Steel & Sons Cup
The Steel & Sons Cup (also referred to as the Steel Cup) is an intermediate football competition in Northern Ireland run by the North East Ulster Football Association (also known as the County Antrim & District Football Association).
Organising body | County Antrim & District F.A. |
---|---|
Founded | 1895 |
Region | Northern Ireland (since 1921) Ireland (1895–1921) |
Current champions | Bangor (2022-23) |
Most successful club(s) | Glentoran II (13 titles) |
The competition culminates in the final which has traditionally been played on 25 December (except when this date falls on a Sunday). The 2006 final, however, broke with tradition when it was staged on the Saturday before 25 December as this was a closed date for all other football fixtures in Northern Ireland.[1] The final returned to its original Christmas Day slot in 2007-08. The 2012–13 tournament was declared null after Glentoran II were stripped of their title having fielded an ineligible player in an earlier round.[2] This is the first time in the tournament's history that no winner was declared.
The current holder is Bangor Football Club.
The trophy
The "Steel Cup" trophy was donated to the County Antrim FA in 1895 by Mr David Steel. Steel was principal of Steel & Sons Ltd, wholesale jewellers, silversmiths, cutlers, watch-makers and opticians, with premises on Royal Avenue, Belfast.[3]
Since 1973 a second trophy has been awarded after the final - the Player of the Match Award. Initially sponsored by the Sunday News, the first winner was Tommy Craig of Glentoran II. Since the 1993 final the award has been sponsored by the Belfast News Letter.[4]
Venue of final
The home for the final was rotated round the major Irish League venues in Belfast until the late 1950s when Solitude became the regular venue. Since the 1972-73 season Seaview, home of Crusaders, has hosted all the final ties, with the exception of the final and replay in 1975-76 and the replay of the 1984-85 final, which were played at Solitude.
Past finals
Key:
Scores level after 90 minutes. A replay was required. | |
(aet) | Scores level after extra time. A replay was required. |
(aet) | Scores level after 90 minutes. Winner was decided in extra time with no penalty shootout required. |
pens. | Scores level after extra time. A penalty shootout was required to determine the winner. |
Performance by club
Club | Winners | Winning Years |
---|---|---|
Glentoran II | 13 | 1904–05, 1908–09, 1910–11, 1914–15, 1918–19, 1932–33, 1937–38, 1957–58, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1989–90, 2000–01, 2001–02 |
Linfield Swifts | 11 | 1895–96, 1898–99, 1915–16, 1939–40, 1946–47, 1948–49, 1972–73, 1983–84, 1997–98, 2016–17, 2019–20 |
Dundela | 10 | 1945–46, 1963–64, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1999–2000, 2007–08, 2013–14 |
Larne | 9 | 1909–10, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1964–65, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72 |
Brantwood | 9 | 1920–21, 1931–32, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1955–56, 1976–77, 1985–86, 2006–07 |
Crusaders | 8 | 1922–23, 1926–27, 1928–29, 1930–31, 1933–34, 1936–37, 1947–48, 2005–06 |
Ballyclare Comrades | 6 | 1943–44, 1960–61, 1974–75, 1981–82, 1984–85, 1986–87 |
Cliftonville Olympic | 6 | 1899–1900, 1901–02, 1906–07, 1907–08, 1913–14, 1921–22 |
Belfast Celtic II | 5 | 1912–13, 1916–17, 1917–18, 1934–35, 1935–36 |
Chimney Corner | 4 | 1962–63, 1973–74, 1975–76, 1996–97 |
Bangor | 4 | 1923–24, 2004–05, 2011–12, 2022–23 |
Carrick Rangers | 3 | 1961–62, 1967–68, 2014–15 |
Dunmurry Rec. | 3 | 1897–98, 1919–20, 1998–99 |
Bangor Reserves | 3 | 1940–41, 1944–45, 1994–95 |
East Belfast | 3 | 1954–55, 1992–93, 2018–19 |
Harland & Wolff Welders | 2 | 2010–11, 2015–16 |
Larne Olympic | 2 | 1941–42, 1942–43 |
Mountpottinger YMCA | 2 | 1903–04, 1905–06 |
Newington | 2 | 2017–18, 2021–22 |
Distillery II | 1 | 1900–01 |
Ballymena United Reserves | 1 | 1995–96 |
Comber Rec | 1 | 1991–92 |
Albert Foundry (1923) | 1 | 1949–50 |
Ards | 1 | 2008–09 |
Black Diamonds | 1 | 1911–12 |
Broadway United | 1 | 1929–30 |
Cromac Albion | 1 | 1978–79 |
Donegal Celtic | 1 | 2003–04 |
Downpatrick Rec. | 1 | 1977–78 |
Highfield | 1 | 1902–03 |
Killyleagh Youth | 1 | 2002–03 |
Kilmore Rec | 1 | 2009–10 |
Ormiston | 1 | 1924–25 |
RUC | 1 | 1993–94 |
St Mary's | 1 | 1925–26 |
Shorts | 1 | 1979–80 |
Sirocco Works | 1 | 1938–39 |
Wesley | 1 | 1896–97 |
Willowfield | 1 | 1927–28 |
See also
Sources
- "BBC report about the date move of the Final". BBC News. 22 November 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
- Belfast Telegraph, 16 March 2013
- Steel & Sons Cup Final Brochure 1970
- Steel & Sons Cup Final Programme 1993
- "To-morrow's Matches". Ulster Football And Cycling News. 3 January 1896. p. 7.
- "Steel & Sons Cup Roll of Honour". 100 Years of Football: The History of the Co. Antrim FA. 1988.
- "Brilliant Victory For Wesley; The Cup Comes To Lisburn; Wesley v Glentoran 2nd XI". Lisburn Herald, and Antrim and Down Advertiser. 5 December 1896. p. 8.
- "Steel & Son's Cup; Final Tie". Ireland's Saturday Night. 26 December 1897. p. 2.
- "Pithy Pars". Belfast Telegraph. 20 December 1898. p. 4.
- "Sport And Play; The Association Game; In Belfast". Belfast Telegraph. 26 December 1899. p. 3.
- "Stee & Sons Cup; Final Tie". Ballymena Weekly Telegraph. 29 December 1900. p. 3.
- "Steel & Sons Cup Final". Belfast News Letter. 26 December 1901. p. 3.
- "Stee & Sons Cup - Final Tie At Cliftonville". Irish News and Belfast Morning News. 25 December 1902. p. 3.
- "Belfast Association". Belfast News Letter. 29 December 1903. p. 2–3.
- "In The Football Field; Association Notes". Belfast Telegraph. 27 December 1904. p. 4.
- "In The Football Field; Association Notes". Belfast Telegraph. 9 January 1905. p. 4.
- "In The Football Field; Association Notes". Belfast Telegraph. 6 February 1905. p. 4.
- "Football; Steel & Sons Cup; Woodvale v Glentoran 2nd". Belfast News Letter. 10 January 1905. p. 4.
- "Association; The League Championship". Belfast Telegraph. 31 January 1905. p. 3.
- "Steel & Sons Cup Final; Mountpottinger v Parkside Rovers". Belfast News Letter. 26 December 1905. p. 3.
- "Steel & Sons Cup; Cliftonville Olympic v Parkside Rovers". Belfast News Letter. 26 December 1906. p. 4.
- "Steel & Sons Cup - Final Tie; Cliftonville Olympic v Barn; A Record "Gate"". Belfast Telegraph. 26 December 1907. p. 4.
- "Steel & Sons Cup; Protested Final Tie". Irish News and Belfast Morning News. 16 December 1908. p. 3.
- "Steel & Sons Cup Final Tie; Glentoran 2nd v Larne". Northern Whig. 26 December 1908. p. 3.
- "Football; Dunmurry Wins Steel & Sons Cup". Lisburn Standard. 2 January 1920. p. 8.
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1920 p. 2
- "Christmas In Belfast; The Old Customs And The New". Belfast News Letter. 27 December 1921. p. 5.
- "Association; Steel & Sons' Cup Final; Another Drawn Game". Belfast News Letter. 30 December 1921. p. 2.
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1921 p. 3, 30/12/1921 p. 3 &
- Belfast News-Letter 27 December 1922 p. 3
- Belfast News-Letter - 29 December 1922 p. 2
- County Antrim FA Rules 1935-36 p. 67
- "Association Football; Steel & Sons' Cup Final; Drawn Game at the Oval". Belfast News Letter. 27 December 1923. p. 3.
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1923 p. 3 & 29/12/1923 p. 2
- "Association Football; Steel & Sons' Cup Final; Poor Game At Windsor". Belfast News Letter. 27 December 1924. p. 3.
- "Association Football; Steel & Sons' Cup Final; Ballyclare Comrades and Ormiston Again Draw". Belfast News Letter. 8 January 1925. p. 2.
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1924 p. 3 &
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1925 p. 3
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1926 p. 5
- "Steel & Sons' Cup Final; Willowfield and Ormiston Play a Drawn Game". Belfast News Letter. 27 January 1927. p. 3.
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1927 p. 3 &
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1928 p. 3
- "Steel & Sons' Cup Final Tie; Broadway United v Linfield Rangers; At Cliftonville On Xmas Day". Belfast News Letter. 24 December 1929. p. 13.
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1929 p. 7 & 31/12/1929 p. 2
- "Fright For Crusaders; Charleville's Recovery in Steel & Sons' Cup Final". Belfast News Letter. 27 December 1930. p. 3.
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1930 p. 3 &
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1931 p. 3
- "Steel & Sons' Cup Final; Thrilling Game Drawn". Belfast Telegraph. 27 December 1932. p. 8.
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1932 p. 4 &
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1933 p. 3
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1934 p. 3
- "Great Steel Cup Final". Northern Whig. 27 December 1935. p. 14.
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1935 p. 3 &
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1936 p. 3
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1937 p. 3
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1938 p. 3
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1939 p. 3
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1940 p. 2
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1941 p. 2
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1942 p. 2
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1943 p. 2
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1944 p. 2
- "Steel & Sons' Cup". Belfast News Letter. 27 December 1945. p. 2.
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1945 p. 2
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1946 p. 2
- "Steel & Sons' Cup Final". Belfast News Letter. 27 December 1947. p. 2.
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1947 p. 2
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1948 p. 2
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1949 p. 6
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1950 p. 6
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1951 p. 6
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1952 p. 2
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1953 p. 7
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1954 p. 7
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1955 p. 7
- "Drawn Steel Cup Final". Belfast News Letter. 27 December 1956. p. 2.
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1956 p. 2 &
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1959 p. 7
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1960 p. 7
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1961 p. 6 & 29/12/61 p. 8
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/62 p. 8
- "Odd Against Dundela". Belfast Telegraph. 24 December 1963. p. 9.
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1963 p. 8
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1964 p. 8
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1966 p. 6
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1967 p. 9
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1968 p. 8
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1969 p. 8
- "Christmas Day; Football; Steel and Sons Cups Final". Belfast Telegraph. 24 December 1970. p. 12.
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1970 p. 8 & 31/12/1970 p. 12
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1971 p. 9
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1972 p. 7
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1973 p. 9
- Belfast News Letter 30/12/1974 p. 10
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1975 p. 9 & 02/01/1976 p. 12
- Belfast Telegraph 28/12/1976 p. 13
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1977 p. 10 & 05/01/1978 p. 14
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1978 p. 10 &
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1979 p. 12
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1980 p. 9
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1981 p. 8 & 02/01/1982 p. 9
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1982 p. 12
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1983 p. 10
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1984 p. 22 & 29/12/1984 p. 24
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1985 p. 23 &
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1986 p. 23
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1987 p. 27 & 06/01/1988 p. 28
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1988 p. 26
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1989 p. 23
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1990 p. 21
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1991 p. 21
- Belfast News Letter 28/12/1992 p. 21
- Belfast News Letter 27/12/1993 p. 30
- Belfast News Letter 26/12/1995 p. 28 & 12/01/1996 p. 36
- Belfast News Letter 26/12/1996 p. 32
- Belfast News Letter 26/12/1997 p. 36
- Belfast Telegraph 26/12/1998 p. 21
- Belfast Telegraph 27/12/1999 p. 19
- Belfast Telegraph Soccer Yearbook 2001/02 p. 66
- "Wee Glens win Steel Cup". BBC News. 26 December 2001. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
- "Killyleagh win Steel decider". BBC News. 26 December 2002. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
- "Celtic lift Steel Cup". BBC News. 26 December 2003. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
- "Cup final abandoned in snow storm". BBC News. 26 December 2004. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- "Bangor win Steel & Sons Cup". BBC News. 30 December 2004. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
- "Crusaders 4-1 Dundela". BBC News. 24 December 2005. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
- "Brantwood 4-3 H&W Welders". BBC News. 23 December 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
- "Dundela and Loughgall trophy wins". BBC News. 27 December 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2007.
- "Ards snatch late Steel Cup winner". BBC News. 26 December 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
- "Kilmore Rec win Steel Cup final". BBC News. 26 December 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
- "Welders secure Steel Cup success". BBC News. 3 January 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
- "Bangor beat Larne in Steel & Sons Cup final". BBC News. 24 December 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
- "Festive cheer for Glentoran in Steel and Sons Cup final". Newsletter. 26 December 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
- "Glentoran II are stripped of Steel and Sons Cup". BBC News. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- "Dundela enjoy Christmas Day Cup cheer with win over Immaculata". Belfast News Letter. 25 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- News Letter
- Belfast Telegraph
- BBC
- "Steel & Sons Cup Final: East Belfast lift trophy after victory over Sirocco Works". News Letter. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
- "Linfield Swifts win Steel and Sons Cup". BBC Sport.
- "Steel & Sons Cup: Newington edge Linfield Swifts in Christmas Day final thanks to Aodhan Gillen goal". Belfasttelegraph.
- "Steel and Sons Cup: Bangor defeat Dunmurry Rec in festive final". BBC Sport. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.