The 1896 American Cup was the twelfth edition of the soccer tournament organized by the American Football Association. The 1894 Runners Up, Paterson True Blues, won the tournament after defeating the two-time champions Fall River Olympics in the final. This season the elected committee was James C. Potter of Pawtucket as president, James Turner of Paterson as vice president, William Robertson of Newark as Secretary, and Andrew Meiklejohn of Pawtucket as Treasurer.

1896 American Cup
Tournament details
CountryUnited States
Teams13
Final positions
ChampionsTrue Blues (1st title)
Runner-upOlympics
Tournament statistics
Matches played16
Goals scored92 (5.75 per match)
← 1895
1897 →

Participants

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Division State City Team
Western New Jersey Kearny Kearny Caledonians
Kearny Rangers
Newark Scottish-American (NAFBL)
Paterson Paterson Thistle
Paterson True Blues
New York New York International A.C. (NAFBL)
New York Thistle
Eastern Connecticut Taftville Taftville
Massachusetts Fall River Fall River East Ends (NEL)
Fall River Olympics (NEL)
Fall River Rovers (NEL)
Rhode Island Pawtucket Pawtucket Free Wanderers (NEL)
Young Men's Christian Association (NEL)

First round

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The first round draw took place at the AFA meeting at Newark, New Jersey on September 21, 1895. The True Blues had a bye. The Rover-East End match was ordered replayed because of unregistered players and it was played with 30 minute halves.

November 1895 Caledonians NY Thistle Kearny, NJ
2:30 PM Stadium: Cosmopolitan Park
Note: Caledonians: GK J.Hopkins, FB G.Winters, W.Mortimer, HB R.Swithemby, J.McCance, A.Cutler, FW P.Cooper, R.Taylor, J.Nagle, D.Douglas, H.Singleton.
November 2, 1895 Scottish-Americans 1–1 Rangers Newark, NJ
[1] Stadium: Wiedenmayer's Park
November 2, 1895 Olympics 7–2 Taftville Fall River, MA
3:00 PM Borden   1',  ,  
Blake  ,  
Miller  ,  
[2] W.Brown  
Nelson   5'
Stadium: Olympic grounds
Attendance: 200
Referee: A. Adams (Pawtucket)
Note: Olympics: GK Irving, FB Fortin, Lagrosse, HB Hayes, Drouge, Jean, RW Miller, Demille, LW Borden, Sunderland, C P.Farrell. Reserves Bright, Leveque.
Taftville: G J.Brown, FB Gamble, Catterall, HB Baldwin, Wood, Ferguson, RW Smith, Montgomery, LW Nelson, Muttlewain, C W.Brown.
November 9, 1895 International 8–1 Paterson Thistle Jersey City, NJ
W.Jones  ,  
J.Jones  ,  
Salter  ,  
Taylor  ,  
[3]   Stadium: Communipaw grounds
November 9, 1895 Rovers 4–1 East Ends Fall River, MA
3:50 PM Gigerette   5'
 ,  ,   2H'
[4]   1H' Stadium: Bedford Street grounds
Attendance: 200
Referee: T. Abbott (Olympics)
Note: Rovers: GK Simister, FB Fagin, Harry Adams, HB Hancock, Robert Pickup, J.Stanton, RW Lord, Tobin, LW Savaugh, Gigerette, C Cummings.
East Ends: GK Brady, FB Jennings, S.Jenkins, HB Lonsdale, Pat Stanton, Beattie, RW Colligan, Pearson, LW Sullivan, Murphy, C Tom Stanton.
November 9, 1895 Free Wanderers 1–1 Y.M.C.A. Pawtucket, RI
3:05 PM R.Davis   5' [5] A.Watson   25' Stadium: Dexter Street grounds
Attendance: 700
Referee: Whittle (Fall River)
Note: Free Wanderers: GK Hanaway, FB T.Davis, Whipple, HB Walmsley, Read, Adams, RW Hutchinson, Richard Davis, LW Hunt, James, C Lyons.
Y.M.C.A.: GK McFarlane, FB F.Watson, Paterson, HB Schora, Meiklejohn, McLay, RW Wilde, McNeil, LW Malone, Moore, C A.Watson.

replays

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November 9, 1895 Rangers 1–0 Scottish-Americans Newark, NJ
  [6] Stadium: Cosmopolitan Park
November 28, 1895 Free Wanderers 5–3 Y.M.C.A. Pawtucket, RI
10:00 AM James   8'
 ,   1H'
Kirkham   70'
Davis  
[7] Morrison   25'
  2H'
Stadium: Dexter Street grounds
Attendance: 1500
Referee: Pickup (Fall River)
Note: Free Wanderers: GK Hanaway, FB Walmsley, Whipple, HB Hunt, Read, Adams, RW Hutchinson, Smith, LW Davis, James, C Kirkham.
Y.M.C.A.: GK McFarlane, FB F.Watson, Paterson, HB Schora, Meiklejohn, McLay, RW Wilde, McNeil, LW Malone, Morrison, C A.Watson.
November 28, 1895 Rovers 5–5 East Ends Fall River, MA
[8] T.Stanton  
Smith  
Stadium: Rovers grounds
Referee: Sunderland
Note: Rovers: GK Dennis Shea, FB Fagan, Hancock, HB Eccles, Pickup, J.Stanton, LW Hughes, Bannister, RW Lord, Melia, C Giguerette.
East Ends: GK Brady, FB Jennings, S.Jenkins, HB Burns, Pat Stanton, John Haywood, LW Murphy, Smith, RW Hargraves, Culligan, C Tom Stanton.
January 4, 1895 East Ends 0–5 Rovers Fall River, MA
2:45 PM [9] Tobin   10', 2H'
Pemberton   15'
  1H'
Simister   2H'
Stadium: County street grounds
Referee: A. Pilling
Note: Rovers: GK Dennis Shea, FB Ormonde, Murphy, HB Eccles, Pickup, J.Stanton, LW Hancock, Tobin, RW Lord, Simister, C Pemberton.
East Ends: GK Brady, FB Jennings, S.Jenkins, HB Beattie, Pat Stanton, John Heywood, LW Pearson, Green, RW Culligan, Greenwood, C Tom Stanton.

Second round

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The Rovers drew a second round bye. The True Blue-Caledonian match was protested and ordered replayed.

December 25, 1895 Free Wanderers 2–7 Olympics Pawtucket, RI
2:45 PM Hutchinson   12'
2H' R.Davis   2H'
[10] Miller   13'
Hanaway   o.g.'
Borden   24'
Demille   1H'
  53'
Stadium: Dexter street grounds
Attendance: 600
Referee: Alexander Meiklejohn (Y.M.C.A.)
Note: Olympics: GK Irving, FB Fortin, Legrosse, HB Hayes, Drouge, Jean, RW Miller, Demille, LW Borden, Sunderland, C P.Farrell. Reserves W.Blake, O.H.Bennett, I.Greenwood.
Free Wanderers: GK Hanaway, FB T.Davis, Whipple, HB Walmsley, Read, Adams, RW Hutchinson, Hunt, LW R.Davis, James, C Jenkins.
December 28, 1895 Rangers 1–4 International Kearny, NJ
3:00 PM Marshall   3' [11] Jamieson  ,  
Jones  
Murphy  
Stadium: Cosmopolitan Park
Attendance: 2500
Referee: T. MacIntosh
Note: International: GK Hayes, FB R.Sanson, Allen, HB Slack, Partington, Cutler, LW Hood, Douglass, C H.Sanson, RW Marshall, McGee.
Rangers: GK Dunning, FB Flynn, Holmes, HB Kimberlin, Taylor, Stubbs, LW Murphy, Stubbs, C Jamieson, RW Jones, Higgins.
December 28, 1895 True Blues 4–1 Caledonians Lakeview, NJ
2:45 PM Spencer   1H', 2H', 2H'
Turner   1H'
[12][13]   1H' Stadium: Olympic Park
Referee: A. Gray (Weehawken)
Note: True Blues: GK Fred Allen, FB W.Alexander, H.McCrowe, HB R.Hall, G.Eaton, J.Upton, FW E.Grewcock, J.O'Neil, Robert Spencer, Harry Lander, Tommie Turner.
Caledonians: GK Glynn, FB McCance, Dave Wilson, HB Swithemby, Morton, Singleton, FW Kelly, Philbin, Nagle, Burns, Brown.

replay

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January 18, 1896 True Blues 5–1 Caledonians Lakeview, NJ
2:45 PM   15'
  1H'
 ,  ,   2H'
[14][15]   2H' Stadium: Olympic Park
Attendance: 2000
Referee: William Turner
Note: True Blues: GK Fred Allen, FB W.Alexander, H.McCrowe, HB R.Hall, G.Eaton, J.Upton, FW E.Grewcock, J.Oldfield, Robert Spencer, Harry Lander, Tommie Turner.
Caledonians: GK Wilkie, FB J.Wilson, W.Mortimer, HB J.McCance, W.Morton, H.Singleton, FW P.Cooper, G.Govern, J.Nagle, A.Burns, J.Kerr.

Semifinals

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February 22, 1896 True Blues 3–1 International Lakeview, NJ
3:30 PM Spencer  55'
Lauder   2H'
Grewcock   2H'
[16][17] Grundy   1H' Stadium: Olympic Park
Attendance: 3000
Referee: J. Lennox (Kearny Rangers)
Note: True Blues: GK Fred Allen, FB W.Alexander, H.McCrowe, HB R.Hall, G.Eaton, J.Upton, RW E.Grewcock(c), J.Oldfield, C Robert Spencer, LW Harry Lauder, Tommie Turner.
International: GK Hopkins, FB Walker, Patrick, HB R.Taylor, Stubbs, Jones, LW Grundy, Saulter, C Young, RW J.Taylor, O'Donnell.
February 22, 1896 Olympics 2–1 Rovers Fall River, MA
3:00 PM Demille   10'
Farrell   65'
[18] Bannister   25' Stadium: Olympic grounds
Attendance: 500
Referee: Abe Pilling
Note: Olympics: GK Irving, FB Fortin, Legrosse, HB Hayes, Drouge, Jean, RW Miller, Demille, LW Borden, Sunderland, C P.Farrell.
Rovers: GK Simister, FB Cunliffe, Hughes, HB Hancock, Pickup, J.Stanton, LW Bannister, M.Harrington, RW Lord, J.Farrell, C Pemberton.

Final

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The Olympics entered the final undefeated in all competitions up to that point with 68 goals scored to 10 against. They won the New England League as well as the Mayor's Cup series. The True Blues had only two losses in 21 games scoring 103 goals to 26 against.

April 18, 1896 True Blues 7–2 Olympics Kearny, NJ
3:30 PM Spencer   9', 1H'
Turner  
Lauder   45'
Oldfield   65',  
Grewcock   89'
[19][20] Sunderland   1H', 87' Stadium: Cosmopolitan Park
Attendance: 1500
Referee: James Lennox (Newark)
Note: True Blues: GK J.McKay, FB W.Alexander, R.Watson, HB R.Hall, George Eaton, J.Upton, RW E.Grewcock(c), James Oldfield, C Robert Spencer, LW Harry Lauder, Thomas Turner.
Olympics: GK James Irving, FB Peter C. Fortin, Joseph Legrosse, HB Timothy Hayes, Francis Drouge, Frederick Jean, RW William Miller, Joseph Demille, LW Ernest Borden, John Sunderland, C Patrick Farrell.

Champions

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Standing: Thomas Petty (Trainer), R. Hall, W. Alexander, George Eaton, J. McKay, J. Upton, R. Watson, Herbert Newton (Manager), H. Hill (Trainer).
Kneeling: James Oldfield, E. Grewcock (Captain), Robert Spencer, Harry W. Lauder, Thomas Turner.

American Cup bracket

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First Round Second Round Semifinals Finals
            
  Paterson True Blues
bye
  Paterson True Blues 4–5
  Kearny Caledonians 1–1
  Kearny Caldonians w/o
  New York Thistle
  Paterson True Blues 3
Western Circuit
  International A.C. 1
  Scottish-American 1–0
  Kearny Rangers 1–1
  Kearny Rangers 1
  International A.C. 4
  International A.C. 8
  Paterson Thistle 1
  Paterson True Blues 7
  Fall River Olympics 2
  Pawtucket Free Wanderers 1–5
  Y.M.C.A 1–3
  Pawtucket Free Wanderers 2
  Fall River Olympics 7
  Fall River Olympics 7
  Taftville 2
  Fall River Olympic 2
Eastern Circuit
  Fall River Rovers 1
  Fall River Rovers 4–5–5
  Fall River East Ends 1–5–0
  Fall River Rovers
bye

See also

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1895–96 National Association Foot Ball League season

References

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  1. ^ "Association Foot Ball Kicking" (PDF). Newark Evening News. November 4, 1895. p.9 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  2. ^ "Olympics Win". Fall River Globe. November 4, 1895. p.1 col.1. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "On The Gridiron". Jersey City News. November 11, 1895. p.3 col.2. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Football". Fall River Daily Evening News. November 11, 1895. p.5 col.2. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Association Foot Ball". (November 11, 1895). Evening Times, p.2 col.4
  6. ^ "Association Foot Ball Games" (PDF). Newark Evening News. November 11, 1895. p.9 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  7. ^ "Wanderers Won". (November 29, 1895). Evening Times, p.5 col.5
  8. ^ "Association Football". Fall River Globe. November 29, 1895. p.1 col.1-2. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Football". Fall River Daily Evening News. January 6, 1896. p.5 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Wanderers Beaten". (December 26, 1895). Evening Times, p.2 col.4
  11. ^ "International A.C. Kickers Win". (December 29, 1895). New York Herald, p.11 col.2
  12. ^ "True Blues Win Easily". Paterson Evening News. December 30, 1895. p.1 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Caledonians Lose". (December 30, 1895). The Morning Call, p.1 col.5
  14. ^ "The Round Of Pastimes". Paterson Daily Press. January 20, 1896. p.1 col.7. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  15. ^ "The Cup-Tie Game". (January 20, 1896). The Morning Call, p.1 col.6
  16. ^ "Football". The Sun. New York. February 23, 1896. p.8 col.5. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Sports And Pastimes". Paterson Daily Press. February 24, 1896. p.1 col.5-6. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  18. ^ "Olympics Win Cup-Tie". Fall River Globe. February 24, 1896. p.1 col.7. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Hail The Champions". (April 20, 1896). The Morning Call, p.1 col.1-2
  20. ^ "True Blues Champions". Paterson Daily Press. April 20, 1896. p.1 col.4. Retrieved August 21, 2024.