Staffordshire Senior Cup

For the rugby union competition, see Staffordshire Senior Cup (rugby union).
Staffordshire Senior Cup
Flag of Staffordshire
Founded1877; 147 years ago (1877)
Region Staffordshire
Number of teams21 (2023–24)
Current championsRushall Olympic
(5th title)
Most successful club(s)Stoke City
(19 titles)
WebsiteStaffordshire FA
The West Bromwich Albion team display the Staffordshire Cup in 1883.

The Staffordshire Senior Challenge Cup is a football cup tournament based in the county of Staffordshire in England first competed for in 1877–78 (then under Sheffield Rules.[1] Organised by the Staffordshire Football Association, it is competed for by a mix of clubs from Staffordshire and the surrounding areas. Both professional and amateur clubs may enter. In the modern age, however, professional teams such as Stoke City and Port Vale, the main clubs in Staffordshire, usually field a reserve team as they place more prestige on their professional league and cup competitions. This has left the door open for non-league sides to have more success in the cup as it is classed as a bigger achievement for them to win it.

In recent years the entries from clubs from neighbouring counties have virtually been phased out. Most County FAs now have their own separate Senior Cup competitions and this, coupled with the formation of the West Midlands county, has meant the entries for the Cup are quite low in some seasons. This has seen Market Drayton Town and Shifnal Town both enter since the turn of the millennium to make up the numbers, despite not being located in Staffordshire.

From the 2008–09 season the Staffordshire FA introduced a cut off point whereby teams lower than level 9 in the English football league system can not compete in the Senior Cup. Teams below the level of the North West Counties League Premier Division and Midland Football Alliance now compete in the sister competition the Staffordshire Senior Vase.

Stoke City are the most successful sides in the competition's history with 19 wins.

Historically the non-league side with the most wins is Stafford Rangers who have won the cup 11 times since the Second World War.

The most successful side from outside what is traditionally classed as Staffordshire are Kidderminster Harriers from Worcestershire, who won the competition four times in the 1980s. Worcester City and Redditch United have also won the competition from Worcestershire. Macclesfield Town and Northwich Victoria from neighbouring Cheshire have also won.

Finals

This section lists every final of the competition played since 1877–78, the winners, the runners-up, and the result.[2]

The first final was also the inaugural match at Stoke City's new Victoria Ground between Stoke and Talke Rangers on 28 March 1878,[3] Stoke won 1–0 before upwards of 2,000 spectators,[3] with the goal scored by William Boddington at about the 80th minute.[4]

Key

Match went to extra time
Match decided by a penalty shootout after extra time
Shared trophy
Season Winner Score Runner-up Notes
1877–78 Stoke 1-0[5] Talke Rangers
1878–79 Stoke 2-1[5] Cobridge
1879–80 Wednesbury Old Athletic 2-1[5] Aston Villa
1880–81 Aston Villa 3-1[5] Walsall Swifts
1881–82 Walsall Town 4–0 Walsall Swifts
1882–83 West Bromwich Albion 4–2 Stoke
1883–84 Birmingham St. George's 2–1 West Bromwich Albion
1884–85 Walsall Town 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
1885–86 West Bromwich Albion 4–2 Stoke
1886–87 West Bromwich Albion 4–0 Walsall Swifts
1887–88 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 West Bromwich Albion
1888–89 West Bromwich Albion 2–0 Leek
1889–90 Birmingham St. George's 5–3 Walsall Town Swifts
1890–91 Aston Villa 4–2 Stoke
1891–92 Burton Swifts 2–1 Aston Villa
1892–93 Aston Villa 3–0 Walsall Town Swifts
1893–94 Aston Villa 2 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
1894–95 Burton Wanderers 2–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
1895–96 Aston Villa 5–0 Stoke
1896–97 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Stoke
1897–98 Burslem Port Vale 1–0 West Bromwich Albion
1898–99 Aston Villa 2–0 Walsall
1899-1900 West Bromwich Albion 5–0 Burslem Port Vale
1900–01 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Stoke
1901–02 West Bromwich Albion 3–0 Stoke
1902–03 West Bromwich Albion 2–0 Stoke
1903–04 Stoke
Wolverhampton Wanderers		 Trophy shared.
1904–05 Small Heath 4–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
1905–06 Aston Villa 2–0 Burton United
1906–07 Aston Villa 5–0 West Bromwich Albion
1907–08 Birmingham 6–2 West Bromwich Albion
1908–09 Aston Villa 5–0 Birmingham City
1909–10 Aston Villa 3–1 West Bromwich Albion
1910–11 Aston Villa 3–0 Walsall
1911–12 Burslem Port Vale 2–0 Birmingham
1912–13 Aston Villa 2–0 Birmingham
1913–14 Stoke 4–2 Walsall
1914–15 Birmingham 1–0 Aston Villa
1914–1919 No competition due to World War I.
1919–20 Port Vale[6] 1–0 Birmingham City
1920–21 Stoke 2–0 Walsall
1921–22 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Walsall
1922–23 Walsall 3–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
1923–24 West Bromwich Albion 3–0 Stoke
1924–25 Aston Villa 1–0 West Bromwich Albion
1925–26 West Bromwich Albion 3–1 Stoke
1926–27 Walsall 2–1 Birmingham City
1927–28 Aston Villa 2–0 Port Vale
1928–29 Walsall 1–0 Aston Villa
1929–30 Stoke City 2–0 Port Vale
1930–31 Aston Villa 6–0 Walsall
1931–32 West Bromwich Albion 3–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
1932–33 West Bromwich Albion 2–0 Aston Villa
1933–34 Stoke City 1–0 Aston Villa
1934–35 Wolverhampton Wanderers 6–2 Stoke City
1935–36 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Stafford Rangers
1936–37 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–1 Birmingham City
1937–38 Wolverhampton Wanderers 5–3 West Bromwich Albion
1938–39 Stoke City 4–0 Kidderminster Harriers
1939–1946 No competition due to World War II.
1946–47 Port Vale 3–2 Stafford Rangers
1947–48 Stoke City 1–0 Port Vale
1948–49 Port Vale 1–0 Walsall
1949–50 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Walsall
1950–51 West Bromwich Albion 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
1951–52 Wolverhampton Wanderers 9–0 Stoke City
1952–53 Port Vale 3–1 Walsall
1953–54 Aston Villa 4–0 Stafford Rangers
1954–55 Stafford Rangers 3–1 Leek Town
1955–56 Burton Albion 2–0 Tamworth
1956–57 Stafford Rangers 2–1 Bilston
1957–58 Bilston 3–1 Stafford Rangers
1958–59 Tamworth 1–0 Stafford Rangers
1959–60 Bilston 6–0 Stafford Rangers
1960–61 Bilston 3–0 Stafford Rangers
1961–62 Bilston 2–2 Brierley Hill Alliance
1962–63 Stafford Rangers 4–2 Bilston
1963–64 Tamworth 6–2 Brierley Hill Alliance
1964–65 Stoke City 5–0 Bilston
1965–66 Tamworth 3–1 Walsall
1966–67 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–2 Tamworth
1967–68 Walsall 6–0 Kidderminster Harriers
1968–69 Stoke City
West Bromwich Albion		 Trophy shared.
1969–70 Hednesford Town 3–1 Kidderminster Harriers
1970–71 Stoke City 4–2 Tamworth
1971–72 Stafford Rangers 1–0 Stoke City
1972–73 Stafford Rangers 8–0 Port Vale
1973–74 Hednesford Town 2–1 Stoke City
1974–75 Stoke City 5–1 Armitage
1975–76 Stoke City 3–1 Stafford Rangers
1976–77 Worcester City 6–3 Burton Albion
1977–78 Stafford Rangers 6–2 Kidderminster Harriers
1978–79 Northwich Victoria 7–5 Kidderminster Harriers
1979–80 Northwich Victoria 3–1 Leek Town
1980–81 Kidderminster Harriers 6–3 Stoke City
1981–82 Stoke City 4–2 Leek Town
1982–83 Kidderminster Harriers 2–1 Willenhall Town
1983–84 Kidderminster Harriers 4–2 Halesowen Town
1984–85 Kidderminster Harriers 7–1 Leek Town
1985–86 Eastwood Hanley 5–1 Bilston
1986–87 Stafford Rangers 4–2 Northwich Victoria
1987–88 Oldbury United 4–3 Stafford Rangers
1988–89 Halesowen Town 6–1 Sutton Coldfield Town
1989–90 Northwich Victoria 3–2 Macclesfield Town After extra-time.
1990–91 Redditch United 4–3 Northwich Victoria
1991–92 Stafford Rangers 4–2 Chasetown
1992–93 Stoke City 6–1 Hednesford Town
1993–94 Macclesfield Town 14–1 Wednesfield Social
1994–95 Stoke City 3–1 Paget Rangers
1995–96 Leek Town 4–3 Newcastle Town
1996–97 Macclesfield Town 4–3 Bilston Town
1997–98 Bilston Town 2–1 Tamworth
1998–99 Stoke City 3–1 Leek Town
1999–2000 Blakenall 4–4 Tamworth Blakenhall won 5–4 on penalties. After extra-time.
2000–01 Port Vale Rocester
2001–02 Tamworth 3–1 Newcastle Town
2002–03 Stafford Rangers 5–1 Stoke City
2003–04 Kidsgrove Athletic 1–0 Stafford Rangers After extra-time.
2004–05 Stafford Rangers 2–0 Leek Town
2005–06 Rushall Olympic 1–0 Stoke City
2006–07 Kidsgrove Athletic 6–1 Rushall Olympic
2007–08 Rocester 3–0 Kidsgrove Athletic
2008–09 Kidsgrove Athletic 2–2 Stafford Rangers Kidsgrove Athletic won 4–3 on penalties. After extra-time.
2009–10 Newcastle Town 6–1 Port Vale
2010–11 Kidsgrove Athletic 1–0 Stoke City
2011–12 Kidsgrove Athletic 1–0 Rushall Olympic
2012–13 Hednesford Town 5–1 Rushall Olympic
2013–14 Rushall Olympic 2–1 Port Vale
2014–15 Stafford Rangers 1–0 Leek Town
2015–16 Rushall Olympic 4–1 Kidsgrove Athletic
2016–17 Stoke City 1–1 Chasetown After extra-time.
2017–18 Stafford Rangers 3–2 Hednesford Town
2018–19 Stafford Rangers 3–0 Rushall Olympic
2019–20 Competition abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2020–21 No competition held due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2021–22 Stafford Rangers 3–1 Stone Old Alleynians
2022–23 Rushall Olympic 1–0 Leek Town
2023–24 Rushall Olympic 1–0 Leek Town

Results by teams

Club Wins First final won Last final won Runner-up Last final lost Total final apps. Notes
Stoke City 19 1877–78 2016–17 18 2010–11 37 [a]
Aston Villa 16 1880–81 1953–54 6 1933–34 22
Stafford Rangers 14 1954–55 2021–22 11 2008–09 25
West Bromwich Albion 13 1882–83 1968–69 8 1937–38 21
Wolverhampton Wanderers 12 1887–88 1966–67 7 1950–51 19
Port Vale 7 1897–98 2000–01 7 2013–14 14 [b]
Walsall 6 1881–82 1967–68 15 1965–66 21 [c]
Bilston Town 5 1957–58 1997–98 5 1996–97 10 [d]
Rushall Olympic 5 2005–06 2023–24 4 2018–19 9
Kidsgrove Athletic 5 2003–04 2011–12 2 2015–16 7
Kidderminster Harriers 4 1980–81 1984–85 5 1978–79 9
Tamworth 4 1958–59 2001–02 5 1900–2000 9
Birmingham City 3 1904–05 1914–15 6 1936–37 9 [e]
Hednesford Town 3 1969–70 2012–13 2 2017–18 5
Northwich Victoria 3 1978–79 1989–90 2 1990–91 5
Macclesfield Town † 2 1993–94 1996–97 1 1989–90 3 [f]
Birmingham St George's † 2 1883–84 1889–90 0 – 2 [g]
Leek Town 1 1995–96 1995–96 9 2023–24 10
Newcastle Town 1 2009–10 2009–10 2 2001–02 3
Burton Albion 1 1955–56 1955–56 1 1976–77 2
Halesowen Town 1 1988–89 1988–89 1 1983–84 2
Rocester 1 2007–08 2007–08 1 2000–01 2
Blakenall † 1 1999–2000 1999–2000 0 – 1 [h]
Burton Swifts † 1 1891–92 1891–92 0 – 1 [i]
Burton Wanderers † 1 1894–95 1894–95 0 – 1 [j]
Eastwood Hanley 1 1985–96 1985–96 0 – 1
Oldbury United 1 1987–98 1987–98 0 – 1
Redditch United 1 1990–91 1990–91 0 – 1
Wednesbury Old Athletic † 1 1879–80 1879–80 0 – 1 [k]
Worcester City 1 1976–77 1976–77 0 – 1
Brierley Hill Alliance † 0 – – 2 1963–64 2 [l]
Chasetown 0 – – 2 2016–17 2
Armitage † 0 – – 1 1974–75 1 [m]
Burton United † 0 – – 1 1905–06 1 [n]
Cobridge † 0 – – 1 1878–79 1 [o]
Leek † 0 – – 1 1888–89 1 [p]
Paget Rangers 0 – – 1 1994–95 1
Stone Old Alleynians 0 – – 1 2021–22 1
Sutton Coldfield Town 0 – – 1 1988–89 1
Talke Rangers † 0 – – 1 1877–78 1 [q]
Wednesfield Social † 0 – – 1 1993–94 1 [r]
Willenhall Town 0 – – 1 1982–83 1

Wins by cities/towns

City County Wins Team(s)
Birmingham  West Midlands 21 Aston Villa (16), Birmingham City (3), Birmingham St. George's (2)
Stoke-on-Trent  Staffordshire 19 Stoke City (19)
Stafford  Staffordshire 14 Stafford Rangers (14)
West Bromwich  West Midlands 13 West Bromwich Albion (13)
Wolverhampton  West Midlands 12 Wolverhampton Wanderers (12)
Burslem  Staffordshire 7 Port Vale (7)
Walsall  West Midlands 6 Walsall (6)
Bilston  West Midlands 5 Bilston (5)
Kidsgrove  West Midlands 5 Kidsgrove Athletic (5)
Rushall  West Midlands 5 Rushall Olympics (5)
Kidderminster  Worcestershire 4 Kidderminster Harriers (4)
Tamworth  Staffordshire 4 Tamworth (4)
Hednesford  Staffordshire 3 Hednesford Town (3)
Northwich  Cheshire 3 Northwich Victoria (3)
Burton upon Trent  Staffordshire 3 Burton Albion (1), Burton Swifts (1), Burton Wanderers (1)
Macclesfield  Cheshire 2 Macclesfield Town (2)
Leek  Staffordshire 1 Leek Town (1)
Newcastle-under-Lyme  Staffordshire 1 Newcastle Town (1)
Halesowen  West Midlands 1 Halesowen Town (1)
Rocester  Staffordshire 1 Rocester (1)
Blakenall Heath  West Midlands 1 Blakenall (1)
Hanley  Staffordshire 1 Eastwood Hanley (1)
Oldbury  West Midlands 1 Oldbury United (1)
Redditch  Worcestershire 1 Redditch United (1)
Wednesbury  Staffordshire 1 Wednesbury Old Athletic (1)
Worcester  Worcestershire 1 Worcester City (1)

Records and statistics

Matches

  • Most final wins: 19
    • Stoke City (1877–78, 1878–79, 1903–04, 1913–14, 1920–21, 1929–30, 1933–34, 1938–39, 1947–48, 1964–65, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1981–82, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1998–99, 2016–17)
  • Most final lost: 18
    • Stoke City (1882–83, 1885–86, 1890–91, 1895–96, 1896–97, 1900–01, 1901–02, 1902–03, 1923–24, 1925–26, 1934–35, 1951–52, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1980–81, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2010–11)
  • Most consecutive finals win: 4
  • Most consecutive finals lost: 3
  • Most finals played without losing: 2
  • Most finals played without winning: 2

Scoring

Notes

  1. ^ Won 5 titles as Stoke.
  2. ^ Won 2 titles as Burslem Port Vale.
  3. ^ Won 2 titles as Walsall Town.
  4. ^ Won 4 titles as Bliston.
  5. ^ Won 1 title as Small Heath.
  6. ^ Dissolved in 2020.
  7. ^ Dissolved in 1892.
  8. ^ Dissolved in 2001. Merged with Bloxwich Town to form Bloxwich United.
  9. ^ Dissolved in 1901. Merged with Burton Wanderers to form Burton United.
  10. ^ Dissolved in 1901. Merged with Burton Swifts to form Burton United.
  11. ^ Dissolved in 1893.
  12. ^ Dissolved in 1981.
  13. ^ Dissolved in 1996.
  14. ^ Dissolved in 1910. Merged with Burton All Star.
  15. ^ Dissolved in 1999.
  16. ^ Dissolved in 1896.
  17. ^ Dissolved in 2004.
  18. ^ Dissolved in 2003.

References

  1. ^ Cooke, Martyn Dean (January 2023). "Early football, governance and cup competitions: the formative years of the Staffordshire Football Association, c. 1877–1887". Soccer & Society. 24 (1). doi:10.1080/14660970.2022.2113123. EBSCOhost 161311156. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  2. ^ "SENIOR CUP HISTORY OF PREVIOUS WINNERS". Fulltime FA. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b "The Challenge Cup of North Staffordshire". The Staffordshire Daily Sentinel. No. 1, 513. Stoke-upon-Trent. 25 March 1878. p. 4. Retrieved 28 October 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ Smith, Peter (10 Apr 2019). "Stoke City's origin story as historian claims Nottingham Forest are older". The Sentinel. Stoke-upon-Trent. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d "The Staffordshire Cup". The Staffordshire Sentinel. Stoke-upon-Trent. 24 February 1900. p. 12. Retrieved 27 October 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879–1993. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.