Youdan Cup
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Youdan Cup was the world's first ever organised football tournament. A local theatre owner Thomas Youdan sponsored the competition and provided a trophy.
Twelve Sheffield clubs took part. The participants were:
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The final was played at Bramall Lane, Sheffield on 5 March 1867. The game was played under Sheffield Rules and used the concept of 'rouges' (a rouge was scored when an attempt at goal, using a goal only 4 yards wide, missed, but would have gone into an 8 yard wide goal: rouges were only considered in the case of a drawn match), and Hallam beat Norfolk by two rouges to one after a goalless draw.
The cup subsequently disappeared. It didn't resurface until 1997 when a Scottish antiques collector contacted Hallam F.C. to tell them that he was in possession of it. They then bought it from him for £2000.
