The Sheffield & Hallamshire County F.A. Senior Challenge Cup 140th Anniversary

The year 2017 represents the 150th anniversary of the Sheffield Football Association. It was formed in 1867 when Sheffield had 14 football clubs and in excess of 1,000 members and bolstered the struggling London Football Association at a crucial time, who in the same year, were discussing their dissolution because of the lack of interest from London clubs to play by their 1863 laws.

The Sheffield Football Association was the first County Football Association and it is not only their 150th birthday this year but also its 130th anniversary as the Sheffield and Hallamshire Association(the two organisations merged in 1887).

The Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA Senior Challenge Cup is the joint oldest cup competition being run by a County Football Association, sharing this accolade with Birmingham County FA.

The first Senior Challenge Cup was won by The Wednesday back in 1877 at Bramall Lane so this years final will be the 140th anniversary of this historic trophy. The 2016/17 ‘Senior Challenge Cup winners were Shaw Lane FC who beat the 2015/16 winners Frickley Athletic FC. If Frickley were to win it this year they would take over Sheffield Wednesday as the team with the most wins:

14 wins – Sheffield Wednesday, Frickley Athletic
12 wins – Worksop Town
10 wins – Sheffield United
8 wins – Emley
6 wins – Stocksbridge Park Steels
5 wins – Denaby United, Sheffield FC
4 wins – Doncaster Rovers, Hallam FC, Mexborough Town

Sheffield FC were the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup Winners in:
1993/94, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2007/08, 2009/10

Hallam Fc were the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup Winners in:
1950/51, 1961/62, 1964/65, 1967/68

Over the 140 years of the tournament 137 competitions have been run with only 3 being cancelled due to the First World War. It continued throughout the Second World War and the Royal Army Service Corps won it twice in that period.

There are 38 entries in the 2017/18 Senior Challenge Cup for this season

Hallam FC have a bye in the first round but Sheffield FC play Rossington Main FC tomorrow on Tuesday 10th at the Coach and Horses ground in the first round.
Rossington Main FC are a Doncaster team formed in 1919 as Rossington Colliery FC.
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/rossingtonmain

A History of Sheffield Football 1857-1889: Speed, Science and Bottom – http://bit.ly/2qYw0r0

Martin Westby author of A History of Sheffield Football 1857-1889 is giving a talk as part of the Off the Shelf Book Festival at the Creative Lounge at the Showroom Cinema, Paternoster Row on Wednesday 25 October 7.30pm. Tickets £6.00 (£5.00 concessions) http://bit.ly/2g3vkNi