Up For The Cup

Local school teams have had some significant success over the years, much of it noted by the Durham County Schools' Football Association.

The County Cup competition began in the 1908/09 season and was clearly very popular; it is reported that about 10,000 people attended the first final. A year later New Brancepeth School reached the final only to fall to Crook. A few seasons later New Brancepeth again got to the final but  lost to Ryhope, however they made no mistake in the final of 19i6/17 when beating a school called Colliery from Sunderland.

Bearpark School featured in two County Cup finals: 1926/27, losing to Eppleton, and 1929/30, losing to Chopwell.

The Londonderry Cup is the most prestigious local cup competition and Waterhouses won it in 1918/19. Twenty years later Ushaw Moor School very nearly emulated them but lost in the final to Hookergate.  There is no mention of 'RC' so it was probably the Council School rather than Roman Catholic team.

It is important that local football continues to receive support. Why not follow one or more of your local school, village and town teams? You might decide to continue following Newcastle or Sunderland but think what you could do with the money not spent on financially fattening up fit  professional footballers; you could buy a new carpet or car or visit Australia. Or eat marshmallows in a bath at a Hilton hotel. 

WB