The Staffordshire Senior Challenge Cup is a football cup tournament based in the county of Staffordshire in England first competed for in 1877–78 (then under Sheffield Rules.

Overview

Organised by the Staffordshire Football Association, it is competed for by a mix of clubs from Staffordshire and the surrounding areas. Both professional and amateur clubs may enter. In the modern age, however, professional teams such as Stoke City and Port Vale, the main clubs in Staffordshire, usually field a reserve team as they place more prestige on their professional league and cup competitions. This has left the door open for non-league sides to have more success in the cup as it is classed as a bigger achievement for them to win it.

In recent years the entries from clubs from neighbouring counties have virtually been phased out. Most County FAs now have their own separate Senior Cup competitions and this, coupled with the formation of the West Midlands county, has meant the entries for the Cup are quite low in some seasons. This has seen Market Drayton Town and Shifnal Town both enter since the turn of the millennium to make up the numbers, despite not being located in Staffordshire.

From the 2008–09 season the Staffordshire FA introduced a cut off point whereby teams lower than level 9 in the English football league system can not compete in the Senior Cup. Teams below the level of the North West Counties League Premier Division and Midland Football Alliance now compete in the sister competition the Staffordshire Senior Vase.

Stoke City are the most successful sides in the competition's history with 19 wins.

Historically the non-league side with the most wins is Stafford Rangers who have won the cup 11 times since the Second World War.

The most successful side from outside what is traditionally classed as Staffordshire are Kidderminster Harriers from Worcestershire, who won the competition four times in the 1980s. Worcester City and Redditch United have also won the competition from Worcestershire. Macclesfield Town and Northwich Victoria from neighbouring Cheshire have also won.

Finals This section lists every final of the competition played since 1877–78, the winners, the runners-up, and the result.

The first final was also the inaugural match at Stoke City's new Victoria Ground between Stoke and Talke Rangers on 28 March 1878, Stoke won 1–0 before upwards of 2,000 spectators, with the goal scored by William Boddington at about the 80th minute.

Key Match went to extra timeMatch decided by a penalty shootout after extra timeShared trophy

SeasonWinnerScoreRunner-upNotes1877–78Stoke1–0Talke Rangers1878–79Stoke2–1Cobridge1879–80Wednesbury Old Athletic2–1Aston Villa1880–81Aston Villa3–1Walsall Swifts1881–82Walsall Town1–1, 4–0Walsall Swifts1882–83West Bromwich Albion4–2Stoke1883–84Birmingham St. George's2–1West Bromwich Albion1884–85Walsall Town2–1Wolverhampton Wanderers1885–86West Bromwich Albion4–2Stoke1886–87West Bromwich Albion4–0Walsall Swifts1887–88Wolverhampton Wanderers2–1West Bromwich Albion1888–89West Bromwich Albion2–0Leek1889–90Birmingham St. George's5–3Walsall Town SwiftsOwing to fixture congestion, the match doubled as a Football Alliance match1890–91Aston Villa4–2Stoke1891–92Burton Swifts2–1Aston Villa1892–93Aston Villa3–0Walsall Town Swifts1893–94Aston Villa2 1Wolverhampton Wanderers1894–95Burton Wanderers2–0Wolverhampton Wanderers1895–96Aston Villa5–0Stoke1896–97Wolverhampton Wanderers2–0Stoke1897–98Burslem Port Vale1–0West Bromwich Albion1898–99Aston Villa2–0Walsall1899-1900West Bromwich Albion5–0Burslem Port Vale1900–01Wolverhampton Wanderers3–1Stoke1901–02West Bromwich Albion3–0Stoke1902–03West Bromwich Albion2–0Stoke1903–04StokeWolverhampton WanderersTrophy shared.1904–05Small Heath4–0Wolverhampton Wanderers1905–06Aston Villa2–0Burton United1906–07Aston Villa5–0West Bromwich Albion1907–08Birmingham6–2West Bromwich Albion1908–09Aston Villa5–0Birmingham City1909–10Aston Villa3–1West Bromwich Albion1910–11Aston Villa3–0Walsall1911–12Burslem Port Vale2–0Birmingham1912–13Aston Villa2–0Birmingham1913–14Stoke4–2Walsall1914–15Birmingham1–0Aston Villa1914–1919No competition due to World War I.1919–20Port Vale1–0Birmingham City1920–21Stoke2–0Walsall1921–22Wolverhampton Wanderers2–1Walsall1922–23Walsall3–2Wolverhampton Wanderers1923–24West Bromwich Albion3–0Stoke1924–25Aston Villa1–0West Bromwich Albion1925–26West Bromwich Albion3–1Stoke1926–27Walsall2–1Birmingham City1927–28Aston Villa2–0Port Vale1928–29Walsall1–0Aston Villa1929–30Stoke City2–0Port Vale1930–31Aston Villa6–0Walsall1931–32West Bromwich Albion3–2Wolverhampton Wanderers1932–33West Bromwich Albion2–0Aston Villa1933–34Stoke City1–0Aston Villa1934–35Wolverhampton Wanderers6–2Stoke City1935–36Wolverhampton Wanderers2–1Stafford Rangers1936–37Wolverhampton Wanderers4–1Birmingham City1937–38Wolverhampton Wanderers5–3West Bromwich Albion1938–39Stoke City4–0Kidderminster Harriers1939–1946No competition due to World War II.1946–47Port Vale3–2Stafford Rangers1947–48Stoke City1–0Port Vale1948–49Port Vale1–0Walsall1949–50Wolverhampton Wanderers3–1Walsall1950–51West Bromwich Albion1–0Wolverhampton Wanderers1951–52Wolverhampton Wanderers9–0Stoke City1952–53Port Vale3–1Walsall1953–54Aston Villa4–0Stafford Rangers1954–55Stafford Rangers3–1Leek Town1955–56Burton Albion2–0Tamworth1956–57Stafford Rangers2–1Bilston1957–58Bilston3–1Stafford Rangers1958–59Tamworth1–0Stafford Rangers1959–60Bilston6–0Stafford Rangers1960–61Bilston3–0Stafford Rangers1961–62Bilston2–2Brierley Hill Alliance1962–63Stafford Rangers4–2Bilston1963–64Tamworth6–2Brierley Hill Alliance1964–65Stoke City5–0Bilston1965–66Tamworth3–1Walsall1966–67Wolverhampton Wanderers3–2Tamworth1967–68Walsall6–0Kidderminster Harriers1968–69Stoke CityWest Bromwich AlbionTrophy shared.1969–70Hednesford Town3–1Kidderminster Harriers1970–71Stoke City4–2Tamworth1971–72Stafford Rangers1–0Stoke City1972–73Stafford Rangers8–0Port Vale1973–74Hednesford Town2–1Stoke City1974–75Stoke City5–1Armitage1975–76Stoke City3–1Stafford Rangers1976–77Worcester City6–3Burton Albion1977–78Stafford Rangers6–2Kidderminster Harriers1978–79Northwich Victoria7–5Kidderminster Harriers1979–80Northwich Victoria3–1Leek Town1980–81Kidderminster Harriers6–3Stoke City1981–82Stoke City4–2Leek Town1982–83Kidderminster Harriers2–1Willenhall Town1983–84Kidderminster Harriers4–2Halesowen Town1984–85Kidderminster Harriers7–1Leek Town1985–86Eastwood Hanley5–1Bilston1986–87Stafford Rangers4–2Northwich Victoria1987–88Oldbury United4–3Stafford Rangers1988–89Halesowen Town6–1Sutton Coldfield Town1989–90Northwich Victoria3–2Macclesfield TownAfter extra-time.1990–91Redditch United4–3Northwich Victoria1991–92Stafford Rangers4–2Chasetown1992–93Stoke City6–1Hednesford Town1993–94Macclesfield Town14–1Wednesfield Social1994–95Stoke City3–1Paget Rangers1995–96Leek Town4–3Newcastle Town1996–97Macclesfield Town4–3Bilston Town1997–98Bilston Town2–1Tamworth1998–99Stoke City3–1Leek Town1999–2000Blakenall4–4TamworthBlakenhall won 5–4 on penalties. After extra-time.2000–01Port ValeRocester2001–02Tamworth3–1Newcastle Town2002–03Stafford Rangers5–1Stoke City2003–04Kidsgrove Athletic1–0Stafford RangersAfter extra-time.2004–05Stafford Rangers2–0Leek Town2005–06Rushall Olympic1–0Stoke City2006–07Kidsgrove Athletic6–1Rushall Olympic2007–08Rocester3–0Kidsgrove Athletic2008–09Kidsgrove Athletic2–2Stafford RangersKidsgrove Athletic won 4–3 on penalties. After extra-time.2009–10Newcastle Town6–1Port Vale2010–11Kidsgrove Athletic1–0Stoke City2011–12Kidsgrove Athletic1–0Rushall Olympic2012–13Hednesford Town5–1Rushall Olympic2013–14Rushall Olympic2–1Port Vale2014–15Stafford Rangers1–0Leek Town2015–16Rushall Olympic4–1Kidsgrove Athletic2016–17Stoke City1–1ChasetownAfter extra-time.2017–18Stafford Rangers3–2Hednesford Town2018–19Stafford Rangers3–0Rushall Olympic2019–20Competition abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic.2020–21No competition held due to COVID-19 pandemic.2021–22Stafford Rangers3–1Stone Old Alleynians2022–23Rushall Olympic1–0Leek Town2023–24Rushall Olympic1–0Leek Town2024–25 Chasetown4–1Rushall Olympic2025–26Rushall Olympic3–2Leek Town

Results by teams Club Wins First final won Last final won Runner-up Last final lost Total final apps. NotesStoke City191877–782016–17182010–1137Aston Villa161880–811953–5461933–3422Stafford Rangers141954–552021–22112008–0925West Bromwich Albion131882–831968–6981937–3821Wolverhampton Wanderers121887–881966–6771950–5119Port Vale71897–982000–0172013–1414Rushall Olympic62005–062025–2642018–199Bilston Town51957–581997–9851996–9710Kidsgrove Athletic52003–042011–1222015–167Walsall41922–231967–68121965–6616Kidderminster Harriers41980–811984–8551978–799Tamworth41958–592001–0251900–20009Birmingham City31904–051914–1561936–379Hednesford Town31969–702012–1322017–185Northwich Victoria31978–791989–9021990–915Macclesfield Town †21993–941996–9711989–903Birmingham St George's †21883–841889–900–2Walsall Town †21881–821884–850–2Leek Town11995–961995–9692023–2410Newcastle Town12009–102009–1022001–023Burton Albion11955–561955–5611976–772Halesowen Town11988–891988–8911983–842Rocester12007–082007–0812000–012Blakenall †11999–20001999–20000–1Burton Swifts †11891–921891–920–1Burton Wanderers †11894–951894–950–1Chasetown12024-252024-2522016–172Eastwood Hanley11985–961985–960–1Oldbury United11987–981987–980–1Redditch United11990–911990–910–1Wednesbury Old Athletic †11879–801879–800–1Worcester City11976–771976–770–1Walsall Swifts †0––31886–873Brierley Hill Alliance †0––21963–642Armitage †0––11974–751Burton United †0––11905–061Cobridge †0––11878–791Leek †0––11888–891Paget Rangers0––11994–951Stone Old Alleynians0––12021–221Sutton Coldfield Town0––11988–891Talke Rangers †0––11877–781Wednesfield Social †0––11993–941Willenhall Town0––11982–831

Wins by cities/towns City County Wins Team(s)Birmingham21Aston Villa (16), Birmingham City (3), Birmingham St. George's (2)Stoke-on-Trent26Stoke City (19), Port Vale (7)Stafford14Stafford Rangers (14)West Bromwich13West Bromwich Albion (13)Wolverhampton12Wolverhampton Wanderers (12)Walsall6Walsall (4), Walsall Town (2)Bilston5Bilston (5)Kidsgrove5Kidsgrove Athletic (5)Rushall5Rushall Olympics (5)Kidderminster4Kidderminster Harriers (4)Tamworth4Tamworth (4)Hednesford3Hednesford Town (3)Northwich3Northwich Victoria (3)Burton upon Trent3Burton Albion (1), Burton Swifts (1), Burton Wanderers (1)Macclesfield2Macclesfield Town (2)Leek1Leek Town (1)Newcastle-under-Lyme1Newcastle Town (1)Halesowen1Halesowen Town (1)Rocester1Rocester (1)Blakenall Heath1Blakenall (1)Hanley1Eastwood Hanley (1)Oldbury1Oldbury United (1)Redditch1Redditch United (1)Wednesbury1Wednesbury Old Athletic (1)Worcester1Worcester City (1)

Records and statistics Matches Most final wins: 19 Stoke City (1877–78, 1878–79, 1903–04, 1913–14, 1920–21, 1929–30, 1933–34, 1938–39, 1947–48, 1964–65, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1981–82, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1998–99, 2016–17) Most final lost: 18 Stoke City (1882–83, 1885–86, 1890–91, 1895–96, 1896–97, 1900–01, 1901–02, 1902–03, 1923–24, 1925–26, 1934–35, 1951–52, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1980–81, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2010–11) Most consecutive finals win: 4 Wolverhampton Wanderers (1934–35, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38) Most consecutive finals lost: 3 Stafford Rangers (1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61) Most finals played without losing: 2 Birmingham St George's (1883–84, 1889–90); Walsall Town (1881–82, 1884–85) Most finals played without winning: 2 Brierley Hill Alliance (1961–62, 1963–64) Chasetown (1991–92, 2016–17)

Scoring Widest winning margin: 13 goals Macclesfield Town 14–1 Wednesfield Social (1993–94) [NB: over two legs - 10–1 at Wednesfield, 4–0 at Macclesfield] Highest scoring final: 15 goals Macclesfield Town 14–1 Wednesfield Social (1993–94) Most finals won without conceding a goal: 12 Aston Villa (1892–93, 1895–96, 1898–99, 1905–06, 1906–07, 1908–09, 1910–11, 1912–13, 1924–25, 1927–28, 1930–31, 1953–54)

Notes

References

External links