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The Steel & Sons Cup (also referred to as the Steel Cup ) is an intermediate football competition in Northern Ireland run by the North East Ulster Football Association (also known as the County Antrim & District Football Association ). The competition culminates in the final which has traditionally been played on Christmas Day (except when Christmas Day falls on a Sunday). The 2006 final, however, broke with tradition when it was staged on the Saturday before Christmas as this was a closed date for all other football fixtures in Northern Ireland.[ 1] The final returned to its original Christmas Day slot in 2007-08. The 2012/13 was declared null after Glentoran II were stripped of their title having fielded an ineligible player in an earlier round.[ 2] This is the first time in the tournament's history that no winner was declared.
The current holder is Dundela .[ 3]
The trophy
The "Steel Cup" trophy was donated to the County Antrim FA in 1895 by Mr David Steel. Steel was principal of Steel & Sons Ltd, wholesale jewellers, silversmiths, cutlers, watch-makers and opticians, with premises on Royal Avenue, Belfast .[ 4]
Since 1973 a second trophy has been awarded after the final - the Player of the Match Award. Initially sponsored by the Sunday News , the first winner was Tommy Craig of Glentoran II. Since the 1993 final the award has been sponsored by the Belfast News Letter .[ 5]
Venue of final
The home for the final was rotated round the major Irish League venues in Belfast until the late 1950s when Solitude became the regular venue. Since the 1972-73 season Seaview , home of Crusaders , has hosted all the final ties, with the exception of the final and replay in 1975-76 and the replay of the 1984-85 final, which were played at Solitude.
Past finals
1890s
1900s
1910s
Season
Venue
Winner
Runner-up
Notes
1909-10
Larne
2
0
Oldpark Corinthians
1910-11
Glentoran II
2
1
King's Own Scottish Borderers
after replay
1911-12
Balmoral Showgrounds[ 9]
Black Diamonds
3
1
Ollardale
1912-13
Belfast Celtic II
3
1
Glentoran II
1913-14
Cliftonville Olympic
4
1
Barn
1914-15
Glentoran II
1
0
Belfast Celtic II
after replay
1915-16
Linfield Swifts
2
0
Glentoran II
after 2 replays
1916-17
Belfast Celtic II
2
0
Distillery II
1917-18
Belfast Celtic II
1
0
Glentoran II
1918-19
Glentoran II
2
0
Distillery II
after replay
1920s
Season
Venue
Winner
Runner-up
Notes
1919-20
Dunmurry
1
0
Brantwood
after replay
1920-21
Brantwood
3
0
Bangor
[ 10]
1921-22
Windsor Park
Cliftonville Olympic
2
1
Dundela
2nd replay - Game 1: 1-1; Game 2: 1-1[ 11]
1922-23
Crusaders
3
1
Bangor
3rd replay[ 12]
1923-24
The Oval
Bangor
2
0
Woodburn
replay - Game 1: 1-1[ 13]
1924-25
Windsor Park
Ormiston
1
0
Ballyclare Comrades
2nd replay - Game 1: 0-0;[ 14] Game 2: ?-?
1925-26
Solitude
St. Mary's
4
0
Summerfield
[ 15]
1926-27
Celtic Park
Crusaders
5
3
Dunmurry
after extra time[ 16]
1927-28
The Oval
Willowfield
2
1
Ormiston
replay - Game 1: 0-0[ 17]
1928-29
Windsor Park
Crusaders
4
0
Broadway United
[ 18]
1930s
Season
Venue
Winner
Runner-up
Notes
1929-30
Solitude
Broadway United
5
0
Linfield Rangers
replay - Game 1: 2-2[ 19]
1930-31
The Oval
Crusaders
3
1
Charleville
replay - Game 1: 3-3[ 20]
1931-32
Celtic Park
Brantwood
3
0
Dunmurry
[ 21]
1932-33
Grosvenor Park
Glentoran
3
1
Belfast Celtic II
replay - Game 1: 2-2[ 22]
1933-34
Solitude
Crusaders
3
1
Belfast Celtic II
[ 23]
1934-35
Windsor Park
Belfast Celtic II
3
2
Crusaders
[ 24]
1935-36
Solitude
Belfast Celtic II
2
1
Glentoran II
replay - Game 1: 1-1[ 25]
1936-37
Celtic Park
Crusaders
3
1
Glentoran II
[ 26]
1937-38
Grosvenor Park
Glentoran
2
1
Summerfield
[ 27]
1938-39
The Oval
Sirocco Works
2
1
Crusaders
[ 28]
1940s
Season
Venue
Winner
Runner-up
Notes
1939-40
Grosvenor Park
Linfield Swifts
2
0
Crusaders
[ 29]
1940-41
Solitude
Bangor Reserves
2
1
Distillery II
[ 30]
1941-42
Windsor Park
Larne Olympic
3
1
Belfast Celtic II
[ 31]
1942-43
Celtic Park
Larne Olympic
4
1
Victoria Works United
[ 32]
1943-44
Solitude
Ballyclare Comrades
4
2
Glentoran II
[ 33]
1944-45
Windsor Park
Bangor Reserves
3
0
Larne Olympic
[ 34]
1945-46
Celtic Park
Dundela
3
1
Bangor Reserves
Replay - Game 1: 0-0[ 35]
1946-47
Linfield Swifts
4
1
Crusaders
[ 36]
1947-48
Celtic Park
Crusaders
3
2
Larne
Replay - Game 1: 2-2[ 37]
1948-49
Solitude
Linfield Swifts
6
2
Brantwood
[ 38]
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
Summary of winners
† Won by reserve teams
Notes
^1 Won by reserve team 1941-42 and 1942-43
^2 Won by reserve team 1953-54
^3 Won by reserve team 1940-41, 1944–45 and 1994-95
Sources
^ "BBC report about the date move of the Final" . BBC News . 2006-11-22. Retrieved 2007-08-03 .
^ Belfast Telegraph, 16 March 2013
^ a b "Dundela enjoy Christmas Day Cup cheer with win over Immaculata" . Belfast Newsletter . 2013-12-25. Retrieved 2013-12-26 .
^ Steel & Sons Cup Final Brochure 1970
^ Steel & Sons Cup Final Programme 1993
^ 100 Years of Football: The History of the Co. Antrim FA (1988) Page 129 "Steel & Sons Cup Roll of Honour"
^ 100 Years of Football: The History of the Co. Antrim FA (1988) Page 41
^ 100 Years of Football: The History of the Co. Antrim FA (1988) Page 45
^ 100 Years of Football: The History of the Co. Antrim FA (1988) Page 47
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1920 Page 2
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1921 Page 3, 30/12/1921 Page 3 &
^ County Antrim FA Rules 1935-36 Page 67
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1923 Page 3 & 29/12/1923 Page 2
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1924 Page 3 &
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1925 Page 3
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1926 Page 5
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1927 Page 3 &
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1928 Page 3
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1929 Page 7 & 31/12/1929 Page 2
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1930 Page 3 &
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1931 Page 3
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1932 Page 4 &
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1933 Page 3
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1934 Page 3
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1935 Page 3 &
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1936 Page 3
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1937 Page 3
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1938 Page 3
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1939 Page 3
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1940 Page 2
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1941 Page 2
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1942 Page 2
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1943 Page 2
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1944 Page 2
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1945 Page 2
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1946 Page 2
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1947 Page 2
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1948 Page 2
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1949 Page 6
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1950 Page 6
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1951 Page 6
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1952 Page 2
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1953 Page 7
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1954 Page 7
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1955 Page 7
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1956 Page 2 &
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1959 Page 7
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1960 Page 7
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1961 Page 6 & 29/12/61 Page 8
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/62 Page 8
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1963 Page 8
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1964 Page 8
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1966 Page 6
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1967 Page 9
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1968 Page 8
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1969 Page 8
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1970 Page 8 & 31/12/1970 Page 12
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1971 Page 9
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1972 Page 7
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1973 Page 9
^ Belfast Newsletter 30/12/1974 Page 10
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1975 Page 9 & 02/01/1976 Page 12
^ Belfast Telegraph 28/12/1976 Page 13
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1977 Page 10 & 05/01/1978 Page 14
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1978 Page 10 &
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1979 Page 12
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1980 Page 9
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1981 Page 8 & 02/01/1982 Page 9
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1982 Page 12
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1983 Page 10
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1984 Page 22 & 29/12/1984 Page 24
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1985 Page 23 &
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1986 Page 23
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1987 Page 27 & 06/01/1988 Page 28
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1988 Page 26
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1989 Page 23
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1990 Page 21
^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1991 Page 21
^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1992 Page 21
^ a b Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1993 Page 30
^ Belfast Newsletter 26/12/1995 Page 28 & 12/01/1996 Page 36
^ Belfast Newsletter 26/12/1996 Page 32
^ Belfast Newsletter 26/12/1997 Page 36
^ Belfast Telegraph 26/12/1998 Page 21
^ Belfast Telegraph 27/12/1999 Page 19
^ Belfast Telegraph Soccer Yearbook 2001/02 Page 66
^ "Wee Glens win Steel Cup" . BBC News . 2001-12-26. Retrieved 2007-08-03 .
^ "Killyleagh win Steel decider" . BBC News . 2002-12-26. Retrieved 2007-08-03 .
^ "Celtic lift Steel Cup" . BBC News . 2003-12-26. Retrieved 2007-08-03 .
^ "Cup final abandoned in snow storm" . BBC News . 2004-12-26. Retrieved 2012-01-01 .
^ "Bangor win Steel & Sons Cup" . BBC News . 2004-12-30. Retrieved 2007-08-03 .
^ "Crusaders 4-1 Dundela" . BBC News . 2005-12-24. Retrieved 2007-08-03 .
^ "Brantwood 4-3 H&W Welders" . BBC News . 2006-12-23. Retrieved 2007-08-03 .
^ "Dundela and Loughgall trophy wins" . BBC News . 2007-12-27. Retrieved 2007-12-27 .
^ "Ards snatch late Steel Cup winner" . BBC News . 2008-12-26. Retrieved 2008-12-26 .
^ "Kilmore Rec win Steel Cup final" . BBC News . 2009-12-26. Retrieved 2009-12-26 .
^ "Welders secure Steel Cup success" . BBC News . 2011-01-03. Retrieved 2011-01-03 .
^ "Bangor beat Larne in Steel & Sons Cup final" . BBC News . 2011-12-24. Retrieved 2011-12-31 .
^ "Festive cheer for Glentoran in Steel and Sons Cup final" . Newsletter . 2012-12-26. Retrieved 2012-12-26 .
^ "Glentoran II are stripped of Steel and Sons Cup" . BBC News . 2013-03-13. Retrieved 2013-03-16 .
See also
National teams Leagues
Domestic cups
Defunct leagues Defunct cups Awards