The Mainland Cup was a knock-out cup competition for soccer clubs in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The tournament served as the de facto championship for clubs in the province from 1909 to 1952.[1]
| Founded | 1909 (as Mainland Challenge Trophy) |
|---|---|
| Abolished | 1952 |
| Region | Canada (CONCACAF) |
History
editThe Mainland Challenge Cup was founded in 1909 and was contested by clubs in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland region.[1] The Mainland Cup trophy was donated in 1914 by Vancouver legislator William Bowser, who would go on to serve as Premier from 1915 to 1916.[1] The trophy later disappeared, but was recovered and is displayed at the BC Sports Hall of Fame; at one point during its disappearance, the trophy had been used as a garden planter.[1]
The cup was originally played by four teams from the B.C. First Division,[2] but was later expanded to include extra rounds and teams from the Second Division.[3]
The 1933 edition of the cup was won by a team of Chinese students over the University of British Columbia, sparking celebrations in the Chinese community.[4]
In October 1952, the Pacific Coast Soccer League announced that it would have its teams compete in a new tournament that would replace the Mainland Cup.[5]
List of finals
edit- (R) indicates a final that was played as a replay
| Season | Winners[6] | Score | Runners–up | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1915 | Coquitlam Ranchers | 3–0 (R) | B.C. Electric |
References
edit- ^ a b c d Mackie, John (July 29, 2018). "Long-lost B.C. soccer trophy found, in a garage". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ Gough, Frank (January 18, 1915). "Lonsdale, Cottagers and Coquitlam in semi-finals". The Vancouver Daily World. p. 8. Retrieved July 29, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mainland Cup draws are made". The Vancouver Daily World. December 29, 1916. p. 9. Retrieved July 29, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Mickleburgh, Rod (January 11, 2011). "Nearly 70 years on, an act of inclusion for Chinese Students Soccer team". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "New Competition Will Replace Mainland Cup". Nanaimo Daily News. October 10, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved July 29, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jose, Colin. "British Columbia: Mainland Cup". Canadian Soccer History. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
