Lincolnshire Senior Cup
| Lincolnshire Senior Cup |
|---|
| Founded |
| 1881 |
| Current Holders |
| Scunthorpe United |
| Country |
 England
|
| County |
 Lincolnshire
|
| Most Successful Club |
| Lincoln City (37 Wins) |
The Lincolnshire Senior County Cup is a football (soccer) competition for senior football clubs in Lincolnshire organised by the Lincolnshire FA.
The competition can be traced back to the formation of the Lincolnshire FA at a meeting held at the Queens Hotel in Lincoln on Saturday 17 September 1881[1] and sixteen teams entered the inaugural Lincolnshire Cup competition with Spilsby the first winners in 1881—82. Spilsby would go on to win the first three competitions and consequently they were allowed to retain the initial trophy[2].
When the competition first started it was treated as seriously as the FA Cup and the need for a Lincoln team to be successful in the competition following the initial victories by Spilsby, who defeated three Lincoln based teams - Lincoln Rovers, Lincoln Lindum and Lincoln Albion - in the 1883–84 competition, that led to the formation of Lincoln City on 26 June 1884.[3]
The elevation of Grimsby Town and Lincoln City to the Football League in 1892 and Gainsborough Trinity in 1896 saw the importance of the competition decline over time and the format has undergone a number of changes over time as has the type of trophies offered by the Lincolnshire FA. In this entry attention is focused upon the most senior trophy offered by the Lincolnshire FA which currently has the official title of "The Lincolnshire Football Association Ltd Senior County Cup Competition"[4] and is competed annually by the four senior clubs of the county: Boston United, Grimsby Town, Lincoln City and Scunthorpe United. The current holders are Scunthorpe United who beat Grimsby City 4-0 at Glanford Park.[5]
The First Competition, 1881-1934
The Second Competition, 1934-1949
The increasing dominance of the county's two Football League sides Grimsby Town and Lincoln City saw the inauguration of the `Lincolnshire Senior County Cup' which was played for between the two clubs. The trophy was, by now, a minor consideration for the two clubs. For example a crowd of just 2,334 gathered at Sincil Bank on 24 September 1934 to see Lincoln defeat Grimsby 5-0 compared to Lincoln's league average attendance of 5,227 for that season[6] The competition was not held in either of the 1938-39 or 1939-40 seasons as the two clubs met in matches for the Football League Jubilee Fund, Lincoln coming out victorious in the first and Grimsby in the second. The senior non-league sides continued to play for the `Lincolnshire County Senior Cup' (LCS) and this continued to attract strong interest for these sides with, for comparison, the 1934-35 final replay between Boston United and Grantham attracting an attendance of 5,500[7]. The `Lincolnshire County Junior Cup' continued for those clubs playing at a more junior non-league level.
The Third Competition, 1949-1956The Lincolnshire Senior County Cup continued to be played as a straight final between the two Lincolnshire league teams, Grimsby Town and Lincoln City. Scunthorpe United's elevation to the Football League saw them eligible to participate in the competition from 1951-52 onwards. One team received a bye to the final with the other two teams meeting in a semi-final. From season 1949-50 onwards the Lincolnshire County Senior Cup split into two sections 'A' and 'B' and was restricted to clubs nominated to compete[17].
|
Four team knock-out, 1956-1962
In 1956 the Lincolnshire Senior County Cup competition was expanded to four clubs with the leading county non-league side, Boston United, invited to join the three league teams. In their first season in the competition they would defeat Grimsby Town in the semi-final before going on to lift the trophy with victory over Scunthorpe United in the final. Boston's demotion from the Southern Football League at the end of the 1960-61 season saw them replaced by Gainsborough Trinity for the 1961-62 competition.
| Season | Winner | Runner-up | Senior 'A' Winners | Senior 'B' Winners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956-57 | Boston United | Scunthorpe United | Skegness Town | Brigg Town |
| 1957-58 | Scunthorpe United | Grimsby Town | Gainsborough Trinity | Holbeach United |
| 1958-59 | Scunthorpe United | Lincoln City | Gainsborough Trinity | Barton Town |
| 1959-60 | Boston United | Lincoln City | Skegness Town | Grimsby Borough Police |
| 1960-61 | Scunthorpe United | Grimsby Town | Grantham | Bourne Town |
| 1961-62 | Lincoln City | Scunthorpe United | Grantham | Lincoln Ruston Bucyrus |
In the 1956-57 season, Scunthorpe United beat Lincoln City at Scunthorpe on the 1st October 1956 in the first semi-final, and Boston United beat Grimsby Town 2-0 in the second semi-final, on the 16th October 1956. The final was played at Scunthorpe United's ground on the 11th May 1957, with Boston United beating Scunthorpe United 3-1.[18]
The next season, 1957-58, saw Grimsby Town beat Boston United 3-0 in the first semi-final on 8th October 1957, and Scunthorpe United beat Lincoln City in the other semi-final on 7th November 1957. In the final, Scunthorpe United beat Grimsby Town 3-2 on the 5th May 1958.[19]
In 1958-59, Lincoln City beat Boston United in the first semi-final on 29th September 1958 and Scunthorpe United beat Grimsby Town in the other semi-final on 9th October 1958. Scunthorpe United went on to beat Lincoln City in the final on 17th November 1958.
In 1959-60, Lincoln City beat Scunthorpe United in one semi-final and Boston United beat Lincoln City 2-1 in the other semi-final played on 27th October 1959. Boston United went on to win the final, beating Lincoln City 2-1 on 24th November 1959.
Grimsby Town beat Lincoln City in one of the 1960-61 semi-finals and Scunthorpe United beat Boston United 3-1 in the other semi-final on 3rd October 1960. In the final, Scunthorpe United beat Grimsby Town 4-0 on 6th March 1961.
Gainsborough Trinity's fist appearance in the cup was a loss in the semi-final to Lincoln City in 1961-62. In the other semi-final, Scunthorpe United beat Grimsby Town on 17th October 1961. Lincoln City won the final, beating Scunthorpe United 2-0 on 19th March 1962.
The doldrum years, 1962-1968
This period was marked by a lack of interest in the trophy. The main competition was not held in either the 1962-63 season or the 1964-65 season. In two seasons of this period, the trophy was shared after the final failed to reach a conclusion. The Senior 'A' Cup was only played for once in this timeframe, Gainsborough Trinity defeating Boston United 2-1 in a replay on 15 April 1964.
| Season | Winner | Runner-up | Senior 'A' Winners | Senior 'B' Winners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962-63 | No competition | No competition | Grimsby Borough Police | |
| 1963-64 | Lincoln City | (Shared) | Gainsborough Trinity | Lincoln United |
| 1964-65 | No competition | No competition | Barton Town | |
| 1965-66 | Lincoln City | (Shared) | No competition | Boston FC |
| 1966-67 | Lincoln City | No competition | Brigg Town | |
| 1967-68 | Grimsby Town | No competition | Appleby Frodingham |
Six team knock-out, 1968-1976
The Northern Premier League was founded in 1968 with Boston United and Gainsborough Trinity as founder members. At the same time they, along with Grantham, joined the three existing league clubs to form a six team knock-out competition played from the Quarter Final stage with two teams receiving a bye into the Semi Finals. The second tier of non-league sides competed for the Lincolnshire Senior 'A' Cup with the minor, mainly Lincolnshire league sides competing for the Lincolnshire Senior 'B' Cup.
| Season | Winner | Runner-up | Senior 'A' Winners | Senior 'B' Winners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968-69 | Lincoln City | Scunthorpe United | Skegness Town | Brigg Town |
| 1969-70 | Lincoln City | Boston United | Skegness Town | Winterton Rangers |
| 1970-71 | Gainsborough Trinity | Grimsby Town | Skegness Town | Lincoln United |
| 1971-72 | Grantham Town | Scunthorpe United | Bourne Town | Louth United |
| 1972-73 | Grimsby Town | Boston United | Lincoln United | Grimsby Amateurs |
| 1973-74 | Competition not completed | Boston FC | Immingham Town | |
| 1974-75 | Lincoln City | Grimsby Town | Skegness Town | Lincoln Claytons |
| 1975-76 | Grimsby Town | ? | Brigg Town | Ross Sports |
League versus Non-league Groups, 1976-1983
For the competitions in the seasons between 1976-77 and 1982-83, the three league teams (Grimsby Town, Lincoln City and Scunthorpe United) were placed in one group with the three senior non-league teams (Boston United, Gainsborough Trinity and Grantham) in another. Each group member played the other members once with the two group winners meeting in the final.
| Season | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1976-77 | Boston United | Lincoln City |
| 1977-78 | Scunthorpe United | Boston United |
| 1978-79 | Boston United | Lincoln City |
| 1979-80 | Grimsby Town | Gainsborough Trinity |
| 1980-81 | Lincoln City | Grantham Town |
| 1981-82 | Lincoln City | Boston United |
| 1982-83 | Grantham Town | Scunthorpe United |
Mixed Formats, 1983-1986
The 1983-84 competition was played as a straight knock-out between the six competing clubs, the league sides Grimsby Town, Lincoln City and Scunthorpe United and the three senior non-league sides Boston United, Gainsborough Trinity and Grantham. The 1984-85 and 1985-86 competitions reverted to a group format, with two randomly drawn groups of three with the winners progressing to the final.
| Season | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1983-84 | Grimsby Town | Gainsborough Trinity |
| 1984-85 | Lincoln City | Gainsborough Trinity |
| 1985-86 | Boston United | Lincoln City |
Straight knock-out, 1986-1996
The competition was played as a straight knock-out. The three league sides Grimsby Town, Lincoln City and Scunthorpe United competed as did the three senior non-league sides Boston United, Gainsborough Trinity and Grantham Town (except 1992-93). Spalding United's seasons in the Southern Football League saw them compete in the competition from 1989-1991. The 1995-96 competition reverted to a group format, with two randomly chosen groups of three with the winners of each group progressing to the final.
| Season | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1986-87 | Grimsby Town | Scunthorpe United |
| 1987-88 | Boston United | Gainsborough Trinity |
| 1988-89 | Boston United | Gainsborough Trinity |
| 1989-90 | Grimsby Town | Spalding United |
| 1990-91 | Lincoln City | Grimsby Town |
| 1991-92 | Grimsby Town | Boston United |
| 1992-93 | Grimsby Town | Boston United |
| 1993-94 | Grimsby Town | Boston United |
| 1994-95 | Grimsby Town | Boston United |
| 1995-96 | Grimsby Town | Boston United |
Increasing numbers, 1996-2003
Lincoln United's rise up the non-league pyramid saw them enter the competition in 1996-97 (they won the Lincolnshire Senior `A' Cup in 1995-96). Scunthorpe United ended Grimsby Town's five year reign as champions, defeating them 8-7 on penalties in the 1996-97 final. Lincoln City did not enter the 1999-2000 competition. Stamford promotion to the Southern Football League Eastern Division saw them eligible for the competition and their victory in the 2000-01 competition meant they became the first club to lift four types of Lincolnshire Cup: the Junior Cup (in 1948-49), Senior `B' Cup (1951-52, 1953-54) and Senior `A' Cup (1978-79, 1982-83, 1997-98).
| Season | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | Scunthorpe United | Grimsby Town |
| 1997-98 | Lincoln City | Lincoln United |
| 1998-99 | Scunthorpe United | Stamford |
| 1999-2000 | Grimsby Town | Lincoln United |
| 2000-01 | Stamford | Boston United |
| 2001-02 | Scunthorpe United | Grantham Town |
| 2002-03 | Gainsborough Trinity | Grantham Town |
Current Competition, 2003-2009
From 2003-04 onwards, following Boston United's promotion to the Football league, the Lincolnshire Senior County Cup has been competed for by Boston United, Grimsby Town, Lincoln City and Scunthorpe United and organised as a knock-out competition. Teams in levels 5-8 of the English football league system compete for the Lincolnshire Senior Shield while those in levels 9-11 compete in the Lincolnshire County Senior Trophy. As the draw for the 2007-08 Senior Cup was made before Boston United's double relegation they remained in this competition where they were knocked out by eventual winners Scunthorpe United. The 2008-09 competition was reduced to just the three Football League sides with Grimsby Town defeating Lincoln City in a semi-final tie before losing to Scunthorpe United in the final.
| Season | Winner | Runner-up | Shield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-04 | Scunthorpe United | Grimsby Town | Grantham Town |
| 2004-05 | Lincoln City | Scunthorpe United | Grantham Town |
| 2005-06 | Boston United | Scunthorpe United | Lincoln United |
| 2006-07 | Lincoln City | Scunthorpe United | Stamford |
| 2007-08 | Scunthorpe United | Lincoln City | Gainsborough Trinity |
| 2008-09 | Scunthorpe United | Grimsby Town | Stamford |
Past Winners
The table summarises the winners of the Lincolnshire Senior County Cup (1934-2009) and its previous names (1881-1934). For the clubs in this category, victories in the lower level competitions are also summarised.
| Club | Winner |
|---|---|
| Boston (1) | 1925-26 |
| Boston United (7+7) | 1956-57, 1959-60, 1976-77, 1985-86, 1987-88, 1988-89, 2005-06 |
| Other wins - LCS: 1934-35, 1935-36, 1937-38, 1945-46. 'A': 1949-50, 1954-55, 1955-56 | |
| Gainsborough Trinity (10+9) | 1889-90, 1892-93, 1894-95, 1897-98, 1903-04, 1904-05, 1906-07, 1910-11, 1970-71, 2002-03 |
| Other wins - LCS: 1946-47, 1947-48, 1948-49. 'A': 1950-51, 1951-52, 1957-58, 1958-59, 1963-64. Shield: 2007-08 | |
| Grantham (3+6) | 1884-85, 1971-72, 1982-83 |
| Other wins - LCS: 1936-37. 'A': 1953-54, 1960-61, 1961-62. Shield: 2003-04, 2004-05 | |
| Grimsby All Saints (1) | 1895-96 |
| Grimsby Town (36) | 1885-86, 1888-89, 1896-97, 1898-99, 1899-1900, 1900-01, 1901-02, 1902-03, 1905-06, 1908-09, 1912-13, 1920-21, 1922-23, 1924-25, 1928-29, 1929-30, 1932-33, 1935-36, 1936-37, 1937-38, 1946-47, 1949-50, 1952-53, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1975-76, 1979-80, 1983-84, 1986-87, 1989-90, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1999-2000 |
| Lincoln City (37) | 1886-87, 1890-91, 1891-92, 1893-94, 1907-08, 1909-10, 1911-12, 1913-14, 1914-15, 1919-20, 1921-22, 1923-24, 1925-26, 1926-27, 1930-31, 1931-32, 1933-34, 1934-35, 1945-46, 1947-48, 1948-49, 1950-51, 1955-56 (Shared), 1961-62, 1963-64 (Shared), 1965-66 (Shared), 1966-67, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1974-75, 1980-81, 1981-82, 1984-85, 1990-91, 1997-98, 2004-05, 2006-07 |
| Scunthorpe United (16+2) | 1951-52, 1953-54, 1954-55, 1955-56 (Shared), 1957-58, 1958-59, 1960-61, 1963-64 (Shared), 1965-66 (Shared), 1977-78, 1996-97, 1998-99, 2001-02, 2003-04, 2007-08, 2008-09 |
| Other wins - LCS: 1938-39, 1939-40 | |
| Spilsby Town F.C. (3) | 1881-82, 1882-83, 1883-84 |
| Stamford (1) | 2000-01 |
References
- ^ Lincolnshire F.A. History
- ^ Lincolnshire Senior Cup Trophy returned to Spilsby
- ^ Ian & Donald Nannestad, Lincoln City F.C. The Official History, pp. 9–10, Yore Publications, 1997.
- ^ Handbook, Rules and Directory of the Lincolnshire Football Association Limited Season 2007-2008, p15.
- ^ "Sparrow hits brace in cup win". Scunthorpe United FC Official Web-site. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
- ^ Ian & Donald Nannestad, Lincoln City F.C. The Official History, p77, Yore Publications, 1997.
- ^ http://www.thegingerbreads.co.uk/gtfcstats/matchdetails.php?id=4764 Match report from Grantham Town Official Web-site
- ^ Match details, 4 May 1935, from unofficial Boston United history web-site
- ^ Match details, 11 April 1936, from unofficial Boston United history web-site
- ^ Match details, 17 April 1937, from Grantham Town official web-site
- ^ Match details, 16 April 1938, from unofficial Boston United history web-site
- ^ Match details, 30 March 1939, from unofficial Boston United history web-site
- ^ Match details, 20 April 1946, from unofficial Boston United history web-site
- ^ Match details, 16 April 1947, from official Grantham Town web-site
- ^ Match details, 27 March 1948, from unofficial Boston United web-site
- ^ Match details, 4 May 1949, from unofficial Boston United web-site
- ^ Handbook, Rules and Directory of the Lincolnshire Football Association Limited Season 2007-2008, p142.
- ^ from unofficial Boston United history web-site
- ^ Scunthorpe United programme 9th October 1958