Football League clubs in 'group cups' - 1974 to 1996

[Merseman]

Starting from the mid 1970s there were a progressing variety of "group cups" entered by Football League clubs. Games were played 'Saturday-midweek-Saturday', immediately before the league season began - with the winners of the groups progressing to knockout rounds.

Sections were drawn locally, presumably to reduce travel/boost crowds, and representing a sort of 'competitive preseason'.

It seems to have started with the Texaco Cup but later grown into other areas and competitions.

Were there other competitions/years beyond those I've listed below?


1974-75
Texaco Cup
(A) Birmingham, Norwich, Peterborough, West Brom
(B) Luton, Orient, Southampton, West Ham
(C) Blackpool, Oldham, Manchester City, Sheffield Utd
(D) Carlisle, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Sunderland
= 16 clubs


1975-76
Anglo-Scottish Cup
(A) Carlisle, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Sunderland
(B) Hull, Leicester, Mansfield, West Brom
(C) Blackburn, Blackpool, Manchester City, Sheffield Utd
(D) Bristol City, Chelsea, Fulham, Norwich
Kent Cup
---- Charlton, Crystal Palace, Gillingham, Millwall
= 20 clubs


1976-77
Anglo-Scottish Cup
(A) Blackburn, Blackpool, Bolton, Burnley
(B) Bristol City, Nottingham Forest, Notts County, West Brom
(C) Chelsea, Fulham, Norwich, Orient
(D) Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Hull, Sheffield Utd
Kent Cup
(A) Luton, Oxford, Portsmouth, Watford
(B) Aldershot, Brentford, Gillingham, Millwall
= 24 clubs


1977-78
Anglo-Scottish Cup
(A) Blackburn, Blackpool, Bolton, Burnley
(B) Birmingham, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Plymouth
(C) Chelsea, Fulham, Norwich, Orient
(D) Hull, Notts County, Oldham, Sheffield Utd
= 16 clubs


1978-79
Anglo-Scottish Cup
(A) Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley, Preston
(B) Bolton, Oldham, Sheffield Utd, Sunderland
(C) Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Cardiff, Fulham
(D) Mansfield, Norwich, Notts County, Orient
= 16 clubs


1979-80
Anglo-Scottish Cup
(A) Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley, Preston
(B) Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Sunderland
(C) Cambridge, Mansfield, Notts County, Sheffield Utd
(D) Birmingham, Bristol City, Fulham, Plymouth
Edinburgh Festival Trophy
---- Coventry, Hearts, Hibs, Manchester City
= 18 clubs (plus 2 Scottish clubs)


1980-81
Anglo-Scottish Cup
(A) Chesterfield, Grimsby, Hull, Sheffield Utd
(B) Bristol City, Fulham, Notts County, Orient
(C) Burnley, Bury, Oldham, Shrewsbury
(D) Blackburn, Blackpool, Carlisle, Preston
= 16 clubs


1981-82
Football League Group Cup
(A) Blackpool, Burnley, Carlisle, Preston
(B) Bradford, Hartlepool, Hull, Rotherham
(C) Chesterfield, Doncaster, Grimsby, Sheffield Utd
(D) Lincoln, Norwich, Notts County, Peterborough
(E) Bolton, Bury, Chester, Shrewsbury
(F) Bournemouth, Newport, Plymouth, Torquay
(G) Aldershot, Oxford, Reading, Watford
(H) Gillingham, Orient, Southend, Wimbledon
= 32 clubs


1982-83
Football League Group Cup
(A) Colchester, Orient, Southend, Watford
(B) Chester, Chesterfield, Shrewsbury, Tranmere
(C) Aldershot, Bournemouth, Oxford, Reading
(D) Bradford, Halifax, Hartlepool, Hull
(E) Brentford, Crystal Palace, Millwall, Wimbledon
(F) Bristol City, Exeter, Newport, Torquay
(G) Mansfield, Northampton, Norwich, Peterborough
(H) Grimsby, Lincoln, Scunthorpe, Sheffield Utd
Lancashire Cup
(A) Blackburn, Blackpool, Bolton, Preston
(B) Burnley, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale
= 40 clubs


1983-84
Lancashire Cup
(A) Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley, Preston
(B) Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Wigan
West Riding Senior Cup
---- Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds
= 12 clubs


1984-85
Lancashire Cup
(A) Blackburn, Bolton, Bury, Preston
(B) Blackpool, Burnley, Rochdale, Wigan
West Riding Senior Cup
---- Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds
= 12 clubs


1985-86
Lancashire Cup
(A) Blackburn, Blackpool, Preston, Wigan
(B) Bolton, Burnley, Bury, Rochdale
West Riding Senior Cup
---- Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds
= 12 clubs


1986-87
Lancashire Cup
(A) Blackburn, Blackpool, Bury, Rochdale
(B) Bolton, Burnley, Preston, Wigan
West Riding Senior Cup
---- Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds
= 12 clubs


1987-88
Lancashire Cup
(A) Blackburn, Blackpool, Bolton, Burnley
(B) Bury, Preston, Rochdale, Wigan
West Riding Senior Cup
---- Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds
= 12 clubs


1988-89
Lancashire Cup
(A) Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley, Preston
(B) Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Wigan
Yorkshire & Humberside Cup (clubs played 3 games)
(A) Barnsley, Huddersfield, Leeds, Scarborough, Scunthorpe, York
(B) Bradford, Doncaster, Grimsby, Halifax, Rotherham, Sheffield Utd
= 20 clubs


1989-90
Lancashire Cup
(A) Blackburn, Bolton, Burnley, Wigan
(B) Blackpool, Bury, Preston, Rochdale
Yorkshire & Humberside Cup (clubs played 3 games)
(A) Doncaster, Halifax, Hull, Leeds, Rotheham, Scarborough, Scunthorpe, Sheffield Utd
(B) Barnsley, Bradford, Grimsby, Huddersfield, Lincoln, York
= 22 clubs


1990-91
Lancashire Cup
(A) Blackburn, Bury, Preston, Rochdale
(B) Blackpool, Bolton, Burnley, Wigan
Yorkshire & Humberside Cup (clubs played 3 games)
(A) Barnsley, Doncaster, Huddersfield, Rotherham, Scunthorpe, York
(B) Bradford, Grimsby, Halifax, Hull, Leeds, Lincoln, Scarborough, Whitby
= 22 clubs


1991-92
Lancashire Cup
(A) Blackburn, Burnley, Bury, Preston
(B) Blackpool, Bolton, Rochdale, Wigan
West Riding Senior Cup
---- Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds
= 12 clubs


1992-93
Lancashire Cup (clubs only played 2 games)
(A) Blackpool, Burnley, Preston
(B) Bolton, Bury, Rochdale
West Riding Senior Cup
---- Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield (Leeds withdrew)
= 10 clubs


1993-94
Lancashire Cup
(A) Blackpool, Bolton, Burnley, Rochdale
(B) Bury, Manchester Utd, Preston, Wigan
Yorkshire Electricity Cup
(A) Barnsley, Bradford, Doncaster, Huddersfield
(B) Grimsby, Halifax, Hull, Scarborough
= 16 clubs


1994-95
Lancashire Cup
(A) Burnley, Bury, Manchester Utd, Rochdale
(B) Blackpool, Preston, Southport, Wigan
Yorkshire Electricity Cup
(A) Barnsley, Doncaster, Halifax, Hull
(B) Bradford, Guiseley, Huddersfield, Scarborough
= 16 clubs


1995-96
Lancashire Cup (clubs only played 2 games)
(A) Burnley, Southport, Wigan
(B) Blackpool, Preston, Rochdale
Yorkshire Electricity Cup (clubs only played 2 games)
---- Bradford, Doncaster, Huddersfield, Lincoln, Scarborough, York
= 12 clubs


1996-97
Lancashire Cup (clubs only played 2 games)
(A) Preston, Southport, Wigan
(B) Blackpool, Morecambe, Rochdale
= 6 clubs

[Pete’s Picture Palace]

The Texaco Cup started earlier - Palace played Hearts in it in 72/3 but not pre-season. Maybe that doesn't come into what you're categorising?

However there was the Kent County Challenge Cup in August 1975.

Palace, Charlton, Millwall & Gillingham.

2.8.75 Palace 0 Charlton 1
5.8.75 Gillingham 1 Palace 1
9.8.75 Millwall 1 Palace 1

I don't know the other scores or who won it.

[Merseman]

It was only in 1974-75 they added preseason groups to Texaco Cup.

Until then it started knockout during early autumn.

However your Kent Challenge Cup example is exactly what I'm meaning.

Week of games, group format, just before season started.

I see it doubled in size the next season (31st July-7th August 1976) with:

(A) Luton, Oxford, Portsmouth, Watford
(B) Aldershot, Brentford, Gillingham, Millwall

[CanaryHonestMan]

In 1978-79, 1979-80 and 1980-81 there was a round-robin pre-season tournament in East Anglia called the Willhire Cup featuring Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester and Cambridge. Ipswich won the first two, with Norwich coming out on top in the final competition.
Bizarrely in around 2004 the trophy was put up for sale on eBay but I can't remember what it went for.

There was also the 1985-86 Full Members' Cup
Southern Section Group One; Chelsea, Charlton, Portsmouth
Group Two: Fulham, Oxford, Shrewsbury
Group Three: Coventry, Millwall, Stoke
Group Four: Brighton, Crystal Palace, West Bromwich
Northern Section Group One: Leeds, Manchester City, Sheffield Utd
Groups Two to Four contained only two teams

Obviously from 1985-86 onwards the various guises of the Freight Rover Trophy, Sherpa Van Trophy, Leyland DAF Cup, Autoglass Trophy, Auto Windscreens Trophy etc etc etc have featured group stages.

And while my mind was wandering during commentary of the incident-free Millwall v Norwich match was on, it occurs that there was also the Isle of Man Trophy.

[derby1884]

There's the Bass Charity Vase played pre-season which has been around, in various formats, over the last 100+ years.
Certainly in the 80s, the group matches involved a combination of Derby, Notts County, WBA, Stoke and Port Vale. Other midlands clubs competed sporadically.
It was usually a mixture of first team, reserves and youth players and matches tended to be played consecutively on the same ground (eg at Burton Albion).
Brochures were certainly issued in the 80s along with teamsheets for individual matches.
I think it's more for non-lge clubs nowadays.
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[pafcprogs]

An d I recall the Watney Cup in the early seventies although not sure of the format...


I remember we lost to Stoke though!
_________________
Currently disposing of my collection so please email any wants lists to [email protected].
Most Plymouth post 1959 but plenty of others including reserves, friendlies, Cup Finals Internationals and Club issues, handbooks and other sports.

[Legend64]

Texaco Cup
Started in 70-71 which also had 2 teams from N.Ireland and 2 from the Republic, as a knockout tournament. The Irish teams pulled out after the 71-72 tournament due to political pressure. [/b]

[Legend64]

pafcprogs wrote:

An d I recall the Watney Cup in the early seventies although not sure of the format... I remember we lost to Stoke though!

This was played for 4 seasons from 1970.
Two teams from each division who hadnt been promoted or qualified for Europe. The two teams that scored the most goals the previous season qualified.

[Merseman]

Full Members Cup, Associate Members Cup or Football League Trophy, and Anglo-Italian Cup (1990s edition) did also involve groupstages but not as a bridge between preseason and league games beginning. Anglo-Italian Cup (1970s edition) did also involve groupstages but was played postseason.


Watney Cup was held 'Saturday-midweek-Saturday' directly before start of the season - but was straight knockout.

(There was an equivalent Scottish tournament called the Drybrough Cup).


Does anyone have more details of the Willhire Cup or Bass Charity Vase?

Oddly enough I haven't identified Kent Cup's 1976-77 Final yet either.

(Presumably both group winners met).


It appears such competitions may have sprung up across the country.

[Merseman]

Trivia snippet on the Yorkshire Electricity Cup.

In its last season it comprised 1 group of 6 clubs, thus no knockout stage.

Final game that season - and ever - plus clinching cup for Doncaster was:


Saturday 12th August 1995
Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Scarborough
(Parrish) Att: 2,253


This was infact their opening Third Division game; but also counted in cup.

Only instance of that I've found so far.

[Five and In]

Not sure if it falls into what you are looking for, but in 1985/86 The Screen Sport Super Cup was launched as a replacement for clubs who would have qualified for Europe, but couldn't participate due to the ban on English clubs following Heysel.

Group 1 - Everton, Norwich, Man Utd
Group 2 - Liverpool, Tottenham, Southampton.

Teams played each other twice in a group format before two from each group went on to two legged Semi Finals and Final.

The competition was the brain child of Spurs Chairman Irving Scholar apparently, and the plan was to make it an annual event.

The fans disagreed though and attendances were awful. I went to the Spurs games and have never felt so lonely on the Shelf Side!

To make things worse, the competition couldn't be completed in the season, so the two legged Final between Liverpool and Everton had to be held over until the following season.
Everton had obviously lost interest by then and fielded what was pretty much a reserve side.
The competiton never had a second season.

[RIKERBCFC]

the Yorkshire and Humberside cup was an attempt to get people interested in the county cups. It replaced the North Riding Senior Cup , West Riding Senior cup and the Sheffield & Hallamshire cup for a few seasons but failed to attract interest and was scrapped in favour of clubs competing in their relevant cups. To enter the FA cup each season club had to enter their relevant county competition. In the West Riding a group competition was played for a few years before Huddersfield and Leeds refused to play and the county FA issued them with a fine so they did not have to enter , Bradford City and Halifax Town both wanted to play and played two or more finals until Halifax dropped out of the league again. Then the West Riding also fined Bradford City each season even though Halifax offered to play them each year but the West Riding refused as they were no longer classed as a senior club.

[pompeypete]

Not pre season but "The Anglo - Italian" cup was played 92/93 & 93/94




Not a great sucess !!
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Flickr pages in the process of closing......

Happy to forward any info on Pompey...

[Sir Alf]

There was a competition in the mid 1970s called the Shipp Cup. My father-in-law used to support Sheff Wed and bring me programmes and I vaguely recall having one for a match but I can't remember who it was against.

I did a bit of Googling and there are a few references so you ought to be able to put details together

77-78 seemed to involve Peterborough, Cambridge, Huddersfield & Sheff Wed. I think it might have been played also in 76-77 and maybe 78-79

[paulobee]

Merseman wrote:

Oddly enough I haven't identified Kent Cup's 1976-77 Final yet either. (Presumably both group winners met).

The final was at Brentford, Griffin Park, between Brentford and Luton Town.

Luton Town won, 1-0.

[Magpie 67]

[quote="Sir Alf"]There was a competition in the mid 1970s called the Shipp Cup. My father-in-law used to support Sheff Wed and bring me programmes and I vaguely recall having one for a match but I can't remember who it was against.

I did a bit of Googling and there are a few references so you ought to be able to put details together

77-78 seemed to involve Peterborough, Cambridge, Huddersfield & Sheff Wed. I think it might have been played also in 76-77 and maybe 78-79[/quote

1975/76 Kettering Peterborough Cambridge Notts County (winners)

[Fishy]

pafcprogs wrote:

An d I recall the Watney Cup in the early seventies although not sure of the format... I remember we lost to Stoke though!

I was at that one Peter.

They let the Stoke fans in to the Devonport End before the Argyle fans had left the Brittania Inn etc. Interesting decision which due to my exuberant youth left me with a boot mark on my Harrington jacket.

Happy days! (?)
_________________
Millwall league AWAYS wanted
45/6 Newport; Swansea; Leicester.
47/8 Coventry.
48/9 Newport.
49/0 Walsall; Exeter.
50/1 Port Vale.
51/2 Port Vale 1/5.
52/3 Swindon.

[pafcprogs]

Me too

Although I was well away from the trouble.....much too soft to get involved in any of that!

Of course in terms of the original subject we should not overlook the Devon Professional Bowl, a tri-partite informal tournament, usually at the end of season, but a highly moveable feast, between Argyle , Exeter and Torquay in the main but with occasional combined teams and smaller non league teams brought in. Now a more general trophy where youth teams from the pro clubs participate alongside non league.
_________________
Currently disposing of my collection so please email any wants lists to [email protected].
Most Plymouth post 1959 but plenty of others including reserves, friendlies, Cup Finals Internationals and Club issues, handbooks and other sports.

[GreatBarrWolf]

What about the Isle of Man Trophy? I think this was a pre-season tournament featuring two leagues of 3 or 4 teams with the winners meeting in the final
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[Merseman]

CanaryHonestMan wrote:

And while my mind was wandering during commentary of the incident-free Millwall v Norwich match was on, it occurs that there was also the Isle of Man Trophy.

GreatBarrWolf wrote:

What about the Isle of Man Trophy? I think this was a pre-season tournament featuring two leagues of 3 or 4 teams with the winners meeting in the final

Was this 11-aside, 90-minutes?