The Bass Charity Vase is a friendly association football tournament founded in 1889 in Burton upon Trent to raise funds for medical and hospital charities. The trophy was donated by Lord Burton and Hamar Bass the great-grandsons of William Bass, the founder of the Bass Brewery. The trophy itself is made from gold and inscribed with the names of all previous winners. It is reputed to be one of the most valuable trophies in English football. The first final was played in 1890 and was won by Derby County, who remain the most successful club, with 20 titles.
Over 130 years since the tournament began, the Bass Charity Vase match is now hosted almost exclusively by the only surviving professional football club in Burton upon Trent, Burton Albion. The trophy is presented to the winning club on the day of the match, and is displayed year-round at the nearby St George's Park National Football Centre. It still continues on its original purpose, raising money for medical and hospital charities - as well as local community initiatives. Notably, in 2021, raising funds for community trusts during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom and supporting Midlands Air Ambulance.
The current champions are Burton Albion, in their 16th reign.
Results
Most titles
Winners up to and including 2016 are sourced to the competition's website;{Derby County more recent winners are individually sourced.
ClubWinsLast final wonDerby County202019Burton Albion162026Burton All Saints/Town111940Gresley Rovers1989 CentenaryNotts County62005Newhall United1974Stoke City62023Leicester Fosse/City51982Stapenhill1966West Bromwich Albion42017Aston Villa32018Burton Swifts31900Burton United31910Coventry City31919Nottingham Forest32002Birmingham F.C./City22022Derby Corinthians21948Ibstock Penistone Rovers21969Kingsbury Colliery21946Rawdon Colliery Welfare21963/641st R.F.R. Royal Artillery21942Tamworth F.C./Castle21937Burton Wanderers11895Burton Workers' Union11915Chesterfield11901Coalville Munition Girls11918Dudley11906Enderby Town11972Kidderminster Harriers11939Liverpool11897Mansfield Town11935Moira United11947Overseal Swifts11912Pegson's Athletic11945Tutbury Hawthorn1 shared1950Whitwick Colliery11951Wilmorton & Alvaston11960
See also Burton Albion F.C. St George's Park National Football Centre Lord Burton Hamar Bass Bass Brewery
References