Forgotten Football Competitions : The Watney Cup

[Ericsladkilnhurst]

Looking at football & its football competitions, in the past, I came upon the Watney Cup.

The Watney Cup competition ran for only four years, starting in 1970.
The cup was contested by 8 teams, 2 from each division, that had scored the most goals in
each of the the four divisions, of the football league the previous season, & who had not
been promoted, or had qualified for one of the European competitions.
Each club received a equal share of the gate receipts, & TV revenue, as well as £4,000 for
entering the competition
The first eight teams to compete in the competition in 1970 were -
Division one --- Derby County & Manchester United
Division two --- Hull City & Sheffield United
Division three - Fulham & Reading
Division four --- Aldershot & Peterborough United

The 1970 final between Derby County & Manchester United was played at the Baseball Ground.
In front of a 32,049 crowd, the score - Derby County 4 - 1 Manchester United

Derby County manager Brian Clough, & his assistant Peter Taylor each received £250 bonus for
winning the competition, plus £250 given to charity, out of gate proceeds.
Derby County made a profit of £13,910 before deductions of players bonuses

The first penalty shoot out in England, took place in the 1970 competition semi-final between,
Hull City & Manchester United [Winner]

The 1971 competition being the second season , the off-side law rule was changed, where as
the edge of the penalty area was used as off-side instead of the half-way line, this was designed
to reduce midfield congestion, & promote more goals.

Other winners of the short lived competition.

1971 - Colchester United 4 - 4 West Brom [Colchester Utd win on penalties 4-3]

1972 - Bristol Rovers 0 - 0 Sheffield United [Bristol Rovers win on penalties 7-6]

1973 - Stoke City 2 - 0 Hull City

With 1973 being the end of the competition, its one trophy Stoke City should still have.