Football clubs began
to be formed in villages in North Berkshire in about 1905-06 and
friendly games were arranged between them,but often teams failed to
keeps its agreement.About this time Jim Welsh ( he was the last
official Wantage town crier ) and Arthur.A.Dobell,chairman and
secretary of the Wantage Town Football Club decided that a competition
should be formed from the clubs.
Mr A.E.Strauss then
MP for North Berkshire was approached, and was enthusiastic about the
idea and agreed to present a trophy, to be competed for by amateur
football teams in North Berkshire for the encouragement of the game in
the villages. Mr Strauss wanted to know which was the most valuable
trophy in the country and it was believed that the Eastbourne charity
cup held the distinction and despite the protest of Mr Dobell, Mr
Strauss was adamant on the point that nothing was too good for North
Berkshire,and that is how the competition came to possess such a
valuable trophy as the Strauss Challenge Cup.
The first meeting was
called at Wantage on Feb 28th 1907, and a copy of that
letter is now in the archives of the competitions.Mr Strauss was the
first President ,A.A.Dobell ( Treasurer ), E.J.Jones of Abingdon (
Secretary ), and a real good secretary he proved to be,for there seems
no doubt that the success of the competition is due to the sound basis
he established.
It was on May 3rd
1907 the North Berks Junior Challenge Cup competition came into
being.The first final was played on Abingdon Town's ground between
Long Wittenham and Faringdon Town and resulted in a win for Long
Wittenham
North Berks cup 1945/46: East Hendred 3-1 Pavlova. East
Hendred played an ineligible player. No time for a replay this season,
Hendred suggested the final be played at the start of next season.
Unfortunately Pavlova folded for the following season.
Analysis of Winners:
17
Long Wittenham
11
Harwell Village
9
Hanney
7
Faringdon Town, Saxton Rovers
6
Drayton, MG Athletic, Milton
5
Berinsfield
4
Ardington, Bampton, Culham Ath, Kintbury, Wantage Town
3
Botley Utd, Stanford
2
Cholsey, Didcot Town, East Hendred, Radley, Uffington
1
Abingdon Town, Barn Club, Buckland, Childrey, Grove, Harwell int, Lambourn, Letcombe, No Competition, Not Concluded, Wootton and D S,
OfficialsReferee: Andrew Caven