TROPHY ARTICLE SERIES: Liverpool Senior Cup
Wed 6th November 2019 | General | By Stewart Taylor
The first winners of this fine trophy were Bootle FC however, this was not the Bootle FC we know today. The victorious club back in the 1882/83 season have become known as Bootle (1879) having been founded in that year as Bootle St. Johns AFC. Incidentally, they also won the trophy in the consecutive seasons of 1887/88 and 1888/89.
Bootle (1879), by then known simply as Bootle FC, were amongst the first clubs to apply for membership of the newly formed Football League back in 1888. At the time, there was said to be a rule which allowed only one club per city to join. Everton got in and Bootle did not. As students of the game on Merseyside will know, Liverpool FC were not formed until 1892 and joined the Football League Second Division (formerly the Football Alliance) for the 1893/94 season.
It could be argued that Liverpool FC took the place of Bootle (1879) but that would not tell the full story and Bootle (1879) disappeared due, it is said, for financial reasons.
In a nutshell there we have just an outline of the footballing scene in the city of Liverpool in the late Victorian era and there is much fascinating reading to be had in any attempt to follow both the history and rivalry between Everton FC and Liverpool FC.
And that, after one of my regular diversions, brings us back to the story we are telling this week in that the final of the 1892/93 season Liverpool Senior Cup is recorded as the first of what we all now know as the Merseyside Derby between Everton FC and Liverpool FC although some sources dispute that as it is said that it was Everton’s Reserve team (Everton Combination) which competed in the competition at that time.
Liverpool won that match 1-0 at Hawthorne Road in Bootle with over 10,000 supporters in attendance. The match was not without controversy as, after the match, Everton lodged a complaint based on the incompetence of the referee, the official having failed to give Everton a penalty for what they claimed was handball. The complaint was dismissed and the trophy was awarded to Liverpool and thus, some say, one of the earliest and fiercest rivalries in football began.
After all of that, it comes as no surprise to note that the most frequent winners of this competition are Everton and Liverpool with the current tally as 46 – 40 in favour of Everton.
Moving on, the Cup was suspended during most of the First World War, but continued during the Second World War, largely in the form of exhibition matches between Liverpool and Everton wartime teams.
One historical reference point of note relates to that old Anfield favourite Ian St. John. Ian was brought to Anfield by legendary manager Bill Shankly in May 1961. His first match in the famous red shirt was the Liverpool Senior Cup Final of that season against Everton in a match played at Goodison Park. Although Liverpool lost the match 4-3, Ian St John scored all three of Liverpool’s goals and went on to be one of the most revered of Liverpool FC players.
Sadly, Liverpool no longer enters into the Competition due to managerial preferences for which competition they enter. However Everton and Tranmere Rovers still maintain a much needed presence in providing additional revenue to the Clubs. And that, largely, is to the benefit of NWCFL member clubs as no fewer than ten NWCFL clubs will play in the 2019/20 competition including the club which proudly boasts the name of Bootle FC.
Indeed, Bootle were the last NWCFL member club to win this trophy back in the 2012/13 season defeating fellow NWCFL member club AFC Liverpool on penalties after the match was a 1-1 stalemate after 90 minutes.
A couple of current member clubs have won this competition whilst they were in higher leagues but some will remember Kirkby Town taking the trophy in 1987 as NWCFL members before changing their name to Knowsley United.
This season’s competition is well underway and features, for the first time so far as I know, Runcorn Town.
Our photo shows a rather splendid trophy which does appear to have some age and shows a reference to Liverpool and District football. The figure on the top of the lid, slightly askew perhaps, is quite striking.
Our thanks to Dave Pugh, CEO of Liverpool County FA, for his contribution to this article.
TROPHY ARTICLE SERIES: Liverpool Senior Cup
Wed 6th November 2019 | General
By Stewart Taylor
The first winners of this fine trophy were Bootle FC however, this was not the Bootle FC we know today. The victorious club back in the 1882/83 season have become known as Bootle (1879) having been founded in that year as Bootle St. Johns AFC. Incidentally, they also won the trophy in the consecutive seasons of 1887/88 and 1888/89.
Bootle (1879), by then known simply as Bootle FC, were amongst the first clubs to apply for membership of the newly formed Football League back in 1888. At the time, there was said to be a rule which allowed only one club per city to join. Everton got in and Bootle did not. As students of the game on Merseyside will know, Liverpool FC were not formed until 1892 and joined the Football League Second Division (formerly the Football Alliance) for the 1893/94 season.
It could be argued that Liverpool FC took the place of Bootle (1879) but that would not tell the full story and Bootle (1879) disappeared due, it is said, for financial reasons.
In a nutshell there we have just an outline of the footballing scene in the city of Liverpool in the late Victorian era and there is much fascinating reading to be had in any attempt to follow both the history and rivalry between Everton FC and Liverpool FC.
And that, after one of my regular diversions, brings us back to the story we are telling this week in that the final of the 1892/93 season Liverpool Senior Cup is recorded as the first of what we all now know as the Merseyside Derby between Everton FC and Liverpool FC although some sources dispute that as it is said that it was Everton’s Reserve team (Everton Combination) which competed in the competition at that time.
Liverpool won that match 1-0 at Hawthorne Road in Bootle with over 10,000 supporters in attendance. The match was not without controversy as, after the match, Everton lodged a complaint based on the incompetence of the referee, the official having failed to give Everton a penalty for what they claimed was handball. The complaint was dismissed and the trophy was awarded to Liverpool and thus, some say, one of the earliest and fiercest rivalries in football began.
After all of that, it comes as no surprise to note that the most frequent winners of this competition are Everton and Liverpool with the current tally as 46 – 40 in favour of Everton.
Moving on, the Cup was suspended during most of the First World War, but continued during the Second World War, largely in the form of exhibition matches between Liverpool and Everton wartime teams.
One historical reference point of note relates to that old Anfield favourite Ian St. John. Ian was brought to Anfield by legendary manager Bill Shankly in May 1961. His first match in the famous red shirt was the Liverpool Senior Cup Final of that season against Everton in a match played at Goodison Park. Although Liverpool lost the match 4-3, Ian St John scored all three of Liverpool’s goals and went on to be one of the most revered of Liverpool FC players.
Sadly, Liverpool no longer enters into the Competition due to managerial preferences for which competition they enter. However Everton and Tranmere Rovers still maintain a much needed presence in providing additional revenue to the Clubs. And that, largely, is to the benefit of NWCFL member clubs as no fewer than ten NWCFL clubs will play in the 2019/20 competition including the club which proudly boasts the name of Bootle FC.
Indeed, Bootle were the last NWCFL member club to win this trophy back in the 2012/13 season defeating fellow NWCFL member club AFC Liverpool on penalties after the match was a 1-1 stalemate after 90 minutes.
A couple of current member clubs have won this competition whilst they were in higher leagues but some will remember Kirkby Town taking the trophy in 1987 as NWCFL members before changing their name to Knowsley United.
This season’s competition is well underway and features, for the first time so far as I know, Runcorn Town.
Our photo shows a rather splendid trophy which does appear to have some age and shows a reference to Liverpool and District football. The figure on the top of the lid, slightly askew perhaps, is quite striking.
Our thanks to Dave Pugh, CEO of Liverpool County FA, for his contribution to this article.
