The 1920 American Cup was the annual challenge cup held by the American Football Association. The A.F.A. officials were president Duncan Carswell of Orange, vice–president Donald McMillan of East Newark, recording secretary James Gulletly of Kearny, and financial secretary/treasurer Andrew N. Beveridge of Kearny, NJ with the advisory board made up of William Patrick, Harry Craig, Hector MacDonald, Andrew M. Brown and Donald MacMillan. Bethlehem Steel had their streak of four straight American Cup wins broken this year by Robins Dry Dock of Brooklyn. The shipbuilders defeated the steelworkers 1–0 in the final on May 2 at Harrison, New Jersey.
First round The first round draw took place October 4, 1919 in Newark, NJ."A Draw In First Round For Ties". (October 8, 1919). Newburgh Daily News, p.10 col.4 In this year's tournament, district groupings were maintained until the semifinal round to further reduce travel for the teams involved. The following teams drew byes: American A.A., Bethlehem Steel, Bridgeport City, Celtic (New Bedford), Clan MacDuff (New York), Crescent, Disston (Tacony), Erie, Fairlawn (Pawtucket), Federal Shipbuilding (Kearny), Fore River (Quincy), General Electric (Lynn), Germantown Boys Club, Haledon Thistle, J. & P. Coats (Pawtucket), Malta, Morse Dry Dock, New York, Parcell Rovers, Paterson, Robins Dry Dock, Rovers (Bridgeport), Thistle (Bridgeport), Wanderers (Philadelphia), West New York Blues.
Connecticut District No games
New England District
New Jersey District
New York District
replay
Pennsylvania District
replay
Second round The second round matches were due to be played on or before November 9."Feds To Face New York In American Cup Game". (October 31, 1919). Newark Evening News, p.22 col.1
Connecticut/New York District
New England District
New Jersey District
Pennsylvania District
Third round The draw for the third round was held November 15 in Newark, NJ. Matches were due to be played on or before November 30."New York F.C. Opposes Eries". (November 16, 1919). The Sunday Call, p.18 col.1 The Haledon/Federal match was protested and ordered replayed. Haledon forfeited the replay.
Connecticut/New York District
New England District
replay
New Jersey District
replay
Pennsylvania District
Fourth round
The fourth round matches were due to be played on or before December 28."Eries Drawn Against Paterson". (December 8, 1919). Newark Evening News, p.6* col.1 The Morse/Robins game was protested and ordered replayed on account Kershaw of Morse Dry Dock was ineligible.
replays
Semifinals
Final
The American Cup final took place at Federal Baseball Park in Harrison, NJ. Bethlehem and Robins had met in the quarterfinals of the National Cup with Robins prevailing. Although Robins lost in the semifinal to Fore River, they reversed the result in the American semifinal. A further consolation for Robins was their triumph over eventual National Cup winners, Ben Miller, when visiting St. Louis earlier in the season.
Champions
Robins Dry Dock American Cup champions 1919–20. Upper row, left to right - W. Burrows (trainer), J.P. Bulger (assistant trainer), H. Rodden, J. Robertson, Neil Clarke, P. Renzulli, W. Brownlie, F. Lance, J. Van Deneyden and Hugh Monaghan (assistant trainer). Lower row- J. Drysdale (manager), E. Garside, J. McGuire, E.J. Smith (director), Harry J. Ratican, Bob Millar (captain) and H. Shanholtz.
See also 1919–20 National Challenge Cup 1919–20 National Association Foot Ball League season 1919–20 Southern New England Soccer League season
References