Cromwell Cup
Sheffield Rules football competition
title: "Cromwell Cup" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["sports-competitions-in-sheffield", "defunct-football-cup-competitions-in-england", "defunct-football-competitions-in-south-yorkshire", "1867–68-in-english-football"] description: "Sheffield Rules football competition" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cromwell_Cup" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Sheffield Rules football competition ::
::data[format=table]
| Cromwell Cup |
|---|
| Year |
| 1868 |
| Location |
| Sheffield |
| Number of Teams |
| 4 |
| Winner |
| The Wednesday |
| :: |
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/1868–69_Cromwell_Cup_Final,_Wednesday_v_Garrick,_Sheffield_Daily_Telegraph,_17_February_1868.png" caption="1868 Cromwell Cup Final, Wednesday v Garrick, Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 17 February 1868"] ::
The Cromwell Cup was the second ever [[Sheffield rules|Sheffield rules football]] competition (after the Youdan Cup) and was held in Sheffield, England. It was held in February 1868 and named after Oliver Cromwell, manager of the local Alexandra Theatre (not the Lord Protector or Sir Oliver Cromwell, or Oliver Cromwell), who donated the cup. He also played for the Garrick club. The tournament was only open to teams under two years old. The final was held at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. The trophy is still held in the Sheffield Wednesday trophy cabinet.
Sheffield Rules at the time involved rouges as well as goals. Garrick were expected to sweep aside the newly created Wednesday team. Despite this the final remained 0(0)-0(0) at the end of the regulation 90 minutes. Both captains then agreed to carry on playing for a result with the scorer of the first goal taking the trophy. After another 10 minutes of play, Wednesday finally broke the deadlock with a goal, thus claiming their first trophy.
Participating teams
::data[format=table title="Participating clubsUnless otherwise stated, all details taken from the John Lillywhite annual of 1868"]
| Team | Foundation | No. of members | Home ground | Colours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange | 1863 | 120 | Hallam's Farm | Scarlet & white |
| Garrick | 1866 (October) | 400 | East Bank | Red, white, & blue |
| Wednesday | 1867 | 170 | Highfield | Blue & white hoops |
| Wellington | 1866 | 150 | Houndsfields Park | Puce & white |
| :: |
Results
::data[format=table]
| Date | Team 1 | Goals (Rouges) | Team 2 | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Round | ||||
| 1 February 1868 | The Wednesday | 4 (3) – 0 (0) | Exchange | |
| 8 February 1868 | Garrick | 0 (1) – 0 (0) | Wellington | |
| Final | ||||
| 15 February 1868 | The Wednesday | 1 (0) – 0 (0) a.s.d.e.t. | Garrick | |
| :: |
References
References
- (15 February 2018). "Sheffield Wednesday Celebrate 150th Anniversary Of Cromwell Cup Win".
- Although the Exchange club claimed a foundation date of 1863, this probably refers to the cricket club from which the football club sprung, as there is no record of any football matches for Exchange before the Cromwell Cup, and the Sheffield Daily Telegraph suggests it was in its first season.
- Unless otherwise stated, all details taken from the John Lillywhite annual of 1868
- (1871). "Football Annual".
- (1872). "Football Annual".
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