The West Ham Charity Cup was an annual amateur football tournament which was contested by teams from West Ham and the surrounding area, an area of Essex that is now part of London. Only players that lived locally were eligible to compete.
History
The competition was founded as the West Ham Hospital Cup in 1885 by George Hay, Mayor of the County Borough of West Ham, to raise funds for the local hospital, and ran until 1931.
In March 1893, Castle Swifts faced Barking Woodville in the final, held at Clapton's Old Spotted Dog Ground in Upton Lane. The Swifts were two goals down before coming back to win the tie 4–2, with the goals coming from outside-right Grundy, inside-forwards Mitchell and Taylor and an own goal. A local newspaper made the following account of the final: "After the match the crowd made a rush to the Grand Stand where the Mayor presented the large silver cup to the captain of the Castle Swifts and Mr. Comerford of the Cup Committee announced that ‘the medals had not yet come to hand, but they would be forwarded to the winners as soon as possible’. With that the captain was lifted on to the shoulders of several of his followers and carried from the ground."
Three of the teams in the 1895–96 tournament were Barking, Park Grove and Thames Ironworks, who would later become West Ham United. In a semi-final in Plaistow, Thames Ironworks beat Park Grove 1–0. Park Grove protested a technicality and forced a replay at Beckton Road, which The Ironworks won 3–0. Thames Ironworks faced Barking in the final on 21 March 1896 at the Old Spotted Dog Ground, drawing 2–2. They rematched a week later, and again drew, 0–0. The final was replayed a final time on 20 April 1896 and the Irons won 1–0.
Three of the teams in the 1896–97 tournament were Manor Park, West Ham Garfield and the defending champions, Thames Ironworks, who beat Manor Park in the semi-final, and lost the 20 March 1897 final 0–1 to Garfield. Thanes Ironworks later became West Ham United.
In April 1902, Clapton Orient won the tournament by beating Clapton 1–0.
Clapton is the most successful club, having won the competition eight times.
The tournament was not held between 1915 and 1918.
Finals This section lists every final of the competition played since 1887, the winners, the runners-up, and the result.
Key Match went to a replayMatch went to extra timeShared trophy Season Winners Result Runner-up Venue Notes Ref.1887–88Ilford3–0WoodvilleOld Spotted Dog Ground1888–89Ilford1–1ClaptonOld Spotted Dog GroundOriginal final.2–1Old Spotted Dog GroundReplay.1889–90Clapton1–0IlfordOld Spotted Dog Ground1890–91Ilford2–1ClaptonOld Spotted Dog Ground1891–92Ilford4–0Upton ParkOld Spotted Dog Ground1892–93Castle Swifts4–2WoodvilleOld Spotted Dog Ground1893–94Woodville1–0St Luke's1894–95Woodville4–2St Luke'sOld Spotted Dog Ground1895–96Thames Ironworks2–2BarkingOld Spotted Dog GroundOriginal final.0–0Old Spotted Dog GroundReplay.1–0Beckton RoadSecond replay.1896–97West Ham Garfield1–0Thames IronworksOld Spotted Dog Ground1897–98West Ham Garfield1–0Ilford1898–99Ilford4–0West Ham GarfieldOld Spotted Dog Ground1899–1900Woodford3–0IlfordGranleigh Road1900–01Woodford1–0Leyton1901–02Clapton Orient1–0ClaptonOld Spotted Dog Ground1902–03Clapton2–0Clapton OrientOld Spotted Dog GroundAfter extra-time.1903–04Clapton3–0WoodfordOld Spotted Dog Ground1904–05Romford2–0ClaptonOld Spotted Dog Ground1905–06Wanstead2–0ClaptonOld Spotted Dog Ground1906–07Clapton2–1LeytonstoneOld Spotted Dog Ground1907–08Clapton4–3RomfordOld Spotted Dog GroundAfter extra-time.1908–09Romford4–1LeytonstoneOld Spotted Dog Ground1909–10Leytonstone4–0Romford United1910–11Romford United3–2LeytonstoneOld Spotted Dog Ground1911–12Custom House2–0Romford UnitedOld Spotted Dog Ground1912–13Leytonstone3–2Custom HouseOld Spotted Dog Ground1913–14Leytonstone4–1ClaptonOld Spotted Dog Ground1914–15Leytonstone1–0Clapton reservesOld Spotted Dog Ground1915–1918No competition due to World War I.1918–19Leytonstone–ClaptonGranleigh Road1919–20Barking Town4–1LeytonstoneGranleigh Road1920–21Barking Town6–1LeytonstoneOld Spotted Dog Ground1921–22Barking Town2–1Great Eastern RailwayOld Spotted Dog Ground1922–23Custom House1–0Barking TownOld Spotted Dog Ground1923–24Clapton4–1Custom HouseOld Spotted Dog Ground1924–25Clapton2–1Barking TownOld Spotted Dog Ground1925–26ClaptonBarking Town0–0Trophy shared.1926–271927–281928–29Leytonstone3–1Custom House1929–30Leyton3–0Leytonstone1930–31Leyton reserves1–0Clapton reservesLeyton Stadium
Notes
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