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The '''FA Amateur Cup''' was an [[England|English]] [[football (soccer)|football]] competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when [[The Football Association]] abolished official amateur status.
{{short description|Former association football competition in England}}
The '''FA Amateur Cup''' was an [[England|English]] [[football (soccer)|football]] competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when [[the Football Association]] abolished official amateur status.


==History==
==History==
[[File:PaJackson.jpg|thumb|right|upright|N.L. Jackson of [[Corinthian F.C.]] was a prime mover in the creation of the Amateur Cup.]]
[[File:Nicholas Lane Jackson.png|thumb|right|upright|N.L. Jackson of [[Corinthian F.C.]] was a prime mover in the creation of the Amateur Cup.]]
Following the legalisation of professionalism within football, professional teams quickly came to dominate the sport's main national [[Single-elimination tournament|knock-out tournament]], the [[FA Cup]]. In response to this, the committee of the country's oldest club, [[Sheffield F.C.]], suggested in 1892 the organisation of a separate national cup solely for amateur teams, and even offered to pay for the trophy itself.<ref name="S3" /> [[The Football Association]] (the FA) declined the club's offer, but a year later decided to organise just such a competition.<ref name="S3" /> N.L. Jackson of [[Corinthian F.C.]] was appointed chairman of the Amateur Cup sub-committee and arranged for the purchase of a trophy valued at £30.00, and the first tournament took place during the [[1893-94 in English football|1893&ndash;94 season]].<ref name="S3">{{cite book|first=Richard|last=Samuel|title=The Complete F.A. Amateur Cup Results Book|publisher=Soccer Books Limited|year=2003|isbn=1-86223-066-8|page=3}}</ref> The entrants included 12 clubs representing the [[alumnus|old boy]]s of leading public schools, and [[Old Carthusians F.C.|Old Carthusians]], the team for former pupils of [[Charterhouse School]], won the first final, defeating [[Casuals F.C.|Casuals]].<ref name="EBF">{{cite book|first=Richard|last=Cox|author2=Dave Russell|author3=Wray Vamplew|title=Encyclopedia of British Football|publisher=Routledge|year=2002|isbn=0-7146-5249-0|page=21|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=JKbb02bg6zYC&pg=PA21&lpg=PA21&dq=%22fa+amateur+cup%22}}</ref> The old boy teams competed in the Amateur Cup until 1902, when disputes with the FA led to the formation of the Arthur Dunn Cup, a dedicated competition for such teams.<ref name="EBF" />
Following the legalisation of professionalism within football, professional teams quickly came to dominate the sport's main national [[Single-elimination tournament|knock-out tournament]], the [[FA Cup]]. In response to this, the committee of the country's oldest club, [[Sheffield F.C.]], suggested in 1892 the organisation of a separate national cup solely for amateur teams, and even offered to pay for the trophy itself.<ref name="S3" /> [[The Football Association]] (the FA) declined the club's offer, but a year later decided to organise just such a competition.<ref name="S3" /> [[Nicholas Lane Jackson|N. L. Jackson]] of [[Corinthian F.C.]] was appointed chairman of the Amateur Cup sub-committee and arranged for the purchase of a trophy valued at £30.00, and the first tournament took place during the [[1893-94 in English football|1893&ndash;94 season]].<ref name="S3">{{cite book|first=Richard|last=Samuel|title=The Complete F.A. Amateur Cup Results Book|publisher=Soccer Books Limited|year=2003|isbn=1-86223-066-8|page=3}}</ref> The entrants included 12 clubs representing the [[alumnus|old boy]]s of leading public schools, and [[Old Carthusians F.C.|Old Carthusians]], the team for former pupils of [[Charterhouse School]], won the first final, defeating [[Casuals F.C.|Casuals]].<ref name="EBF">{{cite book|first=Richard|last=Cox|author2=Dave Russell|author3=Wray Vamplew|title=Encyclopedia of British Football|publisher=Routledge|year=2002|isbn=0-7146-5249-0|page=21|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JKbb02bg6zYC&q=%22fa+amateur+cup%22&pg=PA21}}</ref> The old boy teams competed in the Amateur Cup until 1902, when disputes with the FA led to the formation of the [[Arthur Dunn Challenge Cup|Arthur Dunn Cup]], a dedicated competition for such teams.<ref name="EBF" />


The Amateur Cup ended in 1974 when the FA abolished the distinction between professional and amateur clubs. The strongest amateur teams instead entered the [[FA Trophy]], which had been set up five years earlier to cater for those teams outside [[The Football League]] which were professional rather than amateur. A new competition, the [[FA Vase]], was set up to cater for the remaining amateur clubs, and was generally regarded as a direct replacement for the old competition.<ref name="EBF" />
The [[1973–74 FA Amateur Cup|1973-74 competition]] was the last, as the FA abolished the distinction between professional and amateur clubs. The strongest amateur teams instead entered the [[FA Trophy]], which had been set up five years earlier to cater for those teams outside [[The Football League]] which were professional rather than amateur. A new competition, the [[FA Vase]], was set up to cater for the remaining amateur clubs, and was generally regarded as a direct replacement for the old competition.<ref name="EBF" />


==Structure==
==Structure==
Line 14: Line 15:
Matches in the Amateur Cup were played at the home ground of one of the two teams, as decided when the matches are drawn. Occasionally games were moved to other grounds. In the event of a [[draw (tie)|draw]], the [[replay (sports)|replay]] was played at the ground of the team who originally played [[home advantage|away from home]]. The second replay, and any further replays, were usually played at neutral grounds.
Matches in the Amateur Cup were played at the home ground of one of the two teams, as decided when the matches are drawn. Occasionally games were moved to other grounds. In the event of a [[draw (tie)|draw]], the [[replay (sports)|replay]] was played at the ground of the team who originally played [[home advantage|away from home]]. The second replay, and any further replays, were usually played at neutral grounds.


The final was held at various grounds in the early years of the competition, with a venue located somewhere in between the home towns of the two participating clubs usually chosen. After the [[Second World War]] the final moved to [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], and was played there every year until the competition ended. In the 1950s attendances for the final reached 100,000, comparable to the FA Cup final itself.<ref name="EBF" />
The final was held at various grounds in the early years of the competition, with a venue located somewhere in between the home towns of the two participating clubs usually chosen. In 1949 the final moved to [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], and was then played there every year until the competition ended. In the 1950s attendances for the final reached 100,000, comparable to the FA Cup final itself.<ref name="EBF" />


==Winners and finalists==
==Winners and finalists==
{{for|a full list of FA Amateur Cup winners and runners-up|List of FA Amateur Cup finals}}
{{for|a full list of FA Amateur Cup winners and runners-up|List of FA Amateur Cup finals}}
Almost all of the winners over the years were from either the [[Isthmian League]], based in [[London]] and the [[Home Counties]], or the [[Northern League (football)|Northern League]], based in [[North East England]], with [[Bishop Auckland F.C.|Bishop Auckland]] the most successful club with 10 wins. Amateur Cup winners who later turned professional and gained entry to The Football League include [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]], [[West Hartlepool F.C.|West Hartlepool]] (merged to form [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]]), [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]], [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]] and [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]].
Almost all of the winners over the years were from either the [[Isthmian League]], based in [[London]] and the [[Home Counties]], or the [[Northern League (football)|Northern League]], based in [[North East England]], with [[Bishop Auckland F.C.|Bishop Auckland]] the most successful club with 10 wins. Amateur Cup winners who later turned professional and gained entry to the [[English Football League]] include [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]], [[West Hartlepool F.C.|West Hartlepool]] (merged to form [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]]), [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]], [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]] and [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]]. [[Ilford F.C.|Ilford]], [[Leytonstone F.C.|Leytonstone]] and [[Walthamstow Avenue F.C.|Walthamstow Avenue]] additionally merged to become [[Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.|Dagenham & Redbridge]], a professional club which has also competed in the EFL.


Thirty-six different clubs won the cup. The following clubs won the tournament more than once:
Thirty-six different clubs won the cup. The following clubs won the tournament more than once:


[[File:Wycombe1931.jpg|thumb|right|[[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]] were Amateur Cup winners in 1931. The cup is the central of the three trophies displayed in front of the players.]]
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Wycombe1931.jpg|thumb|right|[[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]] were Amateur Cup winners in 1931. The cup is the central of the three trophies displayed in front of the players.]] -->
{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|-
Line 29: Line 30:
!Number of wins
!Number of wins
|-
|-
|[[Bishop Auckland F.C.|Bishop Auckland]]||[[Northern League (football)|Northern League]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fchd.info/BISHOPAU.HTM|title=Bishop Auckland|publisher=The Football Club History Database|accessdate=6 January 2009}}</ref>||align=center|10
|[[Bishop Auckland F.C.|Bishop Auckland]]||[[Northern League (football)|Northern League]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/BISHOPAU.HTM|title=Bishop Auckland|publisher=The Football Club History Database|access-date=6 January 2009}}</ref>||align=center|10
|-
|-
|[[Clapton F.C.|Clapton]]||none/[[Isthmian League]]{{Ref label|Isth|A|}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fchd.info/CLAPTON.HTM|title=Clapton|publisher=The Football Club History Database|accessdate=6 January 2009}}</ref>||align=center|5
|[[Clapton F.C.|Clapton]]||none/[[Isthmian League]]{{Ref label|Isth|A|}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/CLAPTON.HTM|title=Clapton|publisher=The Football Club History Database|access-date=6 January 2009}}</ref>||align=center|5
|-
|-
|[[Crook Town F.C.|Crook Town]]||[[Northern League (football)|Northern League]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fchd.info/CROOKT.HTM|title=Crook Town|publisher=The Football Club History Database|accessdate=6 January 2009}}</ref>||align=center|5
|[[Crook Town F.C.|Crook Town]]||[[Northern League (football)|Northern League]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/CROOKT.HTM|title=Crook Town|publisher=The Football Club History Database|access-date=6 January 2009}}</ref>||align=center|5
|-
|-
|[[Dulwich Hamlet F.C.|Dulwich Hamlet]]||[[Isthmian League]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fchd.info/DULWICHH.HTM|title=Dulwich Hamlet|publisher=The Football Club History Database|accessdate=8 January 2009}}</ref>||align=center|4
|[[Dulwich Hamlet F.C.|Dulwich Hamlet]]||[[Isthmian League]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/DULWICHH.HTM|title=Dulwich Hamlet|publisher=The Football Club History Database|access-date=8 January 2009}}</ref>||align=center|4
|-
|-
|[[Bromley F.C.|Bromley]]||[[Isthmian League]]/[[Athenian League]] ||align=center|3
|[[Bromley F.C.|Bromley]]||[[Isthmian League]]/[[Athenian League]] ||align=center|3
Line 61: Line 62:


*A. {{note|Isth}} Clapton did not play in a league at the time of the club's first Amateur Cup win, but played in the Isthmian League at the time of the remaining four victories.
*A. {{note|Isth}} Clapton did not play in a league at the time of the club's first Amateur Cup win, but played in the Isthmian League at the time of the remaining four victories.

==See also==
*[[FA Sunday Cup]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book|last=Morris|first=Terry|title=In A Class of Their Own: A History of English Amateur Football|year=2015|publisher=Chequered Flag Publishing|isbn=978-0-9932152-4-7}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Fa Amateur Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fa Amateur Cup}}
[[Category:FA Amateur Cup| ]]
[[Category:FA Amateur Cup| ]]
[[Category:Defunct football cup competitions in England|Amateur Cup]]
[[Category:Defunct football cup competitions in England|Amateur Cup]]
[[Category:Amateur association football competitions]]
[[Category:Amateur sport in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1893 establishments in England]]
[[Category:1974 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1893]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1893]]
[[Category:1974 disestablishments]]
[[Category:Recurring events disestablished in 1974]]

Latest revision as of 17:14, 12 April 2024

The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when the Football Association abolished official amateur status.

History

[edit]
N.L. Jackson of Corinthian F.C. was a prime mover in the creation of the Amateur Cup.

Following the legalisation of professionalism within football, professional teams quickly came to dominate the sport's main national knock-out tournament, the FA Cup. In response to this, the committee of the country's oldest club, Sheffield F.C., suggested in 1892 the organisation of a separate national cup solely for amateur teams, and even offered to pay for the trophy itself.[1] The Football Association (the FA) declined the club's offer, but a year later decided to organise just such a competition.[1] N. L. Jackson of Corinthian F.C. was appointed chairman of the Amateur Cup sub-committee and arranged for the purchase of a trophy valued at £30.00, and the first tournament took place during the 1893–94 season.[1] The entrants included 12 clubs representing the old boys of leading public schools, and Old Carthusians, the team for former pupils of Charterhouse School, won the first final, defeating Casuals.[2] The old boy teams competed in the Amateur Cup until 1902, when disputes with the FA led to the formation of the Arthur Dunn Cup, a dedicated competition for such teams.[2]

The 1973-74 competition was the last, as the FA abolished the distinction between professional and amateur clubs. The strongest amateur teams instead entered the FA Trophy, which had been set up five years earlier to cater for those teams outside The Football League which were professional rather than amateur. A new competition, the FA Vase, was set up to cater for the remaining amateur clubs, and was generally regarded as a direct replacement for the old competition.[2]

Structure

[edit]

The first tournament attracted 81 entrants, with three qualifying rounds used to reduce the number down to 32 for the first round proper.[3] For the following season, the previous season's semi-finalists joined at the first round proper along with other leading clubs chosen by the FA, with the numbers made up by teams progressing through the qualifying rounds.[4] This remained the standard format until 1907, when the number of entrants to the first round was doubled to 64 and the number of rounds prior to the semi-finals increased to four. The competition continued under this format until it was discontinued in 1974.

Venues

[edit]
Wembley Stadium was the venue for the final between 1949 and 1974.

Matches in the Amateur Cup were played at the home ground of one of the two teams, as decided when the matches are drawn. Occasionally games were moved to other grounds. In the event of a draw, the replay was played at the ground of the team who originally played away from home. The second replay, and any further replays, were usually played at neutral grounds.

The final was held at various grounds in the early years of the competition, with a venue located somewhere in between the home towns of the two participating clubs usually chosen. In 1949 the final moved to Wembley Stadium, and was then played there every year until the competition ended. In the 1950s attendances for the final reached 100,000, comparable to the FA Cup final itself.[2]

Winners and finalists

[edit]
For a full list of FA Amateur Cup winners and runners-up, see List of FA Amateur Cup finals.

Almost all of the winners over the years were from either the Isthmian League, based in London and the Home Counties, or the Northern League, based in North East England, with Bishop Auckland the most successful club with 10 wins. Amateur Cup winners who later turned professional and gained entry to the English Football League include Middlesbrough, West Hartlepool (merged to form Hartlepool United), Wimbledon, Wycombe Wanderers and Barnet. Ilford, Leytonstone and Walthamstow Avenue additionally merged to become Dagenham & Redbridge, a professional club which has also competed in the EFL.

Thirty-six different clubs won the cup. The following clubs won the tournament more than once:

Club League Number of wins
Bishop Auckland Northern League[5] 10
Clapton none/Isthmian League[A][6] 5
Crook Town Northern League[7] 5
Dulwich Hamlet Isthmian League[8] 4
Bromley Isthmian League/Athenian League 3
Hendon Isthmian League/Athenian League 3
Leytonstone Isthmian League 3
Stockton Northern League 3
Enfield Isthmian League 2
Ilford Isthmian League 2
Leyton Athenian League 2
Middlesbrough Northern League 2
Old Carthusians none 2
Pegasus none 2
Walthamstow Avenue Isthmian League 2
  • A. ^ Clapton did not play in a league at the time of the club's first Amateur Cup win, but played in the Isthmian League at the time of the remaining four victories.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Samuel, Richard (2003). The Complete F.A. Amateur Cup Results Book. Soccer Books Limited. p. 3. ISBN 1-86223-066-8.
  2. ^ a b c d Cox, Richard; Dave Russell; Wray Vamplew (2002). Encyclopedia of British Football. Routledge. p. 21. ISBN 0-7146-5249-0.
  3. ^ Samuel, Richard. The Complete F.A. Amateur Cup Results Book. p. 5.
  4. ^ Samuel, Richard. The Complete F.A. Amateur Cup Results Book. p. 6.
  5. ^ "Bishop Auckland". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  6. ^ "Clapton". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  7. ^ "Crook Town". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  8. ^ "Dulwich Hamlet". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 8 January 2009.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Morris, Terry (2015). In A Class of Their Own: A History of English Amateur Football. Chequered Flag Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9932152-4-7.
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