The 1885 American Cup was the inaugural edition of this tournament staged by the American Football Association. Six teams contended for the first edition played in the 1884-85 season. Five of the teams were from New Jersey and one from New York. The Association and the tournament itself were the result of the success the game had in the previous winter and fall and despite all the teams coming from a relatively limited area it was anticipated that the game would undoubtedly grow. The draw for the first round made the papers on the first of October in 1884 after being conducted by the clubs' secretaries at Paterson. The completion of the trophy was announced several days later which was put on exhibition in several places around Newark, Paterson and New York. The trophy, originally valued at $200, was described as having "a neat design in silver and gold appropriate figures of foot ballists being engraved on it".[1] Clark ONT became the first winners of the trophy along with the purse of $150.
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Clark ONT played at their association ground in the rear of the Kearny Mills. They wore crimson jerseys, white knickerbockers, and crimson stockings. Paterson wore blue and white striped jerseys, white knickerbockers, and blue stockings. The Domestics, also having blue and white for colors, were composed of employees of the Domestic Manufacturing Company and played at their counterparts baseball ground at Williams Hill. However in March 1885 the Domestic company no longer allowed the baseball club to use that name so they simply became the Newark baseball club and their field also became Newark baseball grounds aka Emmett street grounds. The participants hailing from three different cities were as follows:
| October 25, 1884 3:00 PM |
Clark O.N.T. | 2–0 | Domestic | ONT AA Grounds Kearney, New Jersey Referee: James Lennox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McGurk(Swithemby) Spillane(Swithemby) |
ONT: GK J.Douglas, DF A.Kenworthy, E.Sargent, MF Joe Swithemby, J.Howarth, T.Smith, FW J.Spillane, J.Mitchell, Jack Swithemby, J.McGurk, William Clark Jr.(c)
Domestic: GK W.Hollenbeck, DF J.Corby, F.Ward, MF C.Riker, L.Conklin, FW C.Fairchild, R.O'Toole, H.Chadwick(c), T.Bock, T.Butchford, J.Utter.
| November 1, 1884 4:00 PM |
Kearny Rangers | 3–2 | Caledonian Thistle | Domestic Baseball Grounds Newark, New Jersey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 1, 1884 |
New York | 5–0 | Paterson | Hoboken, New Jersey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The secretaries of the remaining three teams met on November 8 in East Newark to make the second round draw which resulted in the Rangers being pit against New York on Thanksgiving Day with the winner to meet ONT in the final round.
| November 27, 1884 2:30 PM |
Kearney Rangers | 0–4 | New York | Domestic Baseball Grounds Newark, New Jersey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kearny Rangers: GK D.Ferguson, DF W.Hood, D.Morris, MF John Hood, James Lennox(c), FW R.Raeburn, J.Hill, A.Bolton, H.Ashley, W.Taylor, J.Milner.
The final was played in the snow on Valentines Day. ONT emerged victorious by a difference of one goal however captain Mitchell of New York entered a protest indicating that some of the ONT players were not members of the club and that the goal posts were not regulation size. The AFA ordered the game replayed at Paterson.
| February 14, 1885 3:00 PM |
Clark O.N.T. | 2–1 | New York | Emmet Street Grounds Newark, New Jersey Referee: James Lennox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15' Jack Swithemby 40' McGurck |
80' D.Sinclair |
ONT: GK P.Hughes, DF H.Holden, J.Donnelly, MF Joe Swithemby, J.Howarth, T.Smith, FW P.Garron, William Thornton, Jack Swithemby(c), J.Swarbrick, J.McGurk.
New York: GK T.Walker, DF A.Johnston, F.Marsterton, MF W.Sinclair, J.Gold, FW A.Mitchell(c), A.Young, J.Lowe, J.Grant, D.Sinclair, D.McNeil.
| April 25, 1885 4:00 PM |
Clark O.N.T. | 1-0 | New York | Olympic grounds Paterson, New Jersey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44' Swithemby |
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