Saturday 5 March 2022

THE SHERIFF OF LONDON SHIELD+

On March 5th 1904, a fund raising match was contested, known as The Sheriff of London Charity Shield. It was then competed for annually for 10 seasons from 1898. Eventually, the pre-season match became known as the FA Charity Shield, then the Community Shield.

The competing TWO teams, originally were the best amateur side of the period - which was usually the Corinthian Football Club - and a top professional side. In 1904 the opposing teams were Corinthians and the side who had won the FA Cup the previous year, Bury. Played at the Queen's Club, which was Corinthians home ground and is better known now as a tennis venue, Bury fielded ten of the side who had beaten Derby County 6-0 in the Cup final - still a winning margin which has not been bettered in a final. In less than 10 minutes Bury were leading 2-0 but then the amateurs started to play with 'wonderful dash' and the Corinthians were 4-2 up at the break and won the match 10-3. Amazing! The Corinthians, of course, have, historically, given their name to the present Non-League club, Corinthian Casuals. 

The new format was to have the Football League First Division (as it was then) Champions play the Southern League Champions. The first match was played in 1908 between Manchester United (the First Division champions) and Queen Park Rangers (the Southern League champions), a match drawn 1–1, so the game was replayed when Manchester United won 4–0. This is the only Charity Shield game to go to a replay. Both games were played at Stamford Bridge. Things changed after 1907 Proceeds from the annual game were distributed to hospitals and charities. The game was the predecessor to the FA Charity Shield, today the FA Community Shield, which began in 1908 after the Amateur Football Association split from the Football Association. After 1908 the trophy was revived on seven occasions in the twentieth century to raise funds for grassroots football causes in matches played between London-based sides. 
Fundraising matches:
  • 1931 Arsenal 5–3 Corinthian
  • 1932 Arsenal 9–2 Corinthian
  • 1934 Tottenham Hotspur 7–4 Corinthian
  • 1964 Arsenal 7–0 Corinthian Casuals
  • 1965 Arsenal 5–2 Corinthian Casuals
  • 1966 Watford 7–0 Corinthian Casuals
  • 1983 Watford 6–1 Corinthian Casuals

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