# 1911–12 American Cup

The 1911–12 American Cup was the twenty–first edition of the challenge cup held by the American Football Association. The new officers for this season were elected at a meeting at the Continental Hotel in Newark on May 27, 1911. John Watt the former president was now Honorary President, John Lone was President, A.M. Brown of Philadelphia was Vice–President, Harry Craig of Paterson was Treasurer, Andrew N. Beveridge was Secretary, and Duncan Carswell was recording secretary. This was a pivotal year for the AFA which was aligned with the English FA. The touring Corinthians team was part of the Amateur Football Association and not a member of the English FA. The AFA was instructed by the English FA to bar teams from playing in any matches with the 'outlaw' Corinthians at the risk of expulsion. As a result Newark was suspended for a year for playing a match with the Corinthians on September 18, 1911 at Morris Park, Newark. The New York State League expelled Bronx United because they pulled a player from the New York State League select team match against the Corinthians played on September 16, 1911 at the Polo Grounds. Bronx United was replaced with Newark who had also withdrawn from the National Association Football League. The New York State League in a retaliatory moved started their own tournament and renamed themselves the American Amateur Football Association The AFA now had a rival organization and tournament to compete with. Newark for their part won the New York Amateur League and finished runner–up in the AAFA Cup. Newark's home field, Morris Park, was selected as the site of the all New Jersey cup final between West Hudson and the Rangers.

## Participants

There were 35 total participants although there were eight withdrawals in the first round and one in the preliminary. These consisted primarily of the eight New York Amateur League teams Arcadia Thistle (NY), Columbia Oval (NY), Clan MacDuff (Harlem), Clan MacDonald (Brooklyn), Critchley (Brooklyn), Celtic (Brooklyn), Hollywood Inn (Yonkers) from the first division and Mount Vernon of the second division. The other withdrawal was Gorham from Providence, RI of the New England League. The other teams from New England were Fore River (Quincy), J&P Coats (Pawtucket), Howard & Bullough (Pawtucket) and the Rovers of Fall River. Two teams from the Connecticut League were Ansonia and Park City of Bridgeport. All ten teams from the Pennsylvania League participated which included Tacony, Hibernian, Victor, Wissinoming, Celtic, Tennyson, Thistle, Collingwood, Gloucester Hibernian, and the Caledonian of Trenton, NJ. All of the members of the National League took part as well including West Hudson (Harrison), Wilberforce (Paterson), True Blue (Paterson), Rangers (Paterson), Jersey AC (Jersey City), Brooklyn, Bronx United, and Scottish American of Newark. The remaining two teams were from the American Amateur Association Football League (not to be confused with the American Amateur Football Association) which were Haledon Thistle and Olympic both of Paterson, NJ.

## Preliminary round

The draw was held September 23, 1911 at the Continental hotel in Newark, NJ. The 35 teams were divided up into Pennsylvania, New England, and New York/New Jersey districts only for the preliminary round to bring the total to 32 teams for the first round. New York/New Jersey District
Pennsylvania District
New England District

## First round

replays

## Second round

The draw for the second round was held on November 11, 1911 at the Continental hotel in Newark, NJ.
replays

## Third round

The draw for the third round was held on December 2, 1911 at the Continental hotel in Newark, NJ. The Rangers–Wissinoming match was ordered replayed because the referee had to stop the game on three occasions to move the crowd off the field for interfering with the players.
replays

## Semifinals

The second Victor–West Hudson replay required two 15–minute overtime periods.
replays

## Final

The West Hudsons and Rangers were both members of the National League. West Hudson was in first place with the Rangers vying for third place. West Hudson had an edge in the season series having won an exhibition game while splitting their two National League games with a win each.