The Football League Third Division South Cup was a football knockout competition open to teams competing in Football League Third Division South.

The competition was first held in the 1933–34 season and ran until the 1938–39 season. The cup was revived for the 1945–46 season.

Format The competition was run using a knockout format, with games replayed if level. In the first year the tournament format resulted in 6 first round ties, with the remaining 10 sides joining in the next round to make eight ties.1933–34 2nd Rnd results, with links to other rounds/seasons – Statto. In most seasons there were minor changes to the format, resulting in differing numbers of ties in each round. The tournaments featured all 22 teams from Division Three South. In the first two seasons the final was played at a neutral venue, and for the next three seasons the final was two-legged, whilst the final edition was not completed.

The 1945–46 competition started with two cup competitions, the Third Division South (South) Cup and Third Division South (North) Cup. Each cup consisted of 11 teams played on a league basis, although only 16 games were played by each team. The first two places in each cup then contested the semi-finals of a knockout competition.

Finals

Source:

Season Winners Result Runner-up Venue Att. Notes1933–34Exeter City1–0Torquay UnitedHome Park6,1981934–35Bristol Rovers3–2WatfordThe Den5,2941935–36Swindon Town0–2Coventry CityCounty Ground3,610First LegCoventry City3–2Swindon TownHighfield Road2,077Second LegCoventry City won 5–2 on aggregate.1936–37Watford2–2MillwallVicarage Road2,714First LegMillwall1–1WatfordThe Den3,368Second LegMatch drawn 3–3 on aggregate. Trophy shared.1937–38Reading6–1Bristol CityElm Park1,097First LegBristol City1–0ReadingAshton Gate718Second LegReading won 6–2 on aggregate.1938–39Semi-final replay between Queens Park Rangers and Port Vale not played. Torquay United were in the final.1945–46Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic1–0Walsall

Venues The 1933–34 final was held at Home Park, Plymouth on 2 May 1934.

The 1945–46 final was held at Stamford Bridge, London.

See also Football League Third Division North Cup Football League Trophy

References