans
20
1911 Howard and Bullough (1) 1–1, 3–1 Philadelphia Hibernian
21
1912 West Hudson (3) 1–0 Paterson Rangers
22
1913 Paterson True Blues (3) 2–1 Disston A.A.
23
1914 Bethlehem Steel (1) 1–0 Disston A.A.
24
1915 Kearny Scots (1) 1–0 Brooklyn Celtic
25
1916 Bethlehem Steel (2) 3–0 Kearny Scots
26
1917 Bethlehem Steel (3) 7–0 West Hudson A.A.
27
1918 Bethlehem Steel (4) 1–0 Babcock & Wilcox
28
1919 Bethlehem Steel (5) 2–0 Paterson F.C.
29
1920 Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock (1) 1–0 Bethlehem Steel
30
1921 Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock (2) 5–2 Fore River
1922
(Not held)
31
1923 Fleisher Yarn (1) 2–0 J&P Coats
32
1924 Bethlehem Steel (6) 1–0 Fall River F.C.

Titles by club

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Club Titles Winning years
Bethlehem Steel
6
1914, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1924
Clark O.N.T.
3
1885, 1886, 1887
West Hudson
3
1906, 1908, 1912
Paterson True Blues
3
1896, 1909, 1913
Fall River Rovers
2
1888, 1889
Fall River Olympics
2
1890, 1894
Fall River East Ends
2
1891, 1892
Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock
2
1920, 1921

References

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  1. ^ a b c Wangerin 2008, p. 43.
  2. ^ a b Murray, C.K. (1910). "History and Progress of the AFA". Spalding's Athletic Library; Official Soccer Football Guide 1910. New York: American sports publishing company. p. 27. ISBN 9781478105978.
  3. ^ "Football:The Association Cup Draw". The Guardian. Manchester, England. February 23, 1909. Retrieved May 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Allaway, Roger West Hudson: A Cradle of American Soccer". Archived from the original on May 25, 2009. Retrieved January 29, 2008.
  5. ^ Wangerin, David (2008). Soccer in a football world : the story of America's forgotten game. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. p. 31. ISBN 9781592138852.
  6. ^ Murray 1910, p. 31.
  7. ^ Murray 1910, p. 32.
  8. ^ "Socker teams form big national body". Brooklyn Daily. December 14, 1911. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  9. ^ Wangerin 2008, p. 33.
  10. ^ Litterer, Dave (January 10, 2003). "1914 National Challenge Cup". The American Soccer Archives. TheCup.us. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
  11. ^ "A Silver Trophy". (October 4, 1884). Newark Daily Advertiser, p.2 col.5