Kettering & District Charity Cup

Charity Cups were introduced with the spread of football across the country.  They raised money for local causes, usually a hospitals. Clubs within a specified radius from the host town/city were invited to compete.  With the FA. Cup dominated by former public school boys and then clubs from Lancashire and surrounding counties, many clubs saw Charity Cups as a good way to play more competitive games, test their mettle and improve the standing of the game. Leicestershire had no less than 5 charity cup competitions during the 1890s – Coalville, Hinckley Loughborough, Leicester (Rolleston), and Whitwick. In addition, Leicestershire teams entered charity cup competition in nearby towns – including Gresley, Kettering, Rushden and Wellingborough.

Winners and Runners-Up

The first charity cup competition to invite Leicestershire clubs was the Kettering and District Chairity Cup, which was first played for in 1888-89 season. The announcement of the new competition appeared in the Northampton Mercury of the 6^th October 1888.

FOOTBALL CLUB – THE CHARITY CUP SANCTIONED -As stated our columns few weeks ago, the Kettering Town Football Club have decides! to offer, amongst clubs playing the Association game of football within a radius of fifty miles Kettering, a splendid silver cup for competition. The cup, which will be named the “Kettering and District Football Charity Cup” is valued at thirty guineas, and addition to this medals for the winners and runners up will be given. The gentlemen who have promoted the competition and collected the necessary voluntary subscriptions, have done so with the aim of assisting and encouraging the game in this district, and the same time with a view to benefit the Northampton Infirmary and the Kettering Dispensary, and it is gratifying to know that, their appeals have been responded to.—On Wednesday, Sept. 26, a committee meeting of the club was held at the Cross Keys Coffee Tavern, when Mr. H. T. Favell and Mr. C. Henson —who, a deputation from the club, attended a meeting of the Football Association, at 51, Holborn Viaduct, London, on Monday week —gave their report of the proceedings. Mr. Favell then an explicit address presented the printed rules of the competition, and placed before the council the facts of the matter, showing why the Kettering club were disconnected with the County Association, and the need of the charity cup.—At the conclusion of Mr. Favell’s address, several questions were asked individual members of the council, and satisfactorily answered. The Chairman (Dr. Morley, Blackburn Rovers) announced that he would place the other side of the matter before the council, and accordingly asked Mr. Alcock, the hon. sec., to read the correspondence that had passed between him and Mr. H. E. Platt, of Wellingborough, and Mr. C. Claridge, of Rushden, officers of the Northamptonshire Association. After a few words to explain their connection with the Northamptonshire Association, the deputation were asked to withdraw. After the lapse of six or seven minutes they were again called into the room and the chairman said he was pleased to inform them that the competition had the approval of the council, who also thought the Northampton General Infirmary and the Kettering Dispensary suitable institutions as the recipients of the net proceeds of the competition. The deputation having thanked the council for the reception withdrew. – On Wednesday the honorary secretary of the Kettering Club received an official confirmation of the councils decision from Alcock A meeting of subscribers to the above was held on Monday evening last, the Cross Keys Coffee Tavern, for the purpose of receiving the report of the Financial Committee, to pass rules, and to elect officers and committee for the ensuing season, and to decide carrying on the competition. The meeting, which was fairly attended, was presided over by Mr. Mr. H. F. Henson, and after report of the interview the deputation to the Council of the Association in London the following officers were elected: —President, Mr. J. W. Dryland; vice-presidents, Messrs. C. W. Lane and W. Thurnall; treasurer, Mr. H. F. Henson; hon. secretary, Mr. H. T. Favell; committee, Messrs. C. Henson, G. Tunnicliffe, L. B. J. Spencer, and E. Gould; Mr. M. C. Wilson was appointed auditor. The rules drawn by the Provisional Committee were passed after some slight alteration had been made in them, and it was resolved that arrangements should made for the commencement of the competition before the end of the present year. The arrangement the details of the purchase cup and medals was left over to a future meeting.

Below is from the Northampton Mercury of 12th December 1888:

KETTERING AND DISTRICT FOOTBALL CHARITY CUP COMPETITION

A general meeting of the subscribers to the above Competition was held on Monday evening last, at the Cross Keys Coffee Tavern, for the purpose of deciding as to the purchase the silver cup and medals. The chair was taken by Mr. J. W. Dryland, who was supported by Mr. J. J. Roughton and Mr. H. T. Favell, the hon. secretary of the Cup Committee, and there were also present:—Messrs. C. W. Lane, H. F. Henson, James Spence, G. C. Henson, F. B. Henson, G. Tunnicliffe, E. Gould, F. Mobbs, G. Freeman, T. Salmon, J. B. Noble, C. Mobbs, and A. Clarkson. —The Chairman announced that about £50 had been collected for the purpose of the competition, and of that amount it was proposed to spend £30 for the purchase of a cup, and £15 on the medals. After a brief discussion it was decided that application should be made to two of the best known manufacturers of competition cups for designs, from which a choice might be made by the committee, upon which the local jewellers might be asked to tender, the feeling being that as the proceeds of the competition are to be devoted to charitable objects, the cup and medals should be obtained under conditions which would allow the best possible being received for the money expended.—The Secretary afterwards announced that the first tie connection with the competition had already been played, and no doubt all present would have read the report of the match, which had been published the papers. The result was that the Granta Club beat the Wolverton team by four goals to two, and that the second tie would be decided at Leicester on the 15th inst., when Mill Hall House (Leicester) and Grantham teams would compete. On the 22nd inst. the Wellingborough Town and Kettering Town Clubs meet at Kettering, on the 2Sth the Hitchin Town and Cambridge team would compete at Hitchin, and the first round would be concluded on the 27th inst. with match between the Finedon Revellers and Higham Rovers Higham.—The proceedings were brought to a close with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.

Twelve clubs entered the inaugural competition from five counties (Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire). Eventual winners Grantham Town knocked out both Leicestershire clubs, Mill Hill House in the first round and Loughborough (who had received a bye in the first round and beat Kettering in the second) in the semi-final. 

Another Grantham club, Grantham Rovers won the next three tournaments, which meant that they kept the trophy the following year after a replay.  Sadly, the trophy was sold to help pay off debts when the club disbanded in 1897:

“It has finally been decided that the Grantham Rovers Football Club shall be disbanded for the ensuing season.  Having the incubus of a debt amounting to £140, and lacking supporters, the Committee cannot see their way clear to continue the organisation, and the guarantee of the overdraft at the bank have also come to the conclusion that the wisest course is to “throw up the sponge.” Three valuable cups in the possession of the club will be sold, and the proceeds go towards paying the debt while in the autumn a smoking concert will be given, the expenses of which Capt. Russell, president of the club, has promised to bear, to provide funds for the further satisfaction of the creditors.” Lincolnshire Echo of the 27^th August 1897

A new trophy was purchased for the 1892-93 competition, which was won by Rushden. This was Rusden’s only win, although they were losing finalists on no less than three occasions.

Leicester Fosse were triumphant in 1893-94 overcoming Wolverton, a railway-based club, in the final.  The following season the Fosse reached the final only to be defeated by arch-rivals Burton Wanders.

Kettering won three out of the last four times the competition was held, which meant that it was kept by them.

If anyone knows where this cup or the original Kettering & District Charity Cup is today, please get in touch via the contact button.  It is possible that both trophies were recycled and exist today as the prize in another competition.

Charity Cups served their purpose in the early years of football in the region, and many of them ceased, although several continue to this day. 

The Luton Times of the 26^th March 1897 sums up the contribution of the Kettering Charity Cup nicely;

“It was the first competition of its kind in Northamptonshire, and has given a greater impetus to high grade football in that county than any league or association, for it encouraged local talent in “the days of yore,” when encouragement was needed.”