The Arthur Dunn Cup semi-finals are
being played today (21.3.15) with the favourites The Old Carthusians
(alumni of Charterhouse School, Godalming) played the Old Etonians on
Charterhouse Big ground, an historic pitch played on since 1874. The
OCs are the holders of the cup and have won it more times than any
other old boys' team eligible for this competition.
These two teams played out the last FA
Cup final to be contested by two amateur teams. This was in 1881 and
the Carthusians won 3-0.
Arthur Tempest Balkiston Dunn was born
in 1860 in Whitby, Yorkshire. He went to Eton College, Trinity
College, Cambridge where he won a Blue for football and then he
founded Ludgrove School, a preparatory school in Berkshire. Dunn
played football for the OEs, including two FA Cup finals in 1882
winning 1-0 against Blackburn Rovers and then losing 1-2 in 1883
against Blackburn olympic, both professional clubs. This defeat was
the last time an amateur club played in the FA Cup final.
Dunn also played four times for
England, for the famous Corinthians, minor county cricket and ice
hockey!
He died tragically early in 1902, at
the age of 41 and the Cup was set up in his memory, to inlcude the
old boys of the “Public Schools” of England.
The Carthusians and the old boys of
Shrewsbury School (the Salopians) shared the first final in 1903,
after a replay and extra time could not divide them. They had to kick
off late to avoid a clash with the Boat Race and in the end they
agreed to share the Cup, because if they played any more extra time
the teams would miss their post match dinner at the Cafe Royal.
Class!
So today the OCs and OEs contest the
semi-final, one team hoping to meet either the Lacing Old Boys or the
Old Reptonians in the final on April 18th.
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