Forgotten Football Competitions : The Watney Cup

[CTMilller]

One of the major European tournaments of the fifties and sixties was the now defunct Inter Cities Fairs Cup.

This was eventually replaced by the UEFA Cup and was originally set up to help promote trade since the matches - played over two seasons - were timed to fit in with trade fairs in participating cities.

The original concept was ‘one city one team’ which caused some problems in the UK. English clubs didn’t really come into it much until this rule was dropped and Leeds were the last winners in 1971.

The European Cub began to overshadow it in the sixties since it pitted the national champions in each country against each other. The Fairs Cup was originally for any clubs so long as they held a trade fair in their city. Eventually it morphed into a sort of runners up cup for those who didn’t get to the European Cup.

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

It’s arguable that we should resurrect the County Cup, so that local reserve teams can play meaningful competitive matches

[CAMiller]

It’s arguable that we should resurrect the County Cup, so that local reserve teams can play meaningful competitive matches

The concept of reserve team football is a double edged sword these days. Do the benefits of playing matches outweigh the costs of potentially losing 'expensive assets' to long term injury?

[flourbasher]

It's possibly the only thing SWFC would be able to win in the next few years so they would endorse its resurrection I'm sure

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

The concept of reserve team football is a double edged sword these days. Do the benefits of playing matches outweigh the costs of potentially losing 'expensive assets' to long term injury?

Maybe, but on many occasions our management team has made a point of pointing out that fringe players aren’t ready for first team football. This lack of competitive football for the “ reserves” can be a problem.

[avondalemiller]

Vaguely remember the competition but I vividly remember these and the injuries suffered trying to get them open

Attachment 21401

..bloody hell Cam, they did more damage than a barrel bomb if you dropped one of them.....

[frogmiller]

We came runner's up one year in the One2One trophy to Everton

I was there which is the only match out of spoken in this thread.

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

We came runner's up one year in the One2One trophy to Everton

I was there which is the only match out of spoken in this thread.

That would have been the rebadged Community Shield, 2000 to 2002