So the FA Community Shield has evolved from the original Sheriff of London Charity Shield which was arranged by Sir Thomas Dewar to be competed for by the best professional and best amateur clubs. Iin March 1898 the famous Corinthians took on Sheffield United. Dewar, a Scot, made his money in whisky and invested in a number of sports' competitions, including USA football (soccer). Here is the Shield with Aston Villa.
Proceeds from matches went to charities, this year to the Greenfell Tower project. The FA Charity Shield took its name in 1908 with the Southern League winner playing the Football League winner, QPR v Manchester Utd. United won after a replay, the only one in history.
In 1913 the Amateurs played the Professionals and in 1921 eventually the Football League winner played the FACup winner. In 1950 the England team was due to compete in the World Cup for the first time. To help their development the Charity Cup was between England and an FA XI. It didn't help much as England went out of the competition having been beaten by the amateurs, the USA.
In 1961, Spurs had done the first Double since the great Preston NE of the 1880s, so they needed an opposition which came from an FA XI. The 1971 tie was between Double winners Arsenal and Second division winners, Leicester City.
In 1967, Pat Jennings scored against United in a 3-3 draw directly from his own "punt" and when Brighton and Hove Albion, Southern League winners, won the trophy they became the first club to win the Charity Shield without ever winning the FA Cup or the League.
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