Important football trophy discovered in Sheffield - and could soon be on display

The Sheffield Football Association Minor Challenge Cup was established in 1882 – seven years before Sheffield United’s formation. But the trophy had not been seen for decades until it was found and donated to the Sheffield Home of Football (SHOF) campaign.

Businessman David Slater, who owns The Library by Lounge venue in Attercliffe, discovered it inside a box in his attic in January 2018 during a clear out.

He said: “It had been in my loft for 40 years, I had forgot about it for about 25 years. The irony was that the winners of the cup were Attercliffe FC.

“I have got no idea where this cup has come from. I know my grandad was a bit of an antique dealer.”

David, who played football for Huddersfield Town and Hallam FC, was storing the cup on a window ledge behind the bar at The Library by Lounge. But, after attending the launch of the SHOF campaign last month, he decided to donate it to the project.

“I showed it to John Wilson [SHOF trustee] and he flipped his lid,” David said.

“I love football and I love the heritage we have got in Sheffield. The first thing I did when I was chairman at Hallam was put a sign up outside Sandygate about it being the world’s oldest football ground.”

He added: “I think it’s a wonderful project. It deserves one hundred per cent backing.”

The first final of the Sheffield Football Association Minor Challenge Cup was played between Heeley reserves and Lockwood Brothers reserves, with Heeley winning 3-1.

John Wilson from SHOF said: “It’s quite an important trophy. Heeley are the oldest church team in the world, predating teams such as Celtic, Everton and Southampton. And Lockwood Brothers are the oldest workplace team.

“I’m delighted.”

The cup is now being stored safely and will be displayed in the football archive the SHOF campaign wants to create.

Anyone who has items that may be of use to the archive should email [email protected].