Sheffield Cup

MIDDLESBROUGH FOOTBALL CLUB

PAGES FROM HISTORY

PRE-LEAGUE FOOTBALL - [ENTERED DIVISION 2 1899]

Sheffield Association Challenge Cup Press report on its establishment
Matches played by Middlesbrough Football Club
Match date	Result [Match reports ready for uploading]	Venue
18 October 1879	Hunslet 0 - 2 Middlesbrough	Hunslet, Cricket Field
15 November 1879	Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Sheffield Exchange	Linthorpe road.

16 October 1880 - First Round	Middlesbrough 3 - 3 Redcar	Linthorpe road.
23 October 1880 - Replay	Redcar 0 -3 Middlesbrough	Redcar, Cricket Field
13 November 1880	Hunslet 0 - 1 Middlesbrough	Leeds
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Season 1881/82

21 October 1882. First round.	Middlesbrough 5 - 2 Redcar	Linthorpe road.
11 November 1882. - Second round	Middlesbrough 3 - 5 Attercliffe	Linthorpe road.

27 October 1883 - First Round	Middlesbrough 6 - 1 Surrey	Linthorpe road.
15 December 1883	Thurlstone 2 - 3 Middlesbrough	At Thurlstone
12 January 1884	Attercliffe 2 - 3 Middlesbrough	Old Forge Ground, Brightside Lane.
The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent. Supplement, Saturday, January 19, 1884. SPORTS AND RECREATIONS. --------- The Attercliffe v. Middlesbro' game appeared to be a good thing for the home team up to a very short time of the whistle being sounded, as Attercliffe had put on two goals, one a grand one by Curtis, and another by Pawson. Then, when the Middlesbro' men were deemed to be beaten, they came up in gallant fashion, and by magnificent crossing and judicious all-round play, they put on three goals in an incredibly short time, and won amid hearty cheers. An objection has been lodged by Attercliffe against Middlesbro' being allowed to run into the semi-final on the ground that Ewbank, who has had no small share in the making of the Middlesbro' team, is not now resident in the iron-making centre, but, as a matter of fact, has his head-quarters in Pontefract. The vanquished team of Saturday last do not claim the match, however; they simply ask the committee of the association to consider Ewbank's qualification, and, if they decide in favour of the Attercliffe Club, the latter will gladly avail themselves of the chance of reversing last Saturday's decision.
The York Herald, Tuesday, January 29, 1884. FOOTBALL. SHEFFIELD CHALLENGE CUP. -The protest which was lodged by the Sheffield Attercliffe Football Club against the Middlesbro' Club, who defeated them in the third round for the Sheffield Challenge Cup, has been over-ruled. The objection was to Mr Jackson Ewbank not residing within certain limits to entitle him to play with the Middlesbro' team. Mr Ewbank has been employed in Middlesbro' for some years past, and has been one of the principal members of the club since its commencement.
The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent, Friday, February 01, 1884. SHEFFIELD FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. The following are the draws for the semi-final for the Sheffield Challenge and Minor Cups:-- CHALLENGE CUP. Lockwood Brothers v. Middlesbro'. Heeley v. the losers of the above. MINOR CUP. Heeley v. Kiveton Park. Attercliffe v. the losers of the above. In each of these ties, being the semi-final, no bye is allowed, therefore the loser of the clubs drawn together plays the one left in the bag, and should the loser of the first match lose with the one left in the bag, the latter plays the winner of the two drawn together for the final. Thus, should Lockwood Brothers beat Middlesbro' then Middlesbro' will play Heeley for second place, and should Heeley win they will play Lockwood Brothers for possession of the trophy; but in the latter contest should Middlesbro' beat Heeley, Lockwood Brothers, having (imaginatively) previously beaten Middlesbro', shall be adjudged the winners of the cup without a contest.
23 February 1884	Lockwood Brothers 3 - 2 Middlesbrough	Bramall Lane
The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent. Supplement, Monday, March 03, 1884; Extract. SHEFFIELD ASSOCIATION CHALLENGE CUP. LOCKWOOD BROTHERS v HEELEY. FINAL TIE. The final tie for the Sheffield Association Challenge Cup took place on Saturday, at Bramall Lane Ground, . . . . . . The whistle blew, leaving Lockwoods victorious by two goals to none. . . . played best for Heeley, who have now to meet Middlesbrough to play off for second place. The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent, Saturday, March 15, 1884. Middlesbrough has definitely decided to play against Heeley for the honour of second place in the Sheffield Association Challenge Cup competition.
22 March 1884	Heeley 2 - 2 Middlesbrough	Bramall Lane
The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent, Saturday, March 29, 1884. SPORTS AND RECREATIONS. The Sheffield Football Association Challenge Cups have this season caused some determined struggles, and although Lockwood Brothers have won the principal cup, the second place in the same competition has not yet been taken. Heeley and Middlesbro' having failed to settle the point on Saturday last, as each scored a couple of goals. The teams will meet again, and the association on Thursday decided that the Heeley team shall, on the next occasion, journey to Middlesbro', instead of the Middlesbro' men coming to Sheffield. Neither club on Saturday last put its full strength in the field, Heeley being very poorly represented.
The York Herald, Saturday, April 26, 1884. THE SHEFFIELD CHALLENGE CUP. --The Heeley Football Club having refused to play off for the second place in the Sheffield Challenge Cup competition, the Executive Committee have awarded the silver medals to the Middlesbro' Club. The Middlesbro' team recently played a tie with Heeley at Sheffield for second honours.

The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent. Saturday, March 25 1876.

FOOTBALL.

SHEFFIELD ASSOCIATION CHALLENGE CUP.

Following the example set them by London and the Scottish Associations, the Sheffielders have determined on offering a challenge cup, for competition the next and succeeding seasons, and we have been favoured with a copy of the rules which will shortly be issued to clubs desirous of taking part in the struggle. A summary of them may not be uninteresting to our football readers. The trophy is to be called “The Sheffield Football Association Challenge Cup,” and to be open for competition by all clubs belonging to the Sheffield Football Association, each team to number not more than twelve players. Clubs desirous of competing next season must send in their subscription of 5s., on or before the 15th April next. “No individual shall be allowed to play for more than one competing club, but the members of each representative team may be changed during the series of matches if thought necessary.” The play in each contest is to last an hour and a half, and the average circumference of the ball to be from 27 to 28 inches. Then follow directions as to the ties, which are as usual. The first and second ties are to be played on the grounds of the respective clubs, the captains of the clubs drawn together tossing for choice, and in case of a drawn match the loser of the first toss is then to have his choice of ground, and so on alternately. The third and following ties are to be played at Bramall lane or such other ground as the committee shall hereafter determine. In the final ties two umpires and a referee will be appointed by the committee, none of whom shall be members of either of the contending clubs. Perhaps the two most important rules to intending competitors are:-- “That the cup does not become the property of any club, but shall be competed for annually;” and “The association will present to the winners of the final tie in each year 12 silver medal.” It will thus be seen that no club may become the actual owner of the trophy, although the club winning it has it in their possession for the time being. There is no doubt considerable interest will be attached to the contests next year.