1888 American Cup
Tournament details
CountryUnited States
Teams15
Final positions
ChampionsFall River Rovers
Runner-upNewark Almas
Tournament statistics
Matches played15
Goals scored58 (3.87 per match)
← 1887
1889 →

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. Ansonia cricket and football club, organized in 1885, played out of Derby Driving Park wore navy blue jerseys and white knickerbockers. The East End football club, organized in 1882, played out of the County Street grounds and wore navy shirts and white shorts. The Fall River Rovers, organized in 1884, playing at Oak Grove Avenue wore gold jerseys, blue knickerbockers and red socks. The Pawtucket Free Wanderers were organized in 1885 and wore navy jerseys with white knickerbockers. Newark Caledonian football club was organized in 1885 and wore royal blue jerseys with white knickerbockers. The Providence cricket and football club, organized in 1886, wore light and dark blue jerseys, white knickerbockers and blue socks. The fifteen entrants were as follows:

First round

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. Riversides drew a bye. The second round was drawn on October 29, 1887.

Tiffany Rovers0–4Paterson
[1][2] 60'
Wyatt
80'
W.Bissland
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

Kearny Rangers–New York
Trenton2–3O.N.T.
Openshaw
1H'		 [3][4] 1H'
70' Connelly
East State grounds, Trenton, NJ
Attendance: 300
Referee: Spencer (Kearny Rangers)

Trenton: GK Mart, FB Allman, Rhodes, HB James, Baddely, McNichol, FW Openshaw(c), Cooper, Byatt, Bagley, Ward. O.N.T.: GK Hughes, FB Holden, Pollister, HB Howarth, Joseph Swithemby, Dockery, FW John Swithemby(c), Swarbrick, Fisher, Connolly, McGurck.

Alma5–1Caledonian
8' Gray
23' Gray
50' Cornall
Cornall
Brennan		 [5] Hearn
Wright Street grounds Newark, New Jersey
Referee: T.Smith (O.N.T.)

Alma: GK Frank Farrow, DF George Wright, F.McDonald, MF E.Morton, F.Britchford, R.Pattison, FW Joseph Lucas, F.Cornall, Thomas Bright, John 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.

Fall River Rovers3–1East Ends
1H'
2H'(2)		 [6] 1H'
County Street grounds Fall River, MA
Attendance: 1300

Rovers: G Long, FB Lonsdale, Bradley, HB Thomas, Waring, Adams, RW Bed, Blakely, LW Wild, Duff, C Buckley. East Ends: G Bracknell, FB Whittle, Karzenski, HB Coupe, Shoarocks, Lord, RW Wild, Whittle, LW King, Darlington, C Foley.

Providence1–4Pawtucket
19' Tomlinson [7] 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.

Thistles0–1Ansonia
[8]
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.

Alma2–1O.N.T.
55' awarded
75' Lucas		 [9] 15'
Frelinghuysen avenue grounds
Attendance: 200
Referee: J.Grant

Alma: GK Frank Farrow, DF F.McDonald, B.Fagan, MF E.Morton, F.Britchford, George Wright, FW F.Cornall, Joseph Lucas, Thomas Bright, A.Mountford, John Gray. O.N.T.: GK Patrick Hughes, DF Harry Holden, A.Pallister, MF James Howarth, Joe Swithemby, P.Flynn, FW Joseph Swarbrick, J.Connolly, Jack Swithemby, James McGurck, Harry Fisher.

Fall River Rovers3–0Pawtucket Free Wanderers
Brookshaw
Bell		 [10]
Rover grounds, Fall River, MA
Attendance: 1000
Referee: Mr. Spencer (Newark)

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.

Kearny Rangers6–1Ansonia
10' Walter Taylor
20' W.Turner
Campbell
Sergeant
Sergeant
Campbell		 [11][12] 60' Wherle
ONT grounds
Attendance: 150
Referee: J.Howarth

Rangers: GK J.Smith, DF E.Walker, William Lines, MF Roderick McDonald, T.Spencer, William Allsopp, FW Walter Taylor, George 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.

Riverside0–5Paterson
[13]

replay

Alma5–1O.N.T.
[14]
Wright street grounds

Semifinals

Fall River Rovers6–1Kearney Rangers
3' Blakeley
Bell
Bell
60' Duff
Bruckshaw
85' Bruckshaw		 [15] Stark
Bedford Street grounds, Fall River, MA
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 Roderick McDonald, H.Bennett, William Allsop, FW W.Taylor, George Sargent, T.Spencer, A.Campbell, E.Stark.

Almas5–1Paterson
[16]
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, Joseph Lucas, Thomas Bright, H.Maxfield, John Gray.

Final

Almas 1–5 Rovers
Gray 40' [17][18] Bell 3'
Bruckshaw
Blakely
Wilde
Duff
O.N.T. grounds, East Newark, NJ
Attendance: 400
Referee: B. Craig (New York)
Alma
Rovers
GK Frank Farrow
FB F. McDonald
FB W. Fagin
HB E. Morton
HB R. Patterson
HB F. Britchford
LW John Gray
LW H. Maxfield
C Thomas Bright
RW P. Garron
RW F. Cornall
GK J. Mullen
FB R. Lonsdale
FB F. Bradley
HB J. Buckley
HB H. Waring
HB H. Adams
LW H. Wilde
LW C. Duff
C J. Blakeley
RW R. Bell
RW T. Bruckshaw

Umpires:
P. O'Toole
William Allsop


Match rules

  • 90 minutes
  • Replay if game ends in a draw

American Cup bracket

First Round Second Round Semifinal Final
            
New Jersey Almas 5
New Jersey Caledonian 1
New Jersey Almas 2-5
New Jersey Clark O.N.T. 1-1
New Jersey Trenton 2
New Jersey Clark O.N.T. 3
New Jersey Almas 5
New Jersey Paterson 1
New York (state) Riverside
bye
New York (state) Riverside 0
New Jersey Paterson 5
New Jersey Tiffany Rovers 0
New Jersey Paterson 4
New Jersey Almas 1
Massachusetts Rovers 5
Massachusetts Rovers 3
Massachusetts East Ends 1
Massachusetts Rovers 3
Rhode Island Free Wanderers 0
Rhode Island Athletics 1
Rhode Island Free Wanderers 4
Massachusetts Rovers 6
New Jersey Kearny Rangers 1
New Jersey Kearny Rangers
New York (state) New York
New Jersey Kearny Rangers 6
Connecticut Ansonia 1
New York (state) Thistles 0
Connecticut Ansonia 1

Champions

American Football Association Challenge Cup
First Title

References

  1. ^ "Paterson Wins". (October 24, 1887). The Morning Call, p.2 col.2
  2. ^ "Paterson Victorious". (October 24, 1887). Paterson Daily Press, p.3 col.5
  3. ^ "Notes About Sports". (October 25, 1887). Newark Evening News, p.3 col.1
  4. ^ "Begun And Ended With Kicking". (October 25, 1887). Daily True American, p.5 col.4
  5. ^ "Work Of The Kickers". (October 31, 1887). Newark Evening News, p.3 col.1
  6. ^ "Sporting Events". (October 31, 1887). Fall River Daily Herald, p.4 col.2
  7. ^ "Local News". (November 5, 1887). The Olneyville Times, p.3 col.2
  8. ^ "Football Roughly Played". (November 13, 1887). New York Herald, p.14 col.2
  9. ^ "Foot Ball Contests". (December 5, 1887). Newark Evening News, p.3 col.1
  10. ^ "Football Games". (December 5, 1887). Fall River Daily Herald, p.4 col.2
  11. ^ "Kearny Rangers Win". (December 12, 1887). Newark Evening News, p.3 col.1
  12. ^ "Football In The Rain". (December 11, 1887). The Sunday Call, p.1 col.6
  13. ^ "Football". (December 19, 1887). The Morning Call, p.7 col.3
  14. ^ "Won By The Almas". (February 23, 1888). Newark Evening News, p.3 col.1
  15. ^ "The Rovers Win". (March 5, 1888). Daily Evening News, p.2 col.3
  16. ^ "The Alma’s Win At Football". (March 11, 1888). The Sunday Call, p.1 col.8
  17. ^ "Notes About Sports". (April 16, 1888). Newark Evening News, p.3 col.1
  18. ^ "Newark Loses The Cup". (April 15, 1888). The Sunday Call, p.1 col.5

Sources

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