1896–97 American Cup

1897 American Cup
Tournament details
Country	United States
Teams	9
Final positions
Champions	Philadelphia Manz (1st title)
Runner-up	True Blues
	← 1896 1898 →

The 1897 American Cup was the thirteenth edition of the soccer tournament organized by the American Football Association. The Philadelphia Manz won this edition defeating defending champions Paterson True Blues after four attempts to complete the final. The committee for this season was H. Goldberg as president, W. Turner as vice president, William Robertson as Secretary, and Hugh Wilkie as Treasurer. The Amateur Athlete was made the official publication of the association. The 'Victor ball' by the Overman Wheel Company was chosen as the official ball for use in cup games. The association originally intended to have a league series and a cup tournament. They later dropped the league idea in favor of having each team play home and away games for the cup ties. If each team won a game, then the managers of each contesting team would flip a coin to see where the third game would take place. Players had to be registered 14 days before a game to be eligible to play.

Participants

Name	City	State	Manager	Grounds
Athletics	Kearny	New Jersey	Flynn	Cosmopolitan Park
Caledonian	Newark	New Jersey	Swithemby	Cosmopolitan Park
O.N.T.	Newark	New Jersey	W.G.Rabone	Cosmopolitan Park
Scottish American	Newark	New Jersey	Spence	Wiedenmayer's Park
Crescent	Paterson	New Jersey	T.Grewcock	Lakeview
True Blues	Paterson	New Jersey	Yeates	Willard Park
International A.C.	New York	New York	Jamieson	Communipaw
Manz	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	T.L.MacKenzie	Wayne Junction
Taftville	Taftville	Connecticut	Mr.	Taftville

First round

The first round draw took place at the AFA meeting in Ball's Union Hall at East Newark, New Jersey on October 10, 1896. The Scottish Americans drew the bye. The first round to be finished before Nov. 21.

November 1896	International	–	O.N.T.	Kearny, NJ
2:30 PM				Stadium: Cosmopolitan Park

October 31, 1896	True Blues	3–1	Taftville	Lakeview, NJ
3:00 PM	Turner , 80' Oldfield	^[1]		Stadium: Olympic Park Attendance: 500 Referee: James Lennox (Newark)
Note: True Blues: GK S.Simpson, FB W.Alexander, Binks, HB R.Hall, S.Findlay, J.Upton, FW L.Dodson, J.Oldfield, Robert Spencer, Harry Lauder, Tommie Turner. Taftville: G J.Brown, FB Gamble, Catterall, HB Baldwin, Wood, Ferguson, RW Smith, Montgomery, LW Nelson, Muttlewain, C W.Brown.

November 7, 1896	Taftville	3–5	True Blues	Rose of New England Wheel Club grounds
3:00 PM	McIlvane 1H' W. Brown 60' Ferguson 2H'	^[2]^[3]	1H' , , , 2H'	Referee: James Lennox (Newark)
Note: True Blues: GK S.Simpson, FB W.Alexander, Turner, HB R.Hall, S.Findlay, J.Upton, FW L.Dodson, J.Oldfield, Robert Spencer(c), Harry Lauder, Tommie Turner. Taftville: G J.Brown, FB Boyle, Seddon, HB Gamble, Woods(c), Hutchinson, FW Cottrell, Ferguson, Nelson, McIlvane, W.Brown.

October 31, 1896	Caledonian	0–7	Manz	East Newark, NJ
3:00 PM	Carmichael , 1H' Gold 1H' Cooper 2H' McCartney 2H' Kerr 2H' Steel 2H'	^[4]		Stadium: Cosmopolitan Park Referee: Mr. Humphreys (Internationals)
Note: Caledonians: GK Glynn, RFB Allan, LFB W.Mortimer, RHB R.Swithemby, CHB Joules, LHB Burns, RW Harty, Ross, C H.Singleton, LW Holden, Furfey. Manz: GK Beaumont, RFB Wason, LFB Brown, RHB Cooper, CHB Gold, LHB Richmond, RW Carmichael, McCartney, C Steel, LW Kerr, Smith.

November 7, 1896	Manz	w/o	Caledonian	PA
		^[5]		Stadium: Wayne Junction
Note: Caledonians forfeited the second match.

November 7, 1896	Crescents	3–3	Athletics	Willard Park, NJ
3:00 PM	Bloor 7' Flannery 48' McGee 59'	^[6]	Douglass 49', 67' Stalter 1H'	Stadium: Tourist Oval Attendance: 400 Referee: William Turner (Paterson)
Note: Crescents: GK J.Lees, FB R.Barr, H.McCrowe, HB White, Philibin, Vernon, RW R.Bloor, J.Band, C P.McGee, LW E.Grewcock, J.Flannery. Athletics: GK Arthur Hayes, FB William Flynn, Alfred Cutler, HB John McKance, Robert Taylor, Harry Singleton, FW William Salter, C.McGee, J.Nagle, David Douglas, William Marshall.

November 14, 1896	Athletics	8–0	Crescents	Newark, NJ
	Nagle, , ,	^[7]		Stadium: Cosmopolitan Park Referee: Burns
Note: Crescents: GK J.Lees, FB R.Barr, H.McCrow, HB White, Philibin, Findley, RW R.Bloor, J.Band, C P.McGee, LW E.Grewcock, J.Flannery. Athletics: GK Arthur Hayes, FB William Flynn, Robert Taylor, HB John McKance, Alfred Cutler, Harry Singleton, FW William Salter, C.McGee, J.Nagle, Sampson, William Marshall.

November 21, 1896	Crescents	0–7	Athletics	Willard Park, NJ
3:00 PM		^[8]	Salter 3', 1H' Nagle 1H' , , , 2H'	Stadium: Tourist Oval Referee: James Lennox (Newark)
Note: Crescents: GK J.Lees, FB R.Barr, Grewcock, HB White, Findley, H.McCrowe, RW R.Bloor, W.Bunce, C P.McGee, LW J.Flannery, W.Clarkson. Athletics: GK Arthur Hayes, FB William Flynn, Robert Taylor, HB John McKance, Alfred Cutler, Harry Singleton, FW William Salter, C.McGee, J.Nagle, Sampson, William Marshall.

Second round

At the AFA meeting on November 28, 1896, at Union Hall in Newark, the committee drew for the semifinals pairing O.N.T. with Manz while the Scots and Athletics would playoff for the semifinal spot against the True Blues with five weeks to complete it.

December 12, 1896	Scottish Americans	2–7	Athletics	Newark, NJ
	McCullough 1H' Blackwood 2H'	^[9]	Marshall , Nagle , Saulter Singleton Samson	Stadium: Wiedenmayer's Park Attendance: 600 Referee: Mr. Kirk (Newark)
Note: Scots: GK Wildt, FB P.Wilson, P.Byrnes, HB G.Hopkins, T.Hopkins, R.McDonald, FW McCollough, Blackwood, Laverty, Paton, Gaffney. Athletics: GK Arthur Hayes, FB William Flynn, John McCance, HB Robert Taylor, Alfred Cutler, Harry Singleton, FW William Salter, C.McGee, J.Nagle, Harry Samson, William Marshall.

January 2, 1897	Athletics	1–4	Scottish Americans	East Newark, NJ
3:35 PM	McCollough Paton Gemmel	^[10]^[11]	Nagle 3', Salter Flynn	Stadium: Cosmopolitan Park Referee: G. Winters (Centerville)
Note: Scots: GK T.Hopkins, FB P.Wilson, Blackwood, HB J.Hopkins, Galloway, R.McDonell, FW Gemmell, Laverty, C McCollough, RW Paton, Gaffney. Athletics: GK Hayes, FB Flynn, Sansom, HB Taylor, Cutler, McCance, RW Salter, Douglass, C J.Nagle, LW C.McGee, Marshall.

Semifinals

The second leg of the True Blue-Athletic semifinal was protested by the Athletics who disagreed with the referee's decision to eject a player.The AFA sustained the protest and ordered the game replayed. The AFA later reversed the decision at an April 17 meeting at Newark. The committee seeing that it was wrong to allow the protest awarded the series to the True Blues.

January 16, 1897	Manz	6–1	O.N.T.	Wayne Junction, PA
3:30 PM	Kerr , , Carmichael Steel ,	^[12]	Grundy 2H'	Stadium: Stenton Referee: James Patrick (Brooklyn Wanderers)
Note: O.N.T.: GK Vrain, FB Winters, Kerr, HB Oliver, Christie, Montgomery(c), RW Neave, Hill, C Jones, LW Grundy, Clarke. Manz: GK Beaumont, FB Wilson, Wason, HB Gold, Morton, Richmond, LW McCartney, Carmichael, C Steel, RW Kerr, Colsey.

February 6, 1897	O.N.T.	1–6	Manz	Newark, NJ
3:30 PM	1H'	^[13]	10' 1H' , , , 2H'	Stadium: Cosmopolitan Park Attendance: 50 Referee: W.Flynn (Kearny Athletics)
Note: O.N.T.: GK Fitzpatrick, FB Winters, Kerr, HB Oliver, Christie, J.Jones, FW Neave, Hill, W.Jones, Montgomery(c), Clarke. Manz: GK Beaumont, FB Brown, Wason(c), HB Gold, Morton, Richmond, FW McCartney, Carmichael, Steel, Kerr, Colsey.

February 27, 1897	Athletics	3–4	True Blues	East Newark, NJ
3:00 PM	1H' Brown 1H' Spencer 1H' Turner 1H' (pen.)	^[14]^[15]	5' Salter 2H' 2H'	Stadium: Cosmopolitan Park Attendance: 2000 Referee: Harry Humphries (Internationals)
Note: Athletics: GK A.Hayes, FB W.Flynn, R.Sansom, HB R.Taylor, Singleton, McCance, RW Salter, H.Sansom, C J.Nagle, LW H.McGee, W.Marshall. True Blues: GK S.Simpson, FB W.Alexander, T.Turner, HB R.Hall, S.Findlay, J.Upton, FW L.Dodson, J.Oldfield, Robert Spencer, R.Brown, Turner.

March 20, 1897	True Blues	7–4	Athletics	Paterson, NJ
3:00 PM	46' Spencer 46', 75', 2H', 2H' 1H' , 2H'	^[16]^[17]	McGee Nagle 5' , 1H'	Stadium: Willard Park Attendance: 2000 Referee: Mr. Goode (Americus)
Note: Athletics: GK A.Hayes, FB W.Flynn, R.Sansom, HB Saggus, Singleton, McCance, RW Salter, Douglass, C J.Nagle, LW H.McGee(c), Taylor. True Blues: GK S.Simpson, FB W.Alexander, T.Turner, HB R.Hall, S.Findlay, J.Upton, FW L.Dodson, J.Oldfield, Robert Spencer, R.Brown, Turner.

April 3, 1897	True Blues	1–4	Athletics	Paterson, NJ
	1H'	^[18]	1H' Salter 1H', 2H' Nagle 2H'	Stadium: Willard Park Referee: Dave Wilson (Manz)
Note: Athletics: GK A.Hayes, FB W.Flynn, R.Sansom, HB Saggus, Singleton, McCance, FW Salter, Taylor, J.Nagle, H.McGee(c), Marshall. True Blues: GK S.Simpson, FB W.Alexander, T.Turner, HB R.Hall, S.Findlay, J.Upton, FW L.Dodson, J.Oldfield, Robert Spencer, R.Brown, Turner.

Final

The True Blues of Paterson were entering their third AFA Cup final losing in 1894 and winning in 1896. The Manz team of Philadelphia reached the final having only one loss during the season, that being to the losing semifinalist Kearny Athletics on Christmas Day. The teams split the first two games requiring a deciding game at a neutral site. The third installment resulted in a tie at the end of regulation after which the referee called for 30 minutes additional time however the result remained level and the replay was set for May 22 at Newark.

April 24, 1897	Manz	4–2	True Blues	Wayne Junction, PA
3:15 PM	McCartney 30', 2H' Colsey 1H' Wilson 2H'	^[19]	Spencer 5' Turner 9'	Stadium: Stenton Field Referee: J. Swithemby (Caledonians)
Note: True Blues: GK Simpson, FB W.Alexander, T.Turner, HB R.Hall, Finley, J.Upton, RW Dodson, James Oldfield, C Robert Spencer(c), LW Brown, T.A. Turner. Manz: GK Miller, FB Brown, Wason(c), HB Wilson, Morton, Richmond, RW McCartney, Carmichael, C Steel, LW Kerr, Colsey.

May 1, 1897	True Blues	3–1	Manz	Paterson, NJ
3:30 PM	Lauder 70' Oldfield 75' Dodson 85'	^[20]^[21]	Colsey 2H'	Stadium: Willard Park Referee: J. Swithemby (Caledonians)
Note: True Blues: GK Simpson, FB W.Alexander, Turner, HB R.Hall, Findlay, G.Eaton, RW Dodson, James Oldfield, C Robert Spencer, LW Brown, H.Lauder. Manz: GK Miller, FB Brown, Wason(c), HB Wilson, Morton, Richmond, RW McCartney, Carmichael, C Steel, LW Kerr, Colsey.

May 8, 1897	True Blues	2–2	Manz	East Newark, NJ
3:20 PM	1H' ET'	^[22]^[23]	1H' ET'	Stadium: Cosmopolitan Park Attendance: 1500 Referee: J. Swithemby (Caledonians)
Note: True Blues: GK Simpson, FB W.Alexander, Turner, HB R.Hall, Findley, Upton, RW Dodson, James Oldfield, C Robert Spencer, LW Brown, Lauder. Manz: GK Beaumont, FB Brown, Wason(c), HB Gold, McCartney, Richmond, LW Wilson, Carmichael, C Steel, RW Kerr, Colsey.

May 22, 1897	True Blues	2–5	Manz	East Newark, NJ
3:40 PM	R.Brown 11' Dodson 25'	^[24]^[25]	Wason 8' Wilson 40' 75' , 2H'	Stadium: Cosmopolitan Park Attendance: 1500 Referee: Alexander Jeffries(Pawtucket)
Note: True Blues: GK Simpson, FB W.Alexander, Turner, HB R.Hall, Findley, Upton, RW Dodson, James Oldfield, C Robert Spencer, LW R.Brown, Lauder. Manz: GK Beaumont, FB Brown, Wason(c), HB Gold, Colsey, Richmond, LW Wilson, Carmichael, C Steel, RW Kerr, McCartney.

American Cup bracket

First Round				Second Round				Semifinals				Finals

	Newark Caledonians	0

	Philadelphia Manz	7	w/o
					Philadelphia Manz

					bye



									Philadelphia Manz	6	6

									Clark O.N.T.	1	1
	International A.C.

	Clark O.N.T.	w/o
					Clark O.N.T.

					bye



													Philadelphia Manz	4	1-2-5

													Paterson True Blues	2	3-2-2
	Scottish-American

	bye
					Scottish-American	2	4

					Kearny Athletics	7	1
	Paterson Cresent	3–0	0

	Kearny Athletics	3-8	7
									Kearny Athletics	3	4-4

									Paterson True Blues	4	7-1
	Paterson True Blues	3	5

	Taftville	1	3
					Paterson True Blues

					bye

References

^ "In The World Of Sports". (November 2, 1896). The Morning Call, p.1/8 col.5/2
^ "Local Kickers Win Everything". (November 9, 1896). The Morning Call, p.1 col.3
^ "Taftvilles VS. True Blues". (November 9, 1896). Norwich Bulletin, p.7 col.3
^ "Conflicts On The Gridiron" (PDF). Newark Evening News. November 2, 1896. p.9 col.4. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
^ "Sporting Talk Cut Short". Philadelphia Inquirer. November 6, 1896. p.4 col.1. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "The Round Of Pastime". Paterson Daily Press. November 9, 1896. p.1 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
^ "On The Foot Ball Field" (PDF). Newark Evening News. November 16, 1896. p.11 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
^ "The Entre Nous Scored Against". (November 23, 1896). The Morning Call, p.1 col.6
^ "Association Foot Ball" (PDF). Newark Evening News. December 14, 1896. p.9 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
^ "Athletics And Scots Play Fast Ball" (PDF). Newark Evening News. January 4, 1897. p.13 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
^ "Fast Football At Kearny". Jersey City News. January 4, 1897. p.4 col.6. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Manz Wins The First". Philadelphia Inquirer. January 17, 1897. p.8 col.5. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Association Football". (February 11, 1897). The Amateur Athlete, p.12/13 col.2/1
^ "Exciting Football". (February 28, 1897). The Sunday Call, p.2 col.6
^ "Football". The Sun. New York. February 28, 1897. p.8 col.4. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "The Round Of Pastime". Paterson Daily Press. March 22, 1897. p.2 col.4. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
^ "The True Blues Win Semi-Final". (March 22, 1897). The Morning Call, p.1 col.8
^ "The Blues Meet Defeat". (April 5, 1897). The Morning Call, p.1 col.5
^ "Manz Defeats True Blues". Philadelphia Inquirer. April 25, 1897. p.10 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Round Of Recreations". Paterson Daily Press. May 3, 1897. p.1 col.5. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
^ "True Blues Triumph". Paterson Evening News. May 3, 1897. p.1 col.5. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Gone To Dixie's Land". Paterson Daily Press. May 10, 1897. p.2 col.4. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
^ "Foot Ball Teams Evenly Matched" (PDF). Newark Evening News. May 10, 1897. p.13 col.4. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
^ "Manz Defeats True Blues". Philadelphia Inquirer. May 23, 1897. p.11 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Manz Team Rout The True Blues" (PDF). Newark Evening News. May 24, 1897. p.9 col.5. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

[1] "In The World Of Sports". (November 2, 1896). The Morning Call, p.1/8 col.5/2

[2] "Local Kickers Win Everything". (November 9, 1896). The Morning Call, p.1 col.3

[3] "Taftvilles VS. True Blues". (November 9, 1896). Norwich Bulletin, p.7 col.3

[4] "Conflicts On The Gridiron" (PDF). Newark Evening News. November 2, 1896. p.9 col.4. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

[5] "Sporting Talk Cut Short". Philadelphia Inquirer. November 6, 1896. p.4 col.1. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[6] "The Round Of Pastime". Paterson Daily Press. November 9, 1896. p.1 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

[7] "On The Foot Ball Field" (PDF). Newark Evening News. November 16, 1896. p.11 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

[8] "The Entre Nous Scored Against". (November 23, 1896). The Morning Call, p.1 col.6

[9] "Association Foot Ball" (PDF). Newark Evening News. December 14, 1896. p.9 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

[10] "Athletics And Scots Play Fast Ball" (PDF). Newark Evening News. January 4, 1897. p.13 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

[11] "Fast Football At Kearny". Jersey City News. January 4, 1897. p.4 col.6. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[12] "Manz Wins The First". Philadelphia Inquirer. January 17, 1897. p.8 col.5. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[13] "Association Football". (February 11, 1897). The Amateur Athlete, p.12/13 col.2/1

[14] "Exciting Football". (February 28, 1897). The Sunday Call, p.2 col.6

[15] "Football". The Sun. New York. February 28, 1897. p.8 col.4. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[16] "The Round Of Pastime". Paterson Daily Press. March 22, 1897. p.2 col.4. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

[17] "The True Blues Win Semi-Final". (March 22, 1897). The Morning Call, p.1 col.8

[18] "The Blues Meet Defeat". (April 5, 1897). The Morning Call, p.1 col.5

[19] "Manz Defeats True Blues". Philadelphia Inquirer. April 25, 1897. p.10 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[20] "Round Of Recreations". Paterson Daily Press. May 3, 1897. p.1 col.5. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

[21] "True Blues Triumph". Paterson Evening News. May 3, 1897. p.1 col.5. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[22] "Gone To Dixie's Land". Paterson Daily Press. May 10, 1897. p.2 col.4. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

[23] "Foot Ball Teams Evenly Matched" (PDF). Newark Evening News. May 10, 1897. p.13 col.4. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

[24] "Manz Defeats True Blues". Philadelphia Inquirer. May 23, 1897. p.11 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[25] "Manz Team Rout The True Blues" (PDF). Newark Evening News. May 24, 1897. p.9 col.5. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

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