1888 American Cup
The 1888 American Cup was the fourth edition of the soccer tournament organized by the American Football Association. Having expanded into the New England district the first new champions came from Fall River, Massachusetts after Clark ONT of Newark had won the previous three editions. The Rovers defeated the Newark Almas in the final.
Participants
Previously only the New York and New Jersey districts were represented. With the addition of the New England district, the tournament now included five new teams from three different states. The draw was held on September 17, 1887. In order to reduce travel the teams were drawn in two sections with the Rhode Island and Massachusetts teams in the first section and the remaining teams in the second section. The fifteen entrants were as follows:
- New Jersey- Trenton, Paterson, Clark O.N.T., Alma, Tiffany Rovers, Kearny Rangers, and Newark Caledonian.
- New York- Riverside, Thistle, and New York.
- New England- Ansonia, Providence Athletics, Pawtucket Free Wanderers, Fall River Rovers, Fall River East Ends.
First round
Riversides drew a bye.
| ONT | w/o | Trenton |
|---|---|---|
October 22, 1887 |
| Tiffany Rovers | 0–4 | Paterson |
|---|---|---|
Wright Street grounds Newark, New Jersey Referee: J.Howarth |
Rovers: GK J.Clancy, DF T.Crann, W.Flanning, MF M.O'Hara, J.Selby, D.Dwyer, FW C.Gray, A.Hinckley, W.Hinckley, J.Morton, M.Down. Paterson: GK W.Doney, DF J.Smallwood, B.Henshall, MF J.Henshall, G.Henshall, FW T.Bisland, T.Evans, H.Curry, W.Warburton, W.Wyatt, J.Sutton
October 22, 1887 |
| Kearny Rangers | – | New York |
|---|---|---|
October 29, 1887 |
| Alma | 5–1 | Caledonian |
|---|---|---|
| 8' Gray 23' Gray 50' Cornall Cornall Brennan |
Wright Street grounds Newark, New Jersey Referee: T.Smith |
Alma: GK F.Farrow, DF G.Wright, F.McDonald, MF E.Morton, F.Britchford, R.Pattison, FW J.Lucas, F.Cornall, T.Bright, J.Gray, P.Brennan. Caledonian: GK H.Eddis, DF W.McCormick, John Hood, MF J.Lindsay, John Hearne, W.McNeil, FW J.McWilliams, J.Low, S.Hood, R.Barr, James Hearne.
October 29, 1887 |
| Fall River Rovers | 3–1 | East Ends |
|---|---|---|
County Street grounds Fall River, MA Attendance: 1300 |
Rovers: Long, Lonsdale, Bradley, Thomas, Waring, Adams, Bed, Blakely, Wild, Duff, Buckley. East Ends: Bracknell, Whittle, Karzenski, Coupe, Shoarocks, Lord, Wild, Whittle, King, Darlington, Foley.
October 29, 1887 3:15 PM |
| Providence | 1–4 | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|
| 19' Tomlinson | J.Stewart Lennox H.Stewart Hardy |
Eagle street grounds, Olneyville, RI Referee: Thomas Bell |
Providence: GK Crone, DF Jack North, Osborne, MF Jerome, Morgan, Tomlinson, FW Such, Start, Axon, Ambler, Heliborne. Pawtucket: GK Bosch, DF Smith, Reye, MF Conley, Pilling, Jack McGuire, FW Hardy, Harry Stewart, John Stewart, Sunderland, Lennox.
November 12, 1887 |
| Thistles | 0–1 | Ansonia |
|---|---|---|
Metropolitan Park |
Second round
Clark ONT had experienced their first cup-tie loss at the hands of the Almas. ONT lodged a protest on two counts. The first goal obtained by the Almas was awarded by the referee when a shot at goal was struck by Holden with his arm. ONT alleged that the foul was not properly done. The second issue concerned a goal by ONT that was disallowed since it was from a free kick. ONT claimed that the ball was touched by Jack Swithemby before Howarth scored. At a meeting the following week, the AFA did not sustain the referee's decisions and called for a replay.
December 3, 1887 |
| Alma | 2–1 | ONT |
|---|---|---|
| 55' awarded 75' Lucas |
Frelinghuysen avenue grounds Attendance: 200 Referee: J.Grant |
Alma: GK F.Farrow, DF F.McDonald, B.Fagan, MF E.Morton, F.Britchford, G.Wright, FW F.Cornall, J.Lucas, T.Bright, A.Mountford, J.Gray. ONT: GK P.Hughes, DF H.Holden, A.Pallister, MF J.Howarth, Joe Swithemby, P.Flynn, FW J.Swarbrick, J.Connolly, Jack Swithemby, J.McGurck, H.Fisher.
December 3, 1887 |
| Fall River Rovers | 3–0 | Pawtucket Free Wanderers |
|---|---|---|
| Brookshaw Bell |
Attendance: 1000 Referee: Spencer |
Rovers: GK Lang, DF Lonsdale, Bradley, MF Waring, Buckley, Adams, FW Bell, Brookshaw, Wilde, Duff, Blakely. Pawtucket: GK Booth, DF Smith, J.Stewart, MF Pilling, Love, Conley, FW Harding, H.Stewart, Sandilands, McGuire, Lennox.
December 10, 1887 |
| Kearny Rangers | 6–1 | Ansonia |
|---|---|---|
| 10' Walter Taylor 20' W.Turner Campbell Sergeant Sergeant Campbell |
60' Wherle |
ONT grounds Attendance: 150 Referee: J.Howarth |
Rangers: GK J.Smith, DF E.Walker, W.Lines, MF R.McDonald, T.Spencer, W.Allsopp, FW Walter Taylor, G.Sargeant, J.Campbell, W.Turner, E.Stark. Ansonia: GK W.Winfield, DF C.Williams(c), J.Williams, MF E.Wood, J.Lewis, J.Davidson, FW C.Williams, G.Bell, C.Wood, A.Wherle, M.McHale.
| Riverside | – | Paterson |
|---|---|---|
replay
February 22, 1888 |
| Alma | 5–1 | ONT |
|---|---|---|
Wright street grounds |
Semifinals
March 3, 1888 |
| Fall River Rovers | 6–1 | Kearney Rangers |
|---|---|---|
| 3' Blakeley Bell Bell 60' Duff Bruckshaw 85' Bruckshaw |
Stark |
Bedford Street grounds Fall River Attendance: 2000 Referee: Eli Morton(Almas) |
Rovers: GK Mullen, DF Bradley, Lonsdale, MF Buckley, Waring, Adams, FW Bell, Bruckshaw, Blakeley, Wilde, Duff. Rangers: GK J.H.Smith, DF W.Lines, L.Walker, MF R.McDonald, H.Bennett, W.Allsop, FW W.Taylor, G.Sargent, T.Spencer, A.Campbell, E.Stark.
March 10, 1888 |
| Almas | 5–1 | Paterson |
|---|---|---|
Frelinghuysen Avenue grounds Referee: H.Holden |
Alma: GK H.Farron, DF E.Morton, F.McDonald, MF P.Fagin, F.Britchford, R.Patterson, FW P.Brennan, J.Lucas, T.Bright, H.Maxfield, J.Gray.
Final
Rovers: GK: J.Mullin, DF R. Lonsdale, F. Bradley, MF: J. Buckley, H. Waring, H. Adams, FW: R. Bell, T. Bruckshaw, J. Blakeley, H. Wilde, C. Duff.
Alma: GK F.Farrow, DF F.McDonald, W.Fagin, MF E.Morton, R.Patterson, F.Britchford, FW P.Garron, F.Cornall, T.Bught, J.Gray, H.Maxfield.
Sources
- Outing
- National Police Gazette
- New York Herald
- New York Times
- Spirit of the Times
- Trenton Times
- Fall River Herald
- Daily Advertiser
- Evening News
- Sunday Call