1913 Canadian National Challenge Cup
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Teams | 4 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Norwood Wanderers |
| Runners-up | Lachine |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 6 |
| Goals scored | 17 (2.83 per match) |
The 1913 Connaught Cup was the inaugural edition of the Canadian National Challenge Cup, one of the oldest soccer tournaments in Canada and one of the first national championships. The competiton was hosted in Fort William, New Ontario.
For the inaugural edition, four teams qualified to contest the competition – Fort William CPR from Fort William, New Ontario, Lachine from Montreal, Quebec, Norwood Wanderers from Winnipeg, Manitoba and Toronto Old County from Toronto, Ontario. The competition was won by Norwood Wanderers who finished as undefeated champions.
Background
The idea for a Canada-wide soccer championship was born in Toronto on May 24, 1912 by the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada (AAUC).[1] Later in the year, the Dominion of Canada Football Association (DCFA) was formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[2] Members associations of the DCFA in 1913 included Alberta, Manitoba, New Ontario, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. The trophy that would be contested was known as the Connaught Cup.[3]
Format
The inaugural competition was played as a single round robin tournament. Each team played every other team once at a neutral venue hosted in Fort William, New Ontario. The competition was open to the six member associations of the DCFA but Alberta and Saskatchewan did not enter a team.[3]
Teams
- Manitoba: Norwood Wanderers
- New Ontario: Fort William C.P.R.
- Ontario: Toronto Old Country
- Quebec: Lachine
Overview
Norwood Wanderers won the inaugural competition after remaining undefeated throughout the competition. Lachine finished as runners-up.[4]
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | T | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norwood Wanderers | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 4 |
| 2 | Lachine | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Fort William C.P.R. | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 3 |
| 4 | Toronto Old Country | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 2 |
Aftermath
Norwood Wanderers successfully defended their title a year later when the competition was hosted in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It would be the last season that the competition was contested as a round robin tournament. In 1926, the Connaught Cup was retired in favour of a new trophy – the National Challenge Trophy – donated to the DCFA by the Football Association.[3]
References
- ^ "The Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame & Museum". Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ Jose, Colin. "Manitoba: The Early Years". Canadian Soccer History. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
- ^ a b c ""National Challenge Trophy"". Archived from the original on July 5, 2009. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ a b Morrison, Neil; Schöggl, Hans (30 July 2020). "Canada - Canadian National Challenge Cup - Additional Information". RSSSF.