Lincolnshire Senior Cup Founded 1881 Current Holders Boston United Country England County Lincolnshire Most Successful Clubs Lincoln City, Grimsby Town(38 Wins)
The Lincolnshire Senior County Cup is a football (soccer) competition for senior football clubs in Lincolnshire organised by the Lincolnshire FA.
The competition can be traced back to the formation of the Lincolnshire FA at a meeting held at the Queens Hotel in Lincoln on Saturday 17 September 1881Lincolnshire F.A. History and sixteen teams entered the inaugural Lincolnshire Cup competition with Spilsby the first winners in 1881—82. Spilsby would go on to win the first three competitions and consequently they were allowed to retain the initial trophy.Lincolnshire Senior Cup Trophy returned to Spilsby
When the competition first started it was treated as seriously as the FA Cup and the need for a Lincoln team to be successful in the competition following the initial victories by Spilsby, who defeated three Lincoln based teams – Lincoln Rovers, Lincoln Lindum and Lincoln Albion – in the 1883–84 competition, that led to the formation of Lincoln City on 26 June 1884.Ian & Donald Nannestad, Lincoln City F.C. The Official History, pp. 9–10, Yore Publications, 1997.
The elevation of Grimsby Town and Lincoln City to the Football League in 1892 and Gainsborough Trinity in 1896 saw the importance of the competition decline over time and the format has undergone a number of changes over time as has the type of trophies offered by the Lincolnshire FA. In this entry attention is focused upon the most senior trophy offered by the Lincolnshire FA which currently has the official title of "The Lincolnshire Football Association Ltd Senior County Cup Competition"Handbook, Rules and Directory of the Lincolnshire Football Association Limited Season 2007–2008, p15. and is competed annually by the four senior clubs of the county: Boston United, Grimsby Town, Lincoln City and Scunthorpe United. The current holders are Scunthorpe United.
The first competition, 1881–1934 The final was not played in the 1887–88 season after finalists Grimsby Town resigned from the Lincolnshire FA.Dave Wherry, The Grimsby Town Story 1898–2008, pp. 8, Yore Publications, 2008. SeasonWinnerRunner-up1881–82SpilsbyBrigg Town1882–83SpilsbyBrigg Town1883–84SpilsbyGrimsby TownGranthamGainsborough Trinity1885–86Grimsby TownLincoln Lindum1886–87Lincoln CityGrimsby Town1887–88Final not played1888–89Grimsby TownGrantham Rovers1889–90Gainsborough Trinity1890–91Lincoln CityGainsborough Trinity1891–92Lincoln CityGainsborough Trinity1892–93Gainsborough TrinityLincoln City1893–94Lincoln CityGainsborough Trinity1894–95Gainsborough TrinityLincoln City1895–96Grimsby All SaintsLincoln City Swifts1896–97Grimsby TownLincoln City1897–98Gainsborough TrinityAdelaide (Lincoln)1898–99Grimsby TownGainsborough TrinitySeasonWinnerRunner-up1899–1900Grimsby TownAdelaide (Lincoln)1900–01Grimsby TownLincoln City1901–02Grimsby TownGainsborough Trinity1902–03Grimsby TownLincoln City1903–04Gainsborough TrinityLincoln City1904–05Gainsborough TrinityGrimsby Town1905–06Grimsby TownGainsborough Trinity1906–07Gainsborough TrinityGrimsby Town1907–08Lincoln CityGainsborough Trinity1908–09Grimsby TownLincoln City1909–10Lincoln CityGrimsby Town1910–11Gainsborough TrinityGrimsby Town1911–12Lincoln CityGrimsby Town1912–13Grimsby TownLincoln City1913–14Lincoln CityGainsborough Trinity1914–15Lincoln CityGrimsby TownSeasonWinnerRunner-up1919–20Lincoln CityGrimsby Town1920–21Grimsby TownLincoln City1921–22Lincoln CityBoston1922–23Grimsby TownLincoln City1923–24Lincoln CityGrimsby Town1924–25Grimsby TownBoston1925–26BostonLincoln City1926–27Lincoln CityBoston1927–28Grimsby TownLincoln City1928–29Grimsby TownLincoln City1929–30Grimsby TownLincoln City1930–31Lincoln CityGrimsby Town1931–32Lincoln CityGrimsby Town1932–33Grimsby TownLincoln City1933–34Lincoln CityGrimsby Town
The second competition, 1934–1949 The increasing dominance of the county's two Football League sides Grimsby Town and Lincoln City saw the inauguration of the 'Lincolnshire Senior County Cup' which was played between the other Lincolnshire teams. The trophy was, by now, a minor consideration for the two clubs. For example, a crowd of just 2,334 gathered at Sincil Bank on 24 September 1934 to see Lincoln defeat Grimsby 5–0 compared to Lincoln's league average attendance of 5,227 for that seasonIan & Donald Nannestad, Lincoln City F.C. The Official History, p77, Yore Publications, 1997. The competition was not held in either of the 1938–39 or 1939–40 seasons as the two clubs met in matches for the Football League Jubilee Fund, Lincoln coming out victorious in the first and Grimsby in the second. The senior non-league sides continued to play for the 'Lincolnshire County Senior Cup' (LCS) and this continued to attract strong interest for these sides with, for comparison, the 1934–35 final replay between Boston United and Grantham attracting an attendance of 5,500.http://www.thegingerbreads.co.uk/gtfcstats/matchdetails.php?id=4764 Match report from Grantham Town Official Web-site The 'Lincolnshire County Junior Cup' continued for those clubs playing at a more junior non-league level. SeasonWinnerRunner-upLCS Winner1934–35Lincoln CityGrimsby TownBoston UnitedMatch details, 4 May 1935, from unofficial Boston United history web-site1935–36Grimsby TownLincoln CityBoston UnitedMatch details, 11 April 1936, from unofficial Boston United history web-site1936–37Grimsby TownLincoln CityGrantham1937–38Grimsby TownLincoln CityBoston UnitedMatch details, 16 April 1938, from unofficial Boston United history web-site1938–39No competitionScunthorpe and Lindsey UnitedMatch details, 30 March 1939, from unofficial Boston United history web-site1939–40No competitionScunthorpe and Lindsey United1945–46Lincoln CityGrimsby TownBoston UnitedMatch details, 20 April 1946, from unofficial Boston United history web-site1946–47Grimsby TownLincoln CityGainsborough Trinity1947–48Lincoln CityGrimsby TownGainsborough TrinityMatch details, 27 March 1948, from unofficial Boston United web-site1948–49Lincoln CityGrimsby TownGainsborough TrinityMatch details, 4 May 1949, from unofficial Boston United web-site The 1937/38 final between Grimsby Town and Lincoln City was played at Grimsby on 21 September 1937 in Grimsby with Grimsby Town winning 4–1. The 1948/49 final between Lincoln City and Grimsby Town was played at Lincoln on 14 May 1949 at Lincoln, with Lincoln City winning 2–1 after extra time.Saturday Telegraph Football Annuals
The third competition, 1949–1956 The Lincolnshire Senior County Cup continued to be played as a straight final between the two Lincolnshire league teams, Grimsby Town and Lincoln City. Scunthorpe United's elevation to the Football League saw them eligible to participate in the competition from 1951 to 1952 onwards. One team received a bye to the final with the other two teams meeting in a semi-final. From season 1949–50 onwards the Lincolnshire County Senior Cup split into two sections 'A' and 'B' and was restricted to clubs nominated to compete.Handbook, Rules and Directory of the Lincolnshire Football Association Limited Season 2007–2008, p142. Season Winners Result Runner-up Notes Senior 'A' Winners Senior 'B' Winners1949–50Grimsby Town2–1Lincoln City13 May 1950Boston UnitedSkegness Town1950–51Lincoln City3–0Grimsby Town19 May 1951Gainsborough TrinitySpalding United1951–52Scunthorpe United1–0Lincoln City10 May 1952 Gainsborough TrinityStamford1952–53Grimsby Town1–0Scunthorpe United9 May 1953Spalding UnitedSkegness Town1953–54Scunthorpe United4–2Grimsby Town8 May 1954GranthamStamford1954–55Scunthorpe United5–3Lincoln City14 May 1955After extra-time.Boston UnitedBrigg Town1955–56Lincoln CityScunthorpe United1–112 May 1956.After extra-time. Trophy shared.Boston UnitedSkegness Town In 1949–50, the final between Grimsby Town and Lincoln City was played at Grimsby on 13 May 1950, with Grimsby winning 2–1.
In 1951–52, the semi-final was between Scunthorpe United and Grimsby Town, played at Scunthorpe on 31 March 1952, with Scunthorpe winning 1–0, the goal scored by Whitfield. Lincoln City had a bye into the final. The final was played at Scunthorpe on 10 May 1952, with Scunthorpe winning 1–0, through an own goal by Emery.
In 1952–53, the semi-final was between Lincoln City and Grimsby Town, played at Lincoln on 15 April 1953, with Grimsby Town winning 3–0 with goals by Lord and Maddison (2). Scunthorpe United had a bye into the final. The final was played at Grimsby on 9 May 1953, with Grimsby Town winning 1–0 with a goal by Hernon.
Scunthorpe United beat Lincoln City 2-1 in the 1953–54 semi-final, played at Scunthorpe. In the final, Scunthorpe United beat Grimsby Town 4–2.Scunthorpe United programme 9 October 1958
In 1954–55, the semi-final was between Grimsby Town and Lincoln City at Grimsby on 19 October 1954, with an attendance of 3,918. Lincoln City won 2–0 with goals by Gibson and Finch. Scunthorpe United had a bye to the final. The 1954–55 final was played at Lincoln on 14 May 1955 with an attendance of 4,130. Scunthorpe United won 5–3, after extra time, with Scunthorpe United goals by Gregory (3), Brown and Whitfield. The Lincoln scorers were Garvie(2) and Munro.Scunthorpe United programme 14 May 1955
The 1955–56 final was played at Scunthorpe United's ground on 12 May 1956. Score was 1–1.Scunthorpe United programme 22 March 1956
Four team knock-out, 1956–1962 In 1956 the Lincolnshire Senior Cup competition was expanded to four clubs with the leading county non-league side, Boston United, invited to join the three league teams. In their first season in the competition they would defeat Grimsby Town in the semi-final before going on to lift the trophy with victory over Scunthorpe United in the final. Boston's demotion from the Southern Football League at the end of the 1960–61 season saw them replaced by Gainsborough Trinity for the 1961–62 competition. Season Winners Result Runner-up Notes Senior 'A' Winners Senior 'B' Winners1956–57Boston United3–1Scunthorpe United11 May 1957Skegness TownBrigg Town1957–58Scunthorpe United3–2Grimsby Town5 May 1958Gainsborough TrinityHolbeach United1958–59Scunthorpe United2–1Lincoln City8 December 1958Gainsborough TrinityBarton Town1959–60Boston United2–1Lincoln City24 November 1959Skegness TownGrimsby Borough Police1960–61Scunthorpe United4–0Grimsby Town6 March 1961GranthamBourne Town1961–62Lincoln City2–0Scunthorpe United19 March 1962GranthamLincoln Ruston Bucyrus
In the 1956–57 season, Scunthorpe United beat Lincoln City at Scunthorpe on 1 October 1956 in the first semi-final with a goal by Jones, and Boston United beat Grimsby Town 2–0 in the second semi-final with goals by Bloomer (2), on 16 October 1956. The final was played at Scunthorpe United's ground on 11 May 1957, with Boston United beating Scunthorpe United 3–1. Sharpe scored for Scunthorpe United, and the Boston goals were from Clarke, Dunn and Bushby (o.g.).from unofficial Boston United history web-site
The next season, 1957–58, saw Grimsby Town beat Boston United 3–0 in the first semi-final on 8 October 1957, and Scunthorpe United beat Lincoln City in the other semi-final on 19 March 1958, after a draw on 7 November 1957.Scunthorpe United programme 31 October 1957 In the final, Scunthorpe United beat Grimsby Town 3–2 on 5 May 1958.
In 1958–59, Lincoln City beat Boston United in the first semi-final on 29 September 1958 and Scunthorpe United beat Grimsby Town in the other semi-final on 9 October 1958. Scunthorpe United went on to beat Lincoln City in the final on 8 December 1958.Scunthorpe United programme 17 November 1958
In 1959–60, Lincoln City beat Scunthorpe United in one semi-final and Boston United beat Grimsby Town 2–1 in the other semi-final played on 27 October 1959. Boston United went on to win the final, beating Lincoln City 2–1 on 24 November 1959.