1888 American Cup
The 1888 American Cup was the fourth edition of the soccer tournament organized by the American Football Association. Having expanded into the New England district the first new champions came from Fall River, Massachusetts after Clark ONT of Newark had won the previous three editions. The Rovers defeated the Newark Almas in the final.
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Teams | 15 |
| Champions | Fall River Rovers |
| Runners-up | Newark Almas |
| Matches played | 15 |
| Goals scored | 58 (3.87 per match) |
← 1887 1889 → | |
Participants
Previously only the New York and New Jersey districts were represented. With the addition of the New England district, the tournament now included five new teams from three different states. The draw was held on September 17, 1887. In order to reduce travel the teams were drawn in two sections with the Rhode Island and Massachusetts teams in the first section and the remaining teams in the second section. The fifteen entrants were as follows:
- New Jersey- Trenton, Paterson, Clark O.N.T., Alma, Tiffany Rovers, Kearny Rangers, and Newark Caledonian.
- New York- Riverside, Thistle, and New York.
- New England- Ansonia, Providence Athletics, Pawtucket Free Wanderers, Fall River Rovers, Fall River East Ends.
First round
Riversides drew a bye.
| ONT | w/o | Trenton |
|---|---|---|
| Tiffany Rovers | 0–4 | Paterson |
|---|---|---|
Rovers: GK J.Clancy, DF T.Crann, W.Flanning, MF M.O'Hara, J.Selby, D.Dwyer, FW C.Gray, A.Hinckley, W.Hinckley, J.Morton, M.Down. Paterson: GK W.Doney, DF J.Smallwood, B.Henshall, MF J.Henshall, G.Henshall, FW T.Bisland, T.Evans, H.Curry, W.Warburton, W.Wyatt, J.Sutton
| Kearny Rangers | – | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Alma | 5–1 | Caledonian |
|---|---|---|
| 8' Gray 23' Gray 50' Cornall Cornall Brennan |
Alma: GK F.Farrow, DF G.Wright, F.McDonald, MF E.Morton, F.Britchford, R.Pattison, FW J.Lucas, F.Cornall, T.Bright, J.Gray, P.Brennan. Caledonian: GK H.Eddis, DF W.McCormick, John Hood, MF J.Lindsay, John Hearne, W.McNeil, FW J.McWilliams, J.Low, S.Hood, R.Barr, James Hearne.
| Fall River Rovers | 3–1 | East Ends |
|---|---|---|
Rovers: Long, Lonsdale, Bradley, Thomas, Waring, Adams, Bed, Blakely, Wild, Duff, Buckley. East Ends: Bracknell, Whittle, Karzenski, Coupe, Shoarocks, Lord, Wild, Whittle, King, Darlington, Foley.
| Providence | 1–4 | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|
| 19' Tomlinson | J.Stewart Lennox H.Stewart Hardy |
Providence: GK Crone, DF Jack North, Osborne, MF Jerome, Morgan, Tomlinson, FW Such, Start, Axon, Ambler, Heliborne. Pawtucket: GK Bosch, DF Smith, Reye, MF Conley, Pilling, Jack McGuire, FW Hardy, Harry Stewart, John Stewart, Sunderland, Lennox.
| Thistles | 0–1 | Ansonia |
|---|---|---|
Second round
Clark ONT had experienced their first cup-tie loss at the hands of the Almas. ONT lodged a protest on two counts. The first goal obtained by the Almas was awarded by the referee when a shot at goal was struck by Holden with his arm. ONT alleged that the foul was not properly done. The second issue concerned a goal by ONT that was disallowed since it was from a free kick. ONT claimed that the ball was touched by Jack Swithemby before Howarth scored. At a meeting the following week, the AFA did not sustain the referee's decisions and called for a replay.
| Alma | 2–1 | ONT |
|---|---|---|
| 55' awarded 75' Lucas |
Alma: GK F.Farrow, DF F.McDonald, B.Fagan, MF E.Morton, F.Britchford, G.Wright, FW F.Cornall, J.Lucas, T.Bright, A.Mountford, J.Gray. ONT: GK P.Hughes, DF H.Holden, A.Pallister, MF J.Howarth, Joe Swithemby, P.Flynn, FW J.Swarbrick, J.Connolly, Jack Swithemby, J.McGurck, H.Fisher.
| Fall River Rovers | 3–0 | Pawtucket Free Wanderers |
|---|---|---|
| Brookshaw Bell |
Rovers: GK Lang, DF Lonsdale, Bradley, MF Waring, Buckley, Adams, FW Bell, Brookshaw, Wilde, Duff, Blakely. Pawtucket: GK Booth, DF Smith, J.Stewart, MF Pilling, Love, Conley, FW Harding, H.Stewart, Sandilands, McGuire, Lennox.
| Kearny Rangers | 6–1 | Ansonia |
|---|---|---|
| 10' Walter Taylor 20' W.Turner Campbell Sergeant Sergeant Campbell |
60' Wherle |
Rangers: GK J.Smith, DF E.Walker, W.Lines, MF R.McDonald, T.Spencer, W.Allsopp, FW Walter Taylor, G.Sargeant, J.Campbell, W.Turner, E.Stark. Ansonia: GK W.Winfield, DF C.Williams(c), J.Williams, MF E.Wood, J.Lewis, J.Davidson, FW C.Williams, G.Bell, C.Wood, A.Wherle, M.McHale.
| Riverside | – | Paterson |
|---|---|---|
replay
| Alma | 5–1 | ONT |
|---|---|---|
Semifinals
| Fall River Rovers | 6–1 | Kearney Rangers |
|---|---|---|
| 3' Blakeley Bell Bell 60' Duff Bruckshaw 85' Bruckshaw |
Stark |
Rovers: GK Mullen, DF Bradley, Lonsdale, MF Buckley, Waring, Adams, FW Bell, Bruckshaw, Blakeley, Wilde, Duff. Rangers: GK J.H.Smith, DF W.Lines, L.Walker, MF R.McDonald, H.Bennett, W.Allsop, FW W.Taylor, G.Sargent, T.Spencer, A.Campbell, E.Stark.
| Almas | 5–1 | Paterson |
|---|---|---|
Alma: GK H.Farron, DF E.Morton, F.McDonald, MF P.Fagin, F.Britchford, R.Patterson, FW P.Brennan, J.Lucas, T.Bright, H.Maxfield, J.Gray.
Final
| Fall River Rovers | 5–1 | Newark Almas |
|---|---|---|
Bruckshaw  Blakely Wilde Duff |
(Report) | Gray |
Rovers: GK: J.Mullin, DF R. Lonsdale, F. Bradley, MF: J. Buckley, H. Waring, H. Adams, FW: R. Bell, T. Bruckshaw, J. Blakeley, H. Wilde, C. Duff.
Alma: GK F.Farrow, DF F.McDonald, W.Fagin, MF E.Morton, R.Patterson, F.Britchford, FW P.Garron, F.Cornall, T.Bught, J.Gray, H.Maxfield.
Sources
- Outing
- National Police Gazette
- New York Herald
- New York Times
- Spirit of the Times
- Trenton Times
- Fall River Herald
- Daily Advertiser
- Evening News
- Sunday Call