1887–88 American Cup

1888 American Cup
Tournament details
CountryUnited States
DatesOctober 22, 1887 – April 14, 1888
Teams15
Final positions
ChampionsFall River Rovers (1st title)
Runner-upNewark Almas
Tournament statistics
Matches played15
Goals scored58 (3.87 per match)
← 1887
1889 →

The 1888 American Cup was the fourth edition of the soccer tournament organized by the American Football Association. Having expanded into the New England district the first new champions came from Fall River, Massachusetts after Clark O.N.T. of Newark had won the previous three editions.[1] The Fall River Rovers defeated the Newark Almas in the final.

Participants

Previously only the New York and New Jersey districts were represented. With the addition of the New England district, the tournament now included five new teams from three different states. Ansonia cricket and football club, organized in 1885, played out of Derby Driving Park wore navy blue jerseys and white knickerbockers. The East End football club, organized in 1882, played out of the County Street grounds and wore navy shirts and white shorts. The Fall River Rovers, organized in 1884, playing at Oak Grove Avenue wore gold jerseys, blue knickerbockers and red socks. The Pawtucket Free Wanderers were organized in 1885 and wore navy jerseys with white knickerbockers. Newark Caledonian football club was organized in 1885 and wore royal blue jerseys with white knickerbockers. The Providence cricket and football club, organized in 1886, wore light and dark blue jerseys, white knickerbockers and blue socks. The fifteen entrants were as follows:

Ad for Providence vs. Pawtucket match
State City Team
Connecticut Ansonia Ansonia
Massachusetts Fall River Fall River Rovers
Fall River East Ends
New Jersey Paterson Paterson F.B.C.
Newark Almas
Clark O.N.T.
Newark Caledonian
Tiffany Rovers
Kearny Kearny Rangers
Trenton Trenton F.B.C.
New York New York New York F.B.C.
Riverside
Thistle
Rhode Island Pawtucket Pawtucket Free Wanderers
Providence Providence Athletics

First round

The draw was held on September 17, 1887. In order to reduce travel the teams were drawn in two sections with the Rhode Island and Massachusetts teams in the first section and the remaining teams in the second section. Riversides drew a bye. The second round was drawn on October 29, 1887.

October 22, 1887 Tiffany Rovers 0–4 Paterson Newark, New Jersey
3:45 PM [2][3] 60'
Wyatt
80'
W.Bissland 		Stadium: Wright Street grounds
Referee: J.Howarth
Note: Rovers: GK J.Clancy, DF T.Crann, W.Flanning, MF M.O'Hara, J.Selby, D.Dwyer, FW C.Gray, A.Hinckley, W.Hinckley, J.Morton, M.Down.
Paterson: GK W.Doney, DF J.Smallwood, B.Henshall, MF J.Henshall, G.Henshall, FW T.Bisland, T.Evans, H.Curry, W.Warburton, W.Wyatt, J.Sutton
October 22, 1887 Kearny Rangers – New York
October 24, 1887 Trenton 2–3 O.N.T. Trenton, NJ
Openshaw
60'		 [4][5] 60'
Connelly 70'		 Stadium: East State grounds
Attendance: 300
Referee: Spencer (Kearny Rangers)
Note: Trenton: GK Mart, FB Allman, Rhodes, HB James, Baddely, McNichol, FW Openshaw(c), Cooper, Byatt, Bagley, Ward.
O.N.T.: GK Hughes, FB Holden, Pollister, HB Howarth, Joseph Swithemby, Dockery, FW John Swithemby(c), Swarbrick, Fisher, Connolly, McGurck.
October 29, 1887 Alma 5–1 Caledonian New Jersey
3:40 PM Gray 8'
Gray 23'
Cornall 50',
Brennan 		[6] Hearn Stadium: Wright Street grounds Newark
Referee: T.Smith (O.N.T.)
Note: Alma: GK Frank Farrow, DF George Wright, F.McDonald, MF E.Morton, F.Britchford, R.Pattison, FW Joseph Lucas, F.Cornall, Thomas Bright, John Gray, P.Brennan.
Caledonian: GK H.Eddis, DF W.McCormick, John Hood, MF J.Lindsay, John Hearne, W.McNeil, FW J.McWilliams, J.Low, S.Hood, R.Barr, James Hearne.
October 29, 1887 Fall River Rovers 3–1 East Ends Fall River, MA
60'
120', 120'		 [7] 60' Stadium: County Street grounds
Attendance: 1300
Note: Rovers: G Long, FB Lonsdale, Bradley, HB Thomas, Waring, Adams, RW Bed, Blakely, LW Wild, Duff, C Buckley.
East Ends: G Bracknell, FB Whittle, Karzenski, HB Coupe, Shoarocks, Lord, RW Wild, Whittle, LW King, Darlington, C Foley.
October 29, 1887 Providence 1–4 Pawtucket Olneyville, RI
3:15 PM Tomlinson 19' [8] J.Stewart
Lennox
H.Stewart
Hardy 		Stadium: Eagle street grounds
Referee: Thomas Bell
Note: Providence: GK Crone, DF Jack North, Osborne, MF Jerome, Morgan, Tomlinson, FW Such, Start, Axon, Ambler, Heliborne.
Pawtucket: GK Bosch, DF Smith, Reye, MF Conley, Pilling, Jack McGuire, FW Hardy, Harry Stewart, John Stewart, Sunderland, Lennox.
October 29, 1887 Thistles T–T Ansonia Metropolitan Park
[9]
Note: Article does not state score of drawn game.

replays

November 12, 1887 Ansonia 1–0 Thistle Driving Park
[10]

Second round

Clark ONT had experienced their first cup-tie loss at the hands of the Almas. ONT lodged a protest on two counts. The first goal obtained by the Almas was awarded by the referee when a shot at goal was struck by Holden with his arm. ONT alleged that the foul was not properly done. The second issue concerned a goal by ONT that was disallowed since it was from a free kick. ONT claimed that the ball was touched by Jack Swithemby before Howarth scored. At a meeting the following week, the AFA did not sustain the referee's decisions and called for a replay.

December 3, 1887 Alma 2–1 O.N.T. Frelinghuysen avenue grounds
55'
Lucas 75'		 [11] 15' Attendance: 200
Referee: J.Grant
Note: Alma: GK Frank Farrow, DF F.McDonald, B.Fagan, MF E.Morton, F.Britchford, George Wright, FW F.Cornall, Joseph Lucas, Thomas Bright, A.Mountford, John Gray.
O.N.T.: GK Patrick Hughes, DF Harry Holden, A.Pallister, MF James Howarth, Joe Swithemby, P.Flynn, FW Joseph Swarbrick, J.Connolly, Jack Swithemby, James McGurck, Harry Fisher.
December 3, 1887 Fall River Rovers 3–0 Pawtucket Free Wanderers Fall River, MA
Brookshaw
Bell
[12] Stadium: Rover grounds
Attendance: 1000
Referee: Mr. Spencer (Newark)
Note: Rovers: GK Lang, DF Lonsdale, Bradley, MF Waring, Buckley, Adams, FW Bell, Brookshaw, Wilde, Duff, Blakely.
Pawtucket: GK Booth, DF Smith, J.Stewart, MF Pilling, Love, Conley, FW Harding, H.Stewart, Sandilands, McGuire, Lennox.
December 10, 1887 Kearny Rangers 6–1 Ansonia ONT grounds
Walter Taylor 10'
W.Turner 20'
Campbell
Sergeant ,
Campbell 		[13][14] Wherle 60' Attendance: 150
Referee: J.Howarth
Note: Rangers: GK J.Smith, DF E.Walker, William Lines, MF Roderick McDonald, T.Spencer, William Allsopp, FW Walter Taylor, George Sargeant, J.Campbell, W.Turner, E.Stark.
Ansonia: GK W.Winfield, DF C.Williams(c), J.Williams, MF E.Wood, J.Lewis, J.Davidson, FW C.Williams, G.Bell, C.Wood, A.Wherle, M.McHale.
December 18, 1887 Riverside 0–5 Paterson
[15]

replay

February 22, 1888 Alma 5–1 O.N.T. Wright street grounds
[16]

Semifinals

March 3, 1888 Fall River Rovers 6–1 Kearney Rangers Fall River, MA
Blakeley 3'
Bell
Duff 60'
Bruckshaw , 85'		 [17] Stark Stadium: Bedford Street grounds
Attendance: 2000
Referee: Eli Morton (Almas)
Note: Rovers: GK Mullen, DF Bradley, Lonsdale, MF Buckley, Waring, Adams, FW Bell, Bruckshaw, Blakeley, Wilde, Duff.
Rangers: GK J.H.Smith, DF W.Lines, L.Walker, MF Roderick McDonald, H.Bennett, William Allsop, FW W.Taylor, George Sargent, T.Spencer, A.Campbell, E.Stark.
March 10, 1888 Almas 5–1 Paterson Frelinghuysen Avenue grounds
[18] Referee: H.Holden
Note: Alma: GK H.Farron, DF E.Morton, F.McDonald, MF P.Fagin, F.Britchford, R.Patterson, FW P.Brennan, Joseph Lucas, Thomas Bright, H.Maxfield, John Gray.

Final

April 14, 1888 Almas 1–5 Rovers East Newark, NJ
3:00 PM Gray 40' [19][20] Bell 3'
Bruckshaw
Blakely
Wilde
Duff 		Stadium: O.N.T. grounds
Attendance: 400
Referee: B. Craig (New York)
Alma
Rovers
GK Frank Farrow
FB F. McDonald
FB W. Fagin
HB E. Morton
HB R. Patterson
HB F. Britchford
LW John Gray
LW H. Maxfield
C Thomas Bright
RW P. Garron
RW F. Cornall
GK J. Mullen
FB R. Lonsdale
FB F. Bradley
HB J. Buckley
HB H. Waring
HB H. Adams
LW H. Wilde
LW C. Duff
C J. Blakeley
RW R. Bell
RW T. Bruckshaw

Umpires:
P. O'Toole
William Allsop


Match rules

  • 90 minutes
  • Replay if game ends in a draw

American Cup bracket

First Round Second Round Semifinal Final
            
New Jersey Almas 5
New Jersey Caledonian 1
New Jersey Almas 2-5
New Jersey Clark O.N.T. 1-1
New Jersey Trenton 2
New Jersey Clark O.N.T. 3
New Jersey Almas 5
New Jersey Paterson 1
New York (state) Riverside
bye
New York (state) Riverside 0
New Jersey Paterson 5
New Jersey Tiffany Rovers 0
New Jersey Paterson 4
New Jersey Almas 1
Massachusetts Rovers 5
Massachusetts Rovers 3
Massachusetts East Ends 1
Massachusetts Rovers 3
Rhode Island Free Wanderers 0
Rhode Island Athletics 1
Rhode Island Free Wanderers 4
Massachusetts Rovers 6
New Jersey Kearny Rangers 1
New Jersey Kearny Rangers
New York (state) New York
New Jersey Kearny Rangers 6
Connecticut Ansonia 1
New York (state) Thistles 0
Connecticut Ansonia 1

Champions

American Football Association
Challenge Cup

Rover F.C.
First Title

References

  1. ^ "Results Of Cup Competitions". Constitution, By-laws And Laws Of The Game Of The American Football Association. New York: Peck & Snyder. 1888. pp. 17–18.
  2. ^ "Paterson Wins". The Morning Call. October 24, 1887. p.2 col.2. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Paterson Victorious". Paterson Daily Press. October 24, 1887. p.3 col.5. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  4. ^ "Notes About Sports" (PDF). Newark Evening News. October 25, 1887. p.3 col.1. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  5. ^ "Begun And Ended With Kicking". (October 25, 1887). Daily True American, p.5 col.4
  6. ^ "Work Of The Kickers" (PDF). Newark Evening News. October 31, 1887. p.3 col.1. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  7. ^ "Sporting Events". Fall River Daily Herald. October 31, 1887. p.4 col.2. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Local News". The Olneyville Times. November 5, 1887. p.3 col.2 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "No Title". (November 16, 1887). Derby Transcript, p.1 col.4
  10. ^ "Football Roughly Played". (November 13, 1887). New York Herald, p.14 col.2
  11. ^ "Foot Ball Contests" (PDF). Newark Evening News. December 5, 1887. p.3 col.1. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  12. ^ "Football Games". Fall River Daily Herald. December 5, 1887. p.4 col.2. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Kearny Rangers Win" (PDF). Newark Evening News. December 12, 1887. p.3 col.1. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  14. ^ "Football In The Rain". Newark Sunday Call. December 11, 1887. p.1 col.6. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  15. ^ "Football". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. December 19, 1887. p.7 col.3. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Won By The Almas" (PDF). Newark Evening News. February 23, 1888. p.3 col.1. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  17. ^ "The Rovers Win". Daily Evening News. Fall River, Massachusetts. March 5, 1888. p.2 col.3. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "The Alma's Win At Football". Newark Sunday Call. March 11, 1888. p.1 col.8. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  19. ^ "Notes About Sports" (PDF). Newark Evening News. April 16, 1888. p.3 col.1. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  20. ^ "Newark Loses The Cup". Newark Sunday Call. April 15, 1888. p.1 col.5. Retrieved August 20, 2024.

Sources

  • Outing
  • National Police Gazette
  • New York Herald
  • New York Times
  • Spirit of the Times
  • Trenton Times
  • Fall River Herald
  • Daily Advertiser
  • Evening News
  • Sunday Call