Home Sports Football Seventy-Three Years Of Montagu Cup History

Seventy-Three Years Of Montagu Cup History

17 May 1969

South Yorkshire Times, May 17th, 1969

While the big clubs battle through the season for a share in the European soccer glory, the nonleague minnows, the bread and butter clubs of soccer, experience all the atmosphere of the big games in local cup competitions. In the Mexborough area, it is the Montagu cup which has provided all the thrills and spills, culminating in the “little FA Cup final” at Easter, which often attracts crowds of over 3000.

Although football followers throughout the area now and enjoy the Montagu cup – full title “Mexborough Montagu hospital charity cup” – very few can remember its origin or those early days when the cup was in its infaNCY.

Records date back to 1927, but eight commemorative plaque is now in the possession of cup committee secretary Mr Eric Payling, and this shows that the first competition was held in 1896 –7. Ecclesfield FC were the first winners in the cup was played for intermittently until 1918, the start of a still unbroken run of 52 finals, providing some of the best soccer this area has seen.

Glancing back through the records, names appear which bring back memories of the halcyon days of teams who will be remembered only by the old-timers. Looking through the entrance for 1929 – when Bolton Albion won the cup – it is strange to recall such clubs as Piccadilly athletic, Darfield Bridge and the fifth York and Lancs. Regiment, as well as some still going strong – Conisbrough Northcliffe, for instance.

But for real cup fighters, Manvers Main have the best record. Winners of the trophy on four occasions, they achieved a unique hat-trick in the war years, winning the cup in 1940, 41 and 42, and scoring again in 1945. The hatchet final was played in the Denaby United ground, With members defeating Upton colliery 4-2.

Goalscorers for members that day were Cocker (three) and an own goal by Upton wing half Chambers. Harper and Fowler replied for Upton. After their match the cup was presented by Mr W. P. Turner, son of the founder of the “South Yorkshire times” and president of the Montagu hospital, to Captain Matt Morrell, and medals to the winning team: white; Horner, Wilde; Deakin, Woffenden, new way; Brown. Cocker, Morrell, Rayner, Phillips.

One of the club has netted the trophy on four occasions – Mexborough FC who won it in 1899, 1904, 1905 and 1934, while three victories have been achieved by goal for United, Parkgate welfare, Rawmarsh welfare (who won it in three successive years but where joint holders in one of these), and Silverwood colliery.