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.

[CAMiller]

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

[sawmiller]

Yes, I do recall the Watney Cup - did they shelve it because the smaller clubs were beginning to win it/do well?


Remember the Home International games at the end of each season

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

“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”

I was at that game, can’t remember much about it now. Alan Hinton scored I think, but memory plays tricks

[sawmiller]

“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”

I was at that game, can’t remember much about it now. Alan Hinton scored I think, but memory plays tricks

Was Hinton one of the first players to wear white football boots?

[CAMiller]

Was Hinton one of the first players to wear white football boots?

Indeed he was the white boots pioneer. Built a life in 'soccer' over here on the West Coast of the US/Canada and had a 40 year relationship with Seattle Sounders F.C. including manager, broadcaster (alongside Arlo White before Arlo was snapped up by NBC/Ted Lasso) and ambassador.

[Removed - breaking my own rule about no politics on football threads ]

[Ericsladkilnhurst]

Another defunct football competition.

The Southern Professional Floodlit Cup

Ran from: 1955 to 1960 - Holders Coventry City

Qualifiers: Teams with floodlights from the south & midlands
Format: Straight knockout.

Replaced by the Football League Cup

[CAMiller]

Might as well chuck in the Texaco Cup as well then ELK.

Season Winners Runners-up Aggregate score
1970–71 Wolverhampton Wanderers Heart of Midlothian 3–2
1971–72 Derby County Airdrieonians 2–1
1972–73 Ipswich Town Norwich City 4–2
1973–74 Newcastle United Burnley 2–1
1974–75 Newcastle United Southampton 3–1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texaco_Cup

[redhouse]

“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”

I was at that game, can’t remember much about it now. Alan Hinton scored I think, but memory plays tricks

I always suspected you was a Derby fan the number of times you mention sheep on here

[Ericsladkilnhurst]

Another most of us remember.

The Sheffield & Hallamshire County Cup.

Involved professional sides within Sheffield & Hallamshire County Football Association.
Ran from 1920-21 to mid 1990's, with several gaps between tournaments.

Eligible teams - Barnsley - Doncaster Rovers - Rotherham County - Rotherham United
Sheffield United - Sheffield Wednesday.

First final 1920-21 result - Sheffield United 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

Last played 1992-93 - result - Barnsley 3-2 Doncaster Rovers at Oakwell.

Winners -
Sheffield United -------- 21 [Plus 2 shared titles]
Sheffield Wednesday - - 11 [Plus 1 shared title]
Barnsley ---------------- 10 [Plus 1 shared title]
Rotherham United ------ 07
Doncaster Rovers ----- - 07
Rotherham County - ---- 01