1895–96 American Cup

1896 American Cup

Tournament details
Country	United States
Teams	13
Final positions
Champions	True Blues (1st title)
Runners-up	Olympics
Tournament statistics
Matches played	16
Goals scored	92 (5.75 per match)
←  1895 1897  →

The 1896 American Cup was the twelfth edition of the soccer tournament organized by the American Football Association. The 1894 Runners Up, Paterson True Blues, won the tournament after defeating the two-time champions Fall River Olympics in the final. This season the elected committee was James C. Potter of Pawtucket as president, James Turner of Paterson as vice president, William Robertson of Newark as Secretary, and Andrew Meiklejohn of Pawtucket as Treasurer.

Participants

Division	State	City	Team
Western	New Jersey	Kearny	Kearny Caledonians
			Kearny Rangers
		Newark	Scottish-American (NAFBL)
		Paterson	Paterson Thistle
			Paterson True Blues
	New York	New York	International A.C. (NAFBL)
			New York Thistle
Eastern	Connecticut	Taftville	Taftville
	Massachusetts	Fall River	Fall River East Ends (NEL)
			Fall River Olympics (NEL)
			Fall River Rovers (NEL)
	Rhode Island	Pawtucket	Pawtucket Free Wanderers (NEL)
			Young Men's Christian Association (NEL)

First round

The first round draw took place at the AFA meeting at Newark, New Jersey on September 21, 1895. The True Blues had a bye. The Rover-East End match was ordered replayed because of unregistered players and it was played with 30 minute halves.

Caledonians v NY Thistle

November 1895	Caledonians	–	NY Thistle	Kearny, NJ
2:30 PM				Stadium: Cosmopolitan Park
Note: Caledonians: GK J.Hopkins, FB G.Winters, W.Mortimer, HB R.Swithemby, J.McCance, A.Cutler, FW P.Cooper, R.Taylor, J.Nagle, D.Douglas, H.Singleton.

Scottish-Americans v Rangers

November 2, 1895	Scottish-Americans	1–1	Rangers	Newark, NJ
		[1]		Stadium: Wiedenmayer's Park

Olympics v Taftville

November 2, 1895	Olympics	7–2	Taftville	Fall River, MA
3:00 PM	Borden 1', , Blake , Miller ,	[2]	W.Brown Nelson 5'	Stadium: Olympic grounds Attendance: 200 Referee: A. Adams (Pawtucket)
Note: Olympics: GK Irving, FB Fortin, Lagrosse, HB Hayes, Drouge, Jean, RW Miller, Demille, LW Borden, Sunderland, C P.Farrell. Reserves Bright, Leveque. Taftville: G J.Brown, FB Gamble, Catterall, HB Baldwin, Wood, Ferguson, RW Smith, Montgomery, LW Nelson, Muttlewain, C W.Brown.

International v Paterson Thistle

November 9, 1895	International	8–1	Paterson Thistle	Jersey City, NJ
	W.Jones , J.Jones , Salter , Taylor ,	[3]		Stadium: Communipaw grounds

Rovers v East Ends

November 9, 1895	Rovers	4–1	East Ends	Fall River, MA
3:50 PM	Gigerette 5' , , 2H'	[4]	1H'	Stadium: Bedford Street grounds Attendance: 200 Referee: T. Abbott (Olympics)
Note: Rovers: GK Simister, FB Fagin, Harry Adams, HB Hancock, Robert Pickup, J.Stanton, RW Lord, Tobin, LW Savaugh, Gigerette, C Cummings. East Ends: GK Brady, FB Jennings, S.Jenkins, HB Lonsdale, Pat Stanton, Beattie, RW Colligan, Pearson, LW Sullivan, Murphy, C Tom Stanton.

Free Wanderers v Y.M.C.A.

November 9, 1895	Free Wanderers	1–1	Y.M.C.A.	Pawtucket, RI
3:05 PM	R.Davis 5'	[5]	A.Watson 25'	Stadium: Dexter Street grounds Attendance: 700 Referee: Whittle (Fall River)
Note: Free Wanderers: GK Hanaway, FB T.Davis, Whipple, HB Walmsley, Read, Adams, RW Hutchinson, Richard Davis, LW Hunt, James, C Lyons. Y.M.C.A.: GK McFarlane, FB F.Watson, Paterson, HB Schora, Meiklejohn, McLay, RW Wilde, McNeil, LW Malone, Moore, C A.Watson.

replays

Rangers v Scottish-Americans

November 9, 1895	Rangers	1–0	Scottish-Americans	Newark, NJ
		[6]		Stadium: Cosmopolitan Park

Free Wanderers v Y.M.C.A.

November 28, 1895	Free Wanderers	5–3	Y.M.C.A.	Pawtucket, RI
10:00 AM	James 8' , 1H' Kirkham 70' Davis	[7]	Morrison 25' 2H'	Stadium: Dexter Street grounds Attendance: 1500 Referee: Pickup (Fall River)
Note: Free Wanderers: GK Hanaway, FB Walmsley, Whipple, HB Hunt, Read, Adams, RW Hutchinson, Smith, LW Davis, James, C Kirkham. Y.M.C.A.: GK McFarlane, FB F.Watson, Paterson, HB Schora, Meiklejohn, McLay, RW Wilde, McNeil, LW Malone, Morrison, C A.Watson.

Rovers v East Ends

November 28, 1895	Rovers	5–5	East Ends	Fall River, MA
		[8]	T.Stanton Smith	Stadium: Rovers grounds Referee: Sunderland
Note: Rovers: GK Dennis Shea, FB Fagan, Hancock, HB Eccles, Pickup, J.Stanton, LW Hughes, Bannister, RW Lord, Melia, C Giguerette. East Ends: GK Brady, FB Jennings, S.Jenkins, HB Burns, Pat Stanton, John Haywood, LW Murphy, Smith, RW Hargraves, Culligan, C Tom Stanton.

East Ends v Rovers

January 4, 1895	East Ends	0–5	Rovers	Fall River, MA
2:45 PM		[9]	Tobin 10', 2H' Pemberton 15' 1H' Simister 2H'	Stadium: County street grounds Referee: A. Pilling
Note: Rovers: GK Dennis Shea, FB Ormonde, Murphy, HB Eccles, Pickup, J.Stanton, LW Hancock, Tobin, RW Lord, Simister, C Pemberton. East Ends: GK Brady, FB Jennings, S.Jenkins, HB Beattie, Pat Stanton, John Heywood, LW Pearson, Green, RW Culligan, Greenwood, C Tom Stanton.

Second round

The Rovers drew a second round bye. The True Blue-Caledonian match was protested and ordered replayed.

Free Wanderers v Olympics

December 25, 1895	Free Wanderers	2–7	Olympics	Pawtucket, RI
2:45 PM	Hutchinson 12' 2H' R.Davis 2H'	[10]	Miller 13' Hanaway o.g.' Borden 24' Demille 1H' 53'	Stadium: Dexter street grounds Attendance: 600 Referee: Alexander Meiklejohn (Y.M.C.A.)
Note: Olympics: GK Irving, FB Fortin, Legrosse, HB Hayes, Drouge, Jean, RW Miller, Demille, LW Borden, Sunderland, C P.Farrell. Reserves W.Blake, O.H.Bennett, I.Greenwood. Free Wanderers: GK Hanaway, FB T.Davis, Whipple, HB Walmsley, Read, Adams, RW Hutchinson, Hunt, LW R.Davis, James, C Jenkins.

Rangers v International

December 28, 1895	Rangers	1–4	International	Kearny, NJ
3:00 PM	Marshall 3'	[11]	Jamieson , Jones Murphy	Stadium: Cosmopolitan Park Attendance: 2500 Referee: T. MacIntosh
Note: International: GK Hayes, FB R.Sanson, Allen, HB Slack, Partington, Cutler, LW Hood, Douglass, C H.Sanson, RW Marshall, McGee. Rangers: GK Dunning, FB Flynn, Holmes, HB Kimberlin, Taylor, Stubbs, LW Murphy, Stubbs, C Jamieson, RW Jones, Higgins.

True Blues v Caledonians

December 28, 1895	True Blues	4–1	Caledonians	Lakeview, NJ
2:45 PM	Spencer 1H', 2H', 2H' Turner 1H'	[12] [13]	1H'	Stadium: Olympic Park Referee: A. Gray (Weehawken)
Note: True Blues: GK Fred Allen, FB W.Alexander, H.McCrowe, HB R.Hall, G.Eaton, J.Upton, FW E.Grewcock, J.O'Neil, Robert Spencer, Harry Lander, Tommie Turner. Caledonians: GK Glynn, FB McCance, Dave Wilson, HB Swithemby, Morton, Singleton, FW Kelly, Philbin, Nagle, Burns, Brown.

replay

True Blues v Caledonians

January 18, 1896	True Blues	5–1	Caledonians	Lakeview, NJ
2:45 PM	15' 1H' , , 2H'	[14] [15]	2H'	Stadium: Olympic Park Attendance: 2000 Referee: William Turner
Note: True Blues: GK Fred Allen, FB W.Alexander, H.McCrowe, HB R.Hall, G.Eaton, J.Upton, FW E.Grewcock, J.Oldfield, Robert Spencer, Harry Lander, Tommie Turner. Caledonians: GK Wilkie, FB J.Wilson, W.Mortimer, HB J.McCance, W.Morton, H.Singleton, FW P.Cooper, G.Govern, J.Nagle, A.Burns, J.Kerr.

Semifinals

True Blues v International

February 22, 1896	True Blues	3–1	International	Lakeview, NJ
3:30 PM	Spencer55' Lauder 2H' Grewcock 2H'	[16] [17]	Grundy 1H'	Stadium: Olympic Park Attendance: 3000 Referee: J. Lennox (Kearny Rangers)
Note: True Blues: GK Fred Allen, FB W.Alexander, H.McCrowe, HB R.Hall, G.Eaton, J.Upton, RW E.Grewcock(c), J.Oldfield, C Robert Spencer, LW Harry Lauder, Tommie Turner. International: GK Hopkins, FB Walker, Patrick, HB R.Taylor, Stubbs, Jones, LW Grundy, Saulter, C Young, RW J.Taylor, O'Donnell.

Olympics v Rovers

February 22, 1896	Olympics	2–1	Rovers	Fall River, MA
3:00 PM	Demille 10' Farrell 65'	[18]	Bannister 25'	Stadium: Olympic grounds Attendance: 500 Referee: Abe Pilling
Note: Olympics: GK Irving, FB Fortin, Legrosse, HB Hayes, Drouge, Jean, RW Miller, Demille, LW Borden, Sunderland, C P.Farrell. Rovers: GK Simister, FB Cunliffe, Hughes, HB Hancock, Pickup, J.Stanton, LW Bannister, M.Harrington, RW Lord, J.Farrell, C Pemberton.

Final

The Olympics entered the final undefeated in all competitions up to that point with 68 goals scored to 10 against. They won the New England League as well as the Mayor's Cup series. The True Blues had only two losses in 21 games scoring 103 goals to 26 against.

True Blues v Olympics

April 18, 1896	True Blues	7–2	Olympics	Kearny, NJ
3:30 PM	Spencer 9', 1H' Turner Lauder 45' Oldfield 65', Grewcock 89'	[19] [20]	Sunderland 1H', 87'	Stadium: Cosmopolitan Park Attendance: 1500 Referee: James Lennox (Newark)
Note: True Blues: GK J.McKay, FB W.Alexander, R.Watson, HB R.Hall, George Eaton, J.Upton, RW E.Grewcock(c), James Oldfield, C Robert Spencer, LW Harry Lauder, Thomas Turner. Olympics: GK James Irving, FB Peter C. Fortin, Joseph Legrosse, HB Timothy Hayes, Francis Drouge, Frederick Jean, RW William Miller, Joseph Demille, LW Ernest Borden, John Sunderland, C Patrick Farrell.

Champions

Standing: Thomas Petty (Trainer), R. Hall, W. Alexander, George Eaton, J. McKay, J. Upton, R. Watson, Herbert Newton (Manager), H. Hill (Trainer).
Kneeling: James Oldfield, E. Grewcock (Captain), Robert Spencer, Harry W. Lauder, Thomas Turner.

American Cup bracket

First Round

Second Round

Semifinals

Finals

Paterson True Blues

bye

Paterson True Blues

4–5

Kearny Caledonians

1–1

Kearny Caldonians

w/o

New York Thistle

Paterson True Blues

3

Western Circuit

International A.C.

1

Scottish-American

1–0

Kearny Rangers

1–1

Kearny Rangers

1

International A.C.

4

International A.C.

8

Paterson Thistle

1

Paterson True Blues

7

Fall River Olympics

2

Pawtucket Free Wanderers

1–5

Y.M.C.A

1–3

Pawtucket Free Wanderers

2

Fall River Olympics

7

Fall River Olympics

7

Taftville

2

Fall River Olympic

2

Eastern Circuit

Fall River Rovers

1

Fall River Rovers

4–5–5

Fall River East Ends

1–5–0

Fall River Rovers

bye

See also

1895–96 National Association Foot Ball League season

References

1. "Association Foot Ball Kicking" (PDF). Newark Evening News. November 4, 1895. p.9 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
2. "Olympics Win". Fall River Globe. November 4, 1895. p.1 col.1. Retrieved August 21, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
3. "On The Gridiron". Jersey City News. November 11, 1895. p.3 col.2. Retrieved August 21, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
4. "Football". Fall River Daily Evening News. November 11, 1895. p.5 col.2. Retrieved August 21, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
5. "Association Foot Ball". (November 11, 1895). Evening Times, p.2 col.4
6. "Association Foot Ball Games" (PDF). Newark Evening News. November 11, 1895. p.9 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
7. "Wanderers Won". (November 29, 1895). Evening Times, p.5 col.5
8. "Association Football". Fall River Globe. November 29, 1895. p.1 col.1-2. Retrieved August 21, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
9. "Football". Fall River Daily Evening News. January 6, 1896. p.5 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
10. "Wanderers Beaten". (December 26, 1895). Evening Times, p.2 col.4
11. "1895-96 American Cup". New York Herald . December 29, 1895. p. 8 col. 2. Retrieved October 9, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
12. "True Blues Win Easily". Paterson Evening News. December 30, 1895. p.1 col.3. Retrieved August 21, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
13. "Caledonians Lose". (December 30, 1895). The Morning Call, p.1 col.5
14. "The Round Of Pastimes". Paterson Daily Press. January 20, 1896. p.1 col.7. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
15. "The Cup-Tie Game". (January 20, 1896). The Morning Call, p.1 col.6
16. "Football". The Sun. New York. February 23, 1896. p.8 col.5. Retrieved August 21, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
17. "Sports And Pastimes". Paterson Daily Press. February 24, 1896. p.1 col.5-6. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
18. "Olympics Win Cup-Tie". Fall River Globe. February 24, 1896. p.1 col.7. Retrieved August 21, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
19. "Hail The Champions". (April 20, 1896). The Morning Call, p.1 col.1-2
20. "True Blues Champions". Paterson Daily Press. April 20, 1896. p.1 col.4. Retrieved August 21, 2024.