Founded | 2000 |
---|---|
Region | Trinidad and Tobago |
Number of teams | 10 |
Current champions | Central (3rd title) |
Most successful club(s) | W Connection (8 titles) |
Website | First Citizens Cup |
2017 First Citizens Cup |
The Trinidad and Tobago League Cup, or commonly known as the First Citizens Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the League Cup style football competition open for Trinidad and Tobago teams competing in the country's TT Pro League. [1] Similar to the FA Trophy, it is played on a knockout (single elimination) basis in September and October towards the beginning of each Pro League season. Unlike the FA Trophy, where 36 teams enter each season from the top three tiers of the Trinidad and Tobago football league system and the Secondary Schools Football League, only teams from the TT Pro League compete in the league cup. The knockout tournament was inaugurated in 2000 and is currently sponsored by First Citizens Bank. Although the league cup is one of the three major domestic trophies attainable by Trinidad and Tobago league teams, it is perceived as a lower priority than the league championship and the FA Trophy. The current theme is Where Winners Reign, with TT$110,000 to the winner, TT$20,000 to the runners-up, semifinal winners receive TT$7,000, quarterfinal winners receive TT$5,000 and Play-off round winners receive TT$3,000. [2]
W Connection is the most successful club in the league cup having won the competition eight times, including five consecutive cup titles in 2004–08 and are the current holders of the league cup having defeated Defence Force in the 2017 final. [3]
The competition began in 2000, under the name of the League Cup, with San Juan Jabloteh winning the inaugural tournament by defeating Defence Force 1–0 at Marvin Lee Stadium. In 2001, First Citizens Bank began to sponsor the league cup and was officially branded the First Citizens Cup. W Connection and Defence Force claimed their club's first cup title in 2001 and 2002 respectively. The San Juan Kings became the first club to win the title twice having won the league cup again in 2003. W Connection were crowned champions for five consecutive years in 2004–08. [4] [5] However, in 2009, Defence Force claimed their second title and their first trophy in six years with a 1–0 win over Joe Public. [6] The Eastern Lions exacted revenge by defeating Defence Force 3–0 on penalties after the match ended 1–1 the following year in 2010 to claim their first league cup title. Caledonia AIA claimed two consecutive league cup titles in 2011 and 2012. [7] [8]
The competition is open to all clubs of the TT Pro League and is divided into three rounds consisting of single-legged matches. Along with the expansion of the league in 2003 and 2009, the league cup added additional rounds of competition to narrow the number of teams to eight before the quarterfinals. During the first ten years of competition, teams were seeded as determined by their league position at the time of the quarterfinal pairings announcement. However, in 2011, the competition underwent a major format change with the introduction of a group stage and knockout phase. The change was made due to having only six clubs able to enter the competition. Defence Force and Police were unable to compete due to being called into service for increased crime in portions of the country. [9] The group stage featured two groups of three teams competing in a single round-robin. The top two teams in each round advanced to the semifinals of the knockout phase. However, the group stage and knockout phase would only last one season. Beginning in 2012, the competition returned to a knockout tournament with pairings for each round drawn at random. The draw for each round is held at the First Citizens corporate box at the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain and is not made until after the scheduled dates for the previous round. [2] The draw also determines which teams will play at home.
Matches in all rounds are single-legged played for 90 minutes duration, at the end of which if the match is still tied, a penalty shootout is used to determine the match winner. Although the current match rules have been place since 2008, the competition began with the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds played as two-legged encounters, whereas the final was decided by a single match. In 2004 each round was converted into single-legged matches played into extra time if the two teams were drawn following regulation.
The League Cup has been sponsored since 2001. The sponsor has been able to determine the competition's sponsorship name. The list below details who the sponsors have been and what they called the competition:
Period | Sponsor | Name |
---|---|---|
2000 | No main sponsor | League Cup |
2001–2013 | First Citizens Bank | First Citizens Cup |
Key | |
---|---|
* | Match decided in extra time |
Match decided by a penalty shootout after regulation time | |
Match decided by a penalty shootout after extra time |
Club | Wins | Last final won | Runners-up | Last final lost |
---|---|---|---|---|
W. Connection | 8 | 2017 | 2 | 2003 |
Defence Force | 3 | 2016 | 7 | 2018 |
Central FC | 3 | 2018 | 1 | 2015 |
Caledonia AIA | 2 | 2012 | 2 | 2007 |
San Juan Jabloteh | 2 | 2003 | 1 | 2005 |
Joe Public | 1 | 2010 | 2 | 2009 |
North East Stars | 0 | 2 | 2014 | |
T&TEC | 0 | 1 | 2011 | |
Ma Pau Stars | 0 | 1 | 2016 |
The Trinidad and Tobago Pro Bowl, or commonly known as the Digicel Pro Bowl for sponsorship reasons, is a knockout football tournament for teams in the TT Pro League. The competition is played during May following the conclusion of the Pro League season. The Pro Bowl began without a sponsor during the competitions's first two years. It was not until 2006, when Courts began providing monetary prizes, that the tournament had its first sponsor. Following a pullout by Courts after three years, Digicel became the new branding partner of the competition. The prize money for the winner, as announced by TT Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene, is determined by the players, the clubs and the communities. With this programme the communities are expected to adopt the clubs and pledge their support to them during the tournament. The prize money will be the amount received from gate receipts and TT$100,000, courtesy of tournament sponsors Digicel.
The Trinidad and Tobago Classic, or commonly known as the TOYOTA Classic, is a knockout tournament for teams in Trinidad and Tobago's TT Pro League and National Super League. The football competition began in 2005, with TOYOTA as the primary sponsor, and is currently contested each October and November following the Pro League and Super League seasons.
The Trinidad and Tobago Goal Shield, or commonly known as the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield for sponsorship reasons, is a knockout tournament competition for football teams competing in the TT Pro League of Trinidad and Tobago. Similar to the First Citizens Cup, it is played on a knockout basis in April and May towards the end of each Pro League season. The structure of the competition not only allows the winner and runner-up healthy purses at the end of the tournament, but more so give an added incentive for more goals to be scored throughout the tournament. In particular, the winner of the competition is awarded TT$30,000 plus an additional TT$3,000 for every goal scored in the final, TT$2,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$1,000 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals. Whereas, the runner-up is awarded TT$10,000 plus TT$1,500 for every goal scored in the final, TT$1,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$500 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals. The knockout tournament is sponsored by Lucozade Sport and is therefore officially known as the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield.
The 2009 TT Pro League season was the eleventh season of the TT Pro League, the Trinidad and Tobago professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1999. A total of eleven teams contested the league, with San Juan Jabloteh the defending champions. The season began on 8 May, with Super Friday, and ended on 27 October. The format of the season was changed from each club playing three rounds to two rounds in the regular season to facilitate the national team with its attempt to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The 2009 Trinidad and Tobago Goal Shield was the inaugural season of the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield, which is a knockout tournament competition for teams in the TT Pro League. The structure of the competition not only allowed the winners and runners-up healthy purses at the end of the tournament, but more so give an added incentive for more goals to be scored throughout the tournament. In particular, the winner of the competition was awarded TT$20,000 plus an additional TT$3,000 for every goal scored in the final, TT$2,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$1,000 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals. Whereas, the runner-up was awarded TT$10,000 plus TT$1,500 for every goal scored in the final, TT$1,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$500 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals.
The 2010–11 TT Pro League season was the twelfth season of the TT Pro League, the Trinidad and Tobago professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1999. A total of eleven teams contested the league, with Joe Public the defending champions. The season began on 23 April 2010 and ended on 1 February 2011 with the crowning of the league champion. The league calendar was changed for the second consecutive season. Pro League CEO, Dexter Skeene, announced on 25 March 2010 that the Pro League Big Six competition was to be discontinued to increase attendances and importance of league matches, which would be moved exclusively to Fridays and Saturdays.
The 2009 Trinidad and Tobago League Cup was the tenth season of the First Citizens Cup, which is the league cup competition for Trinidad and Tobago teams competing in the TT Pro League. Continuing from previous seasons, the slogan for the year's league cup was No Room for Losers and was sponsored by First Citizens Bank for the ninth consecutive year. To keep with the tag-line, this year's edition will only reward prizes to the cup winners and runner-up. The Savonetta Boys of W Connection entered as the five-time defending cup holders by winning the 2008 league cup over Joe Public 6–5 in a penalty shootout after the match ended 2–2 in regulation.
The 2008 Trinidad and Tobago FA Trophy was the 79th season of the FA Trophy, which is the oldest football competition for teams in Trinidad and Tobago. The tournament took place at the conclusion of the 2008 season. Joe Public entered as the tournament's defending champion. The tournament began on 3 December, with 32 teams competing in single elimination matches.
The 2011–12 TT Pro League season was the thirteenth season of the TT Pro League, the Trinidad and Tobago professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1999. A total of eight teams contested the league, with Defence Force as the defending champions. The season began on 9 September 2011 and ended on 29 March 2012 with the crowning of W Connection as the league champion. Dexter Skeene, Pro League CEO, announced on 11 February 2011 that by aligning its seasons with those of the major leagues in Europe, the Pro League will afford the opportunity to further link culture with sport to harness and develop the talent of people in Trinidad and Tobago.
The 2010 Trinidad and Tobago Goal Shield was the second edition of the annual Lucozade Sport Goal Shield, which is a knockout tournament competition for teams in the TT Pro League. W Connection entered as the defending champions after they defeated Defence Force 3–0 in the inaugural tournament. Continuing from the previous season, the competition not only allowed the winner and runner-up healthy purses at the end of the tournament, but more so give an added incentive for more goals to be scored throughout the tournament. In particular, the winner of the competition was awarded TT$20,000 plus an additional TT$3,000 for every goal scored in the final, TT$2,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$1,000 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals. Whereas, the runner-up was awarded TT$10,000 plus TT$1,500 for every goal scored in the final, TT$1,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$500 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals.
The 2012–13 TT Pro League season was the fourteenth season of the TT Pro League, the Trinidad and Tobago professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1999. A total of eight teams contested the league, with W Connection the defending champions. The season began on 14 September 2012 and ended on 10 May 2013 with the crowning of Defence Force as the league champion.
The 2011–12 Trinidad and Tobago FA Trophy was the 82nd season of the FA Trophy, which is the oldest football competition for teams in Trinidad and Tobago. San Juan Jabloteh entered as the tournament's defending champion, who defeated North East Stars 1–0 in the 2010–11 final at Marvin Lee Stadium. The number of entrants in the tournament was expanded by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association to allow four teams from the Secondary Schools Football League to compete in the competition against semi-professional and professional football clubs. The tournament began on 29 January 2012 with 36 teams competing in single elimination matches and concluded on 25 March 2012.
The 2011 First Citizens Cup was the twelfth season of the First Citizens Cup, which is the league cup competition for Trinidad and Tobago teams competing in the TT Pro League. Continuing from previous seasons, the slogan for the year's league cup was No Room for Losers and was sponsored by First Citizens Bank for the eleventh consecutive year. To keep with the tag-line, the year's edition only rewarded prizes to the cup winners and runner-up. Joe Public, as the defending cup holders, did not enter the competition after the club withdrew from the Pro League citing financial difficulties. The Eastern Lions defeated Defence Force in the 2010 final.
The 2012 Trinidad and Tobago League Cup was the thirteenth season of the First Citizens Cup, which is the league cup competition for Trinidad and Tobago teams competing in the TT Pro League. Caledonia AIA entered as the cup holders having defeated T&TEC by a score of 2–1 in the 2011 final. Continuing from previous seasons, the slogan for the year's league cup was No Room for Losers and was sponsored by First Citizens Bank for the twelfth consecutive year. To keep with the tag-line, the year's edition only rewarded prizes to the cup winners and runner-up.
The 2012 Trinidad and Tobago Classic was the eighth season of the TOYOTA Classic, which is a knockout tournament competition for teams in Trinidad and Tobago's TT Pro League and the National Super League. The tournament began on 23 November with 16 teams competing in single elimination matches until the final on 7 December. W Connection entered as the tournament's defending champion having defeated T&TEC with a penalty shootout after the match ended 0–0.
The 2012–13 Trinidad and Tobago FA Trophy was the 83rd season of the FA Trophy, which is the oldest football competition for teams in Trinidad and Tobago. Caledonia AIA entered as the tournament's defending champion, who defeated Defence Force 1–0 in the 2011–12 final at Manny Ramjohn Stadium. The tournament began on 5 December 2012 with 36 teams competing in single elimination matches and concluded on 1 March 2013 with the crowning of the cup winners.
The 2012 Trinidad and Tobago Goal Shield was the third season of the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield, which is a knockout tournament competition for Trinidad and Tobago teams competing in the TT Pro League. North East Stars entered as the Goal Shield holders after defeating San Juan Jabloteh 1–0 in the 2010 final. Continuing from previous seasons, the competition not only allowed the winner and runner-up healthy purses at the end of the tournament, but more so give an added incentive for more goals to be scored throughout the tournament. In particular, the winner of the competition was awarded TT$20,000 plus an additional TT$3,000 for every goal scored in the final, TT$2,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$1,000 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals. Whereas, the runner-up was awarded TT$10,000 plus TT$1,500 for every goal scored in the final, TT$1,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$500 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals.
The 2014 Trinidad and Tobago Goal Shield was the fifth season of the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield, which is a knockout tournament competition for Trinidad and Tobago teams competing in the TT Pro League. W Connection entered as the cup holders having defeated North East Stars 4–3 in a penalty shootout in the 2013 final. Continuing from previous seasons, the competition not only allowed the winner and runner-up healthy purses at the end of the tournament, but more so give an added incentive for more goals to be scored throughout the tournament. In particular, the winner of the competition was awarded TT$30,000 plus an additional TT$3,000 for every goal scored in the final, TT$2,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$1,000 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals. Whereas, the runner-up was awarded TT$10,000 plus TT$1,500 for every goal scored in the final, TT$1,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$500 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals.
The 2013 Trinidad and Tobago Goal Shield was the fourth season of the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield, which is a knockout tournament competition for Trinidad and Tobago teams competing in the TT Pro League. Caledonia AIA entered as the cup holders having defeated Defence Force 3–1 in the 2012 final. Continuing from previous seasons, the competition not only allowed the winner and runner-up healthy purses at the end of the tournament, but more so give an added incentive for more goals to be scored throughout the tournament. In particular, the winner of the competition was awarded TT$20,000 plus an additional TT$3,000 for every goal scored in the final, TT$2,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$1,000 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals. Whereas, the runner-up was awarded TT$10,000 plus TT$1,500 for every goal scored in the final, TT$1,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$500 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals.
The 2013 Trinidad and Tobago Pro Bowl was the ninth season of the Digicel Pro Bowl, which is a knockout football tournament for Trinidad and Tobago teams competing in the TT Pro League. For the third consecutive season, the Pro Bowl concluded the Pro League calendar. Additionally, for the second year the winner of the Pro Bowl was invited to compete in the Digicel Charity Shield to open the 2013–14 Pro League season. Defence Force entered as the Pro Bowl holders having defeated Caledonia AIA by a score of 5–2 in the 2012 final in Hasely Crawford Stadium. The competition commenced on 17 May with all eight Pro League teams competing in single elimination beginning in the quarterfinals and concluded on 29 May with the final.