The Magic (And Curse) of the Domestic Cup (European Edition) - @_forgottenfooty
The domestic cup competition is a chance for the unthinkable to happen. For so called smaller clubs to beat one of the heavyweights in a one off match. It is different to the league, where that is contested over a nine-month period, where consistency is key. Not so when it comes to the cup, where one moment of magic can win you a match that is played over 90 minutes. But where and when did cup competitions all start? And what has become of the clubs that played in the first ever cup finals from their respective nations? Some clubs have gone on to become powerhouses in their respective leagues, while others have disappeared from the footballing world altogether.
Wanderers FC versus Royal Engineers was the first FA Cup final to be played in the year 1871-72. Wanderers won the game, 1-0, with the only goal of the game scored by Morton Betts. Wanderers would go on to play in another four cup finals, winning every one of them, meaning they have won five FA Cups, meaning they have won the competition more times than other clubs were the name ‘Wanderers’ is more synonymous with. Bolton Wanderers have only won the competition four times, while Wolverhampton Wanderers have only won it four times as well.
Up north, in Scotland, the cup competition was being played and not long after the English FA Cup final, the first Scottish Cup Final took place in 1873-74. The two clubs that competed in the final were two Glaswegian clubs, but not the famous ones that we know in modern football. No, Celtic and Rangers were not even involved in the first Scottish FA Cup, with Celtic not having been founded until 1888. Queens Park and Clydesdale were the two clubs who played in the first ever Scottish Cup final, with Queens Park winning the game 2-0 and becoming the first club to lift the trophy. The Spiders, as they are nicknamed, are still around, and are competing in the Scottish championship having only become professional since 2019. This is particular impressive seeing as the club are recognised as the 10th oldest football club in the world, after being founded in 1867. They won the cup a further nine times, all in the 1800’s, making them the third most successful side in the competition, after Celtic and Rangers. As for Clydesdale, well, things didn’t go as well for them. They only ever appeared in the Scottish Cup final once, and that was the first one. They soon dissolved in 1881, nine years after they were formed.
The Welsh Cup Final was first played on the 30th of March 1878 with Wexham playing Druids at Action Park in front of a crowd estimated to be around 1,500 strong. Wrexham won the final, 1-0, with a last-minute goal scored by James Davies. Wrexham would go on to win another twenty-two Welsh cups, and despite the club playing in the English football pyramid, and therefore being disqualified from playing in the Welsh cup, when a rule in 1995 stopped any English clubs from competition, they still remain the most successful club in Welsh Cup’s history. The club currently has just gained promotion back into the football league and will be competing in League Two for the 2023-24 season. Their success is mainly down to the investment from Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, however, if it wasn’t for the fans intervention a few years before, the club may have not existed anymore when they fell on hard times, and nearly went bust. Thankfully, their fans can still enjoy watching their team without the worry of that happening. As for Druids, well their story is a bit more complicated. Whilst they went on to win the Welsh Cup eight times and becoming the first Welsh side to compete in the English FA Cup, they dissolved from their original formation in 1927, merging with with Acrefair United to create Druids United, who in turn dissolved in 1992 and merged with Cefn Albion to create Cefn Druids. The current club play in the Cymru North after being relegated from the Cymru Premier League in the 2021-22 season. The club, Cefn Druids, still claim to be descendants of the original Druids, but that is a matter of opinion amongst football fans.
In other European countries, the Coupe de France was created in 1915, with Olympique de Pantin playing FC Lyon. The side from Paris won the first final, 3-0 and therefore were the first club to lift the trophy in France. However, despite being runners-up in 1919 and 1921, the club merged with Red Star Saint-Ouen in 1926 and therefore were dissolved from the original foundation of the club. FC Lyon were not the Lyon we know today. They were an amateur side who were part of a sports organisation who competed in multiple sports including Rugby. They have no such history in the game of soccer as such, only that they competed in the first ever Coupe de France.
The Italian domestic cup, the Coppa Italia had its first final on the 16th of July 1922 when Vado played Udinese. Vado won the game in extra time when Levratto scored in the 118th minute to give club from Savona a 1-0 victory. Where are Vado now? Well despite disappearing for a few years during World War II from 1941, the club reappeared in 1946 and were admitted into Serie C. They currently play their football in Serie D and have not won another the Coppa Italia, but they remind everyone that they have won the title by having the number 1922 in their club crest. Udinese currently play in Serie A, but despite that, have never won the Coppa Italia, nor have they ever won Serie A.
Germany saw their first domestic cup final take place in 1935, and it was competed between 1.FC Nurnberg and Schalke 04. Nurnberg won the game on December 8th 1935, winning the match 2-0, in front of a crowd of 60,000 people in Düsseldorf. Nurnberg would win a total of five German Cups so far in their history, making them 6th joint in the most successful clubs in the tournament. The club has also won the German top division on nine occasions, being the second most successful German club, behind Bayern Munich and ahead of Borussia Dortmund. Despite their historic success, the club currently plays it’s football in the second tier of German football in the Bundesliga 2. Schalke lie fourth in the most successful teams to compete in the German Cup, winning seven titles, whilst also coming runners-up ten times. They currently play in the Bundesliga 1 but have recently struggled, having been relegated in 2021. The club also claimed they were close to bankruptcy after the COVID-19 pandemic had hit clubs hard financially, however they seem to have bounced back for now.
The Campeonato de Portugal, or what is now known as the Taca de Portugal, Portugal’s domestic cup competition, was first played in 1922, between Porto and Sporting CP. Porto won the cup after it was played over three games. The Campeonato de Portugal was a best-out-of-three wins it final, with Porto winning two games, 3-1 and 2-1 while Sporting CP won one of the games, 2-0. No curses here though as we all know both of these clubs are still very much dominant forces in Portuguese football today.
Other European domestic final such as the Austrian Cup, had their final first played in the 1918-19 season, in which Rapid Wien beat Wiener Sport Club, 3-0. Both of these clubs still play today. The first Dutch cup final was played much earlier, in the 1898-99 season, between RAP Amsterdam and HVV Den Haag. RAP Amsterdam won the game, 1-0 and won their only domestic cup in their short history. Along with that triumph, they also won the Netherlands Football League Championship on five occasions. Sadly, on July 23rd, 1914, the club dissolved after they merged with Volharding, creating VRC. Which in turn dissolved a few years later. As for HVV Den Haag, well they are still playing at an amateur level in the lower tiers of Dutch football.
This is just an example from the cup competitions in these countries. The story of the clubs that took part in the first cup finals in other countries also shows that whilst the magic f the cup is still alive, some clubs could say there was a curse to it as well.
©The Football History Boys, 2024
@_forgottenfooty takes an in depth look at the five cup competitions that take place in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, whilst taking a glance at some of the other nations in Europe and their first ever cup finals and where the clubs that competed in them are now. I start with the oldest domestic cup competition in the world, the FA Cup.
Wanderers FC versus Royal Engineers was the first FA Cup final to be played in the year 1871-72. Wanderers won the game, 1-0, with the only goal of the game scored by Morton Betts. Wanderers would go on to play in another four cup finals, winning every one of them, meaning they have won five FA Cups, meaning they have won the competition more times than other clubs were the name ‘Wanderers’ is more synonymous with. Bolton Wanderers have only won the competition four times, while Wolverhampton Wanderers have only won it four times as well.
In fact, Wanderers FC can boast that they have won the FA Cup the same number of times as Everton (Five) and West Bromwich (Five). The other record they hold is the fact they, alongside Blackburn Rovers, are the only two clubs to have won the FA Cup three times in a row. But sadly, the demise of the club soon after their fifth FA Cup triumph had meant they have not been able to add to their silverware, because in 1887 the club officially dissolved after playing a friendly against Harrow School, in which they lost 3-1. It was a fixture that was played around Christmas time every year. It was reported that the club had folded back in 1884, as they lost many players and had failed to compete in the 1880-81 edition of the FA Cup. But this story has a good ending, with Wanderers FC finally being revived in 2009, after a charity match turned into a more substantial situation, with the club now playing in the Surrey South-Eastern Combination Leagues. But what about Royal Engineers? Well, they did eventually lift the famous old trophy in 1875, beating Old Etonians, 2-0 in a replay after the first game was drawn 1-1. The club’s crest is actually that of the FA Cup and they are still active under the guise of the Army football association. They, as a club, also competed in competitions in Ireland, entering teams in the Munster Senior League and Senior Cup.
Up north, in Scotland, the cup competition was being played and not long after the English FA Cup final, the first Scottish Cup Final took place in 1873-74. The two clubs that competed in the final were two Glaswegian clubs, but not the famous ones that we know in modern football. No, Celtic and Rangers were not even involved in the first Scottish FA Cup, with Celtic not having been founded until 1888. Queens Park and Clydesdale were the two clubs who played in the first ever Scottish Cup final, with Queens Park winning the game 2-0 and becoming the first club to lift the trophy. The Spiders, as they are nicknamed, are still around, and are competing in the Scottish championship having only become professional since 2019. This is particular impressive seeing as the club are recognised as the 10th oldest football club in the world, after being founded in 1867. They won the cup a further nine times, all in the 1800’s, making them the third most successful side in the competition, after Celtic and Rangers. As for Clydesdale, well, things didn’t go as well for them. They only ever appeared in the Scottish Cup final once, and that was the first one. They soon dissolved in 1881, nine years after they were formed.
The Welsh Cup Final was first played on the 30th of March 1878 with Wexham playing Druids at Action Park in front of a crowd estimated to be around 1,500 strong. Wrexham won the final, 1-0, with a last-minute goal scored by James Davies. Wrexham would go on to win another twenty-two Welsh cups, and despite the club playing in the English football pyramid, and therefore being disqualified from playing in the Welsh cup, when a rule in 1995 stopped any English clubs from competition, they still remain the most successful club in Welsh Cup’s history. The club currently has just gained promotion back into the football league and will be competing in League Two for the 2023-24 season. Their success is mainly down to the investment from Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, however, if it wasn’t for the fans intervention a few years before, the club may have not existed anymore when they fell on hard times, and nearly went bust. Thankfully, their fans can still enjoy watching their team without the worry of that happening. As for Druids, well their story is a bit more complicated. Whilst they went on to win the Welsh Cup eight times and becoming the first Welsh side to compete in the English FA Cup, they dissolved from their original formation in 1927, merging with with Acrefair United to create Druids United, who in turn dissolved in 1992 and merged with Cefn Albion to create Cefn Druids. The current club play in the Cymru North after being relegated from the Cymru Premier League in the 2021-22 season. The club, Cefn Druids, still claim to be descendants of the original Druids, but that is a matter of opinion amongst football fans.
Across the water, in Ireland, the fourth oldest cup competition was born and in it’s first final, Moyola Park played Cliftonville on April 9th, 1881. The game was played at Cliftonville Cricket Ground, Belfast in front of 1,500 spectators. The game was won by Moyola Park, 1-0, with William Morrow scoring the only goal of the game in the 75th minute. But what has happened to Moyola Park? Well, they are still around, playing in the second tier of the Northern Ireland football league. They only have that sole Irish Cup trophy in their cabinet, albeit a historic one being the first to club to win it. In contrast, their opposition they faced that day, Cliftonville, have won the Irish Cup eight times since, being the joint fourth (Alongside the now defunct Belfast Celtic) most successful team in the tournament’s history. The club have also won the Northern Ireland Premier Division five times, whilst still compete in the top tier to this day.
Down south, in the Republic of Ireland, the FAI Cup was founded in 1922 when the League of Ireland itself was founded. The final of the FAI Cup was competed between two Dublin sides, St James Gate and Shamrock Rovers. The first game, which took place at Dalymount Park on March 17th, 1922 on St Patricks Day, was drawn 1-1. The replay was played on April 8th, 1922 in Dalymount Park once again, but this time St James went on to win the game 1-0. It meant St James Gate would complete a double, not only winning the first FAI Cup, but also winning the first ever League of Ireland title. But if you thought that was the start of club that would be dominating Irish football for years to come, you would be wrong.
Down south, in the Republic of Ireland, the FAI Cup was founded in 1922 when the League of Ireland itself was founded. The final of the FAI Cup was competed between two Dublin sides, St James Gate and Shamrock Rovers. The first game, which took place at Dalymount Park on March 17th, 1922 on St Patricks Day, was drawn 1-1. The replay was played on April 8th, 1922 in Dalymount Park once again, but this time St James went on to win the game 1-0. It meant St James Gate would complete a double, not only winning the first FAI Cup, but also winning the first ever League of Ireland title. But if you thought that was the start of club that would be dominating Irish football for years to come, you would be wrong.
While the club did manage to win another FAI Cup in 1937-38 and another league title in 1939-40, they left the league in 1943 when they failed to gain re-election for the next season as was the process for the League of Ireland to determine who would compete in each season as there was no second tier for relegation or promotion. The club did make a return to the League of Ireland for the 1990-91 season but were soon replaced again for the 1997-98 season when they came into financial trouble. The club continued toto play in the amateur leagues, in the Leinster Senior League, however only recently they announced that the club would be gone from the footballing world for good. Shamrock Rovers have had a different outcome since 1922. Becoming the most successful club in the Republic of Ireland, winning twenty league titles and a record twenty-five cups, they have also recently competed in the Europa League and Europa Conference League group stages. The club did find itself in financial troubles in the early 2000’s but luckily they were able to navigate themselves out of that and have become one of Ireland’s strongest clubs on current form.
In other European countries, the Coupe de France was created in 1915, with Olympique de Pantin playing FC Lyon. The side from Paris won the first final, 3-0 and therefore were the first club to lift the trophy in France. However, despite being runners-up in 1919 and 1921, the club merged with Red Star Saint-Ouen in 1926 and therefore were dissolved from the original foundation of the club. FC Lyon were not the Lyon we know today. They were an amateur side who were part of a sports organisation who competed in multiple sports including Rugby. They have no such history in the game of soccer as such, only that they competed in the first ever Coupe de France.
The Italian domestic cup, the Coppa Italia had its first final on the 16th of July 1922 when Vado played Udinese. Vado won the game in extra time when Levratto scored in the 118th minute to give club from Savona a 1-0 victory. Where are Vado now? Well despite disappearing for a few years during World War II from 1941, the club reappeared in 1946 and were admitted into Serie C. They currently play their football in Serie D and have not won another the Coppa Italia, but they remind everyone that they have won the title by having the number 1922 in their club crest. Udinese currently play in Serie A, but despite that, have never won the Coppa Italia, nor have they ever won Serie A.
Germany saw their first domestic cup final take place in 1935, and it was competed between 1.FC Nurnberg and Schalke 04. Nurnberg won the game on December 8th 1935, winning the match 2-0, in front of a crowd of 60,000 people in Düsseldorf. Nurnberg would win a total of five German Cups so far in their history, making them 6th joint in the most successful clubs in the tournament. The club has also won the German top division on nine occasions, being the second most successful German club, behind Bayern Munich and ahead of Borussia Dortmund. Despite their historic success, the club currently plays it’s football in the second tier of German football in the Bundesliga 2. Schalke lie fourth in the most successful teams to compete in the German Cup, winning seven titles, whilst also coming runners-up ten times. They currently play in the Bundesliga 1 but have recently struggled, having been relegated in 2021. The club also claimed they were close to bankruptcy after the COVID-19 pandemic had hit clubs hard financially, however they seem to have bounced back for now.
The Campeonato de Portugal, or what is now known as the Taca de Portugal, Portugal’s domestic cup competition, was first played in 1922, between Porto and Sporting CP. Porto won the cup after it was played over three games. The Campeonato de Portugal was a best-out-of-three wins it final, with Porto winning two games, 3-1 and 2-1 while Sporting CP won one of the games, 2-0. No curses here though as we all know both of these clubs are still very much dominant forces in Portuguese football today.
Other European domestic final such as the Austrian Cup, had their final first played in the 1918-19 season, in which Rapid Wien beat Wiener Sport Club, 3-0. Both of these clubs still play today. The first Dutch cup final was played much earlier, in the 1898-99 season, between RAP Amsterdam and HVV Den Haag. RAP Amsterdam won the game, 1-0 and won their only domestic cup in their short history. Along with that triumph, they also won the Netherlands Football League Championship on five occasions. Sadly, on July 23rd, 1914, the club dissolved after they merged with Volharding, creating VRC. Which in turn dissolved a few years later. As for HVV Den Haag, well they are still playing at an amateur level in the lower tiers of Dutch football.
This is just an example from the cup competitions in these countries. The story of the clubs that took part in the first cup finals in other countries also shows that whilst the magic f the cup is still alive, some clubs could say there was a curse to it as well.
This article was kindly written for The Football History Boys by @_forgottenfooty, make sure you give him a follow!
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