The 1906 American Cup was the fifteenth edition of the soccer tournament organized by the American Football Association. After being inactive for several years, the AFA reorganized in February 1906 with eight initial entries from the New Jersey towns of Harrison, Paterson, Kearny, and Newark.[1] At their February 13 meeting at the Caledonian House in Paterson it was decided to send additional invitations to Metropolitan league teams.[2] On February 17 at the Cosmopolitan Park House in East Newark Hal A. Holden of Kearny was elected president, Harry Craig of Paterson as treasurer, Peter Martin(Bronx Rangers) as vice-president, Herbert Turner of Paterson as recording secretary, James Allen Jr. of O.N.T. as financial secretary and Dr. John W. Reid as honorary president.[3][4][5] On February 24, exhibition games between the West Hudsons of Harrison and Pan Americans of Fall River coincided with the association meeting at Cosmopolitan Hall in order to have a representative, in this case C.C. Murphy, present for New England clubs wishing to join the tournament. On this occasion four additional teams from the Metropolitan district joined bringing the total to twelve. Entries were open until March 3.[6] John Swithenby who was in possession of the old trophy donated it to the association to once again award it to the winner of the tournament.[7][8]
Entries
There were thirteen participants in the 1906 AFA tournament.[9][10]
NJAFL - New Jersey Association Football League, MAFL - Metropolitan Association Football League, NJML - New Jersey Minor League
First round
The first round draw took place at the AFA meeting in Swithenby's Hotel on Saturday March 3, 1906.[11] On Wednesday March 6 at Ford's Hall in Kearny the association met to select the referees for the first round matches and were scheduled to reconvene at Evan's Hall in Kearny on March 19 at the close of the first round.[12][13] Bronx Rangers, Riverside, and Scottish Americans drew byes. The Celtic-O.N.T. match was protested because the referee had the teams play ten minutes extra time each way after a regulation tie. The game was ordered replayed because that rule had not passed the sanction of the AFA.
Stadium: Ryle Park Attendance: 1,200 Referee: Montgomery (Newark)
Note: True Blues: GK Miller, LFB Taylor, RFB Cockran, LHB Beattie, CHB Tommy Murray, RHB Smith, OL Tommy Turner, IL Harry Lauder, C Bobby Spencer, IR Jimmie Oldfield, OR Johnny Howarth. Rangers: GK Garside, LFB John Campbell, RFB J.Martin, LHB Lawson, CHB Mason, RHB Finigan, OL George Murray, IL Conners, C Dunn, IR Inglis, OR Tommy Piecey.
replays
O.N.T. v Paterson Celtics
March 24, 1906
O.N.T.
10–3
Paterson Celtics
Newark, NJ
3:00PM
W. McMillan 60', 64' Young 1H', 89' R.McMillan 74', 90' Fairweather 75' Waters 81'
On May 13 a benefit game was arranged by the AFA, the proceeds of which would be split between Benjamin Holden of the East Newark Celtics and Thomas Warburton, goalkeeper of the Robert Burns Club.[32] Warburton suffered a broken leg in the April 22nd match against West Hudson. Holden also had his leg broken in a game. The match was set for Cosmopolitan Park in East Newark between the West Hudson squad and a picked eleven from the other AFA teams. The 'All American' team was made up of GK Parker (Kearny Stars), FB Taylor (True Blues), FB Wilson (Scottish American), HB Hackett (East Newark Celtics), HB Hill (Bronx Rangers), HB McKay (O.N.T.), FW Murray (Paterson Rangers), FW Holden (Caledonian), FW Fisher (Riverside), FW Hunter (Burns FC), FW Manner (Paterson Celtic). The West Hudson lineup was GK Hayes, FB McMahon, Donald, HB Young, Neil, Lone, RW Knowles, Tate, C McMillan, LW Magee, Oldfield. James Caldwell of Newark officiated. Before a crowd of 2,200 people West Hudson won 2–0 on goals by Tate and Oldfield.[33]
The location selected for the final was Morris Park in Newark, New Jersey. After the match ended in a one all draw the AFA met at Evan's Hall in Kearny, NJ and decided that in the replay in case of a tie at full time, extra time would be allowed until one team scored.[35]
Stadium: Morris Park Attendance: 1,000 Referee: James Caldwell (New York)
Note: West Hudson: GK Hayes, FB McMahon, John Donald(c), HB Young, Neil, Lone, RW Tate, Knowles, C McMillan, LW Magee, Louis Miller. True Blue: GK Robert Miller, FB Bobby Taylor, FB Andy Cochrane, HB Smith, HB Tommy Murray, HB Beattie, RW Dean, Jimmy Oldfield(c), C Spencer, LW Lauder, Turner.
Stadium: Morris Park Attendance: 3,500 Referee: James Caldwell (New York)
Note: West Hudson: GK Arthur Hayes, RFB William McMahon, LFB John Donald, LHB John Young, CHB Frank Neil, RHB John Lone, RW John Tate, Thomas Gorman(c), C McMillan, LW John Magee, Louis Miller. True Blue: GK Robert Miller, LFB Bobby Taylor, RFB Andy Cochran, RHB Hall, CHB Tommy Murray, LHB Beattie, RW John Howarth, Jimmy Oldfield(c), C Spencer, LW Lauder, Turner.
Champions
West Hudson 1906. Garnet with light blue trim. New Jersey, Metropolitan, and American Champions. Top row- Robert M. Marshall, manager; William McMahon, fullback; Arthur Hayes, goal;William McClung, reserve halfback; John Donald, fullback; Toby Singleton, reserve halfback. Middle row- John Young, halfback; George Bennett, halfback; John Lone, halfback. Bottom row- Fred Greenhaigh, left wing; George Knowles, left wing; Thomas Gorman(captain), center; John Magee, right wing; Louis Miller, right wing.
There was growing interest in New England for a cup tournament.[40] Randolph Howarth, manager of the Rovers and president of the Inter state league was notified by AFA president Holden of an upcoming meeting regarding the reforming of the American Cup tournament.[41] Pan American manager C.C. Murphy had traveled to Newark and was informed that his team can join the AFA tournament provided seven other clubs join as well.[42] The most that could be secured in short notice were five teams.[43] Mr. Howarth needed more time to round up the remaining teams. A meeting was called for by AFA secretary Herbert Turner to inform the New England representatives of the rules, regulations and by-laws of the organization. The meeting was scheduled for 8PM on Thursday March 8 at the rooms of the City Football league on Quequechan street in Fall River. However word was received late Thursday afternoon that the AFA met on Wednesday and decided because it was too late in the season, they would continue without the New England teams as they were beginning the first round a few days later on March 11. It was then decided by the members of the Fall River meeting to continue to conduct a tournament apart from the AFA and call themselves the New England Association Cup-Tie League. The officers elected were William Allan of Pawtucket as president, Nat Frazer of Boston as vice-president, Randolph Howarth of Fall River as secretary, and C.C. Murphy Jr. of Fall River as treasurer.[44]
Participants
There were eleven entries for this tournament. Fairlawn was originally drawn in the ties however they failed to pay the entry fee by the due date and were replaced by Taunton.[45]
The first round was due to be completed by March 31. The Pan Americans originally drawn with Fairlawn had a bye when they were scratched. The Thornton Rangers who originally drew the bye were paired with Taunton when they entered.
