1888 American Cup
The 1888 American Cup was the fourth edition of the soccer tournament organized by the American Football Association. Having expanded into the New England district the first new champions came from Fall River, Massachusetts after Clark ONT of Newark had won the previous three editions. The Rovers defeated the Newark Almas in the final. Participants. Previously only the New York and New Jersey districts were represented. With the addition of the New England district, the tournament now included five new teams from three different states. The draw was held on September 17, 1887. In order to reduce  travel the teams were drawn in two sections with the Rhode Island and Massachusetts teams in the first section and the remaining teams in the second section. The fifteen entrants were as follows: First round. Riversides drew a bye. Rovers: GK J.Clancy, DF T.Crann, W.Flanning, MF M.O'Hara, J.Selby, D.Dwyer, FW C.Gray, A.Hinckley, W.Hinckley, J.Morton, M.Down. Paterson: GK W.Doney, DF J.Smallwood, B.Henshall, MF J.Henshall, G.Henshall, FW T.Bisland, T.Evans, H.Curry, W.Warburton, W.Wyatt, J.Sutton Alma: GK F.Farrow, DF G.Wright, F.McDonald, MF E.Morton, F.Britchford, R.Pattison, FW J.Lucas, F.Cornall, T.Bright, J.Gray, P.Brennan. Caledonian: GK H.Eddis, DF W.McCormick, John Hood, MF J.Lindsay, John Hearne, W.McNeil, FW  J.McWilliams, J.Low, S.Hood, R.Barr, James Hearne. Rovers: Long, Lonsdale, Bradley, Thomas, Waring, Adams, Bed, Blakely, Wild, Duff, Buckley. East Ends: Bracknell, Whittle, Karzenski, Coupe, Shoarocks, Lord, Wild, Whittle, King, Darlington, Foley. Providence: GK Crone, DF Jack North, Osborne, MF Jerome, Morgan, Tomlinson, FW Such, Start, Axon, Ambler, Heliborne. Pawtucket: GK Bosch, DF Smith, Reye, MF Conley, Pilling, Jack McGuire, FW Hardy, Harry Stewart, John Stewart, Sunderland, Lennox. Second round. Clark ONT had experienced their first cup-tie loss at the hands of the Almas. ONT lodged a protest on two counts. The first goal obtained by the Almas was awarded  by the referee when a shot at goal was struck by Holden with his arm. ONT alleged that the foul was not properly done. The second issue concerned a goal by ONT that was disallowed since it was from a free kick. ONT claimed that the ball was touched by Jack Swithemby before Howarth scored. At a meeting the following week, the AFA did not sustain the referee's decisions and called for a replay. Alma: GK F.Farrow, DF F.McDonald, B.Fagan, MF E.Morton, F.Britchford, G.Wright, FW F.Cornall, J.Lucas, T.Bright, A.Mountford, J.Gray. ONT: GK P.Hughes, DF H.Holden, A.Pallister, MF J.Howarth, Joe  Swithemby, P.Flynn, FW J.Swarbrick, J.Connolly, Jack Swithemby, J.McGurck, H.Fisher. Rovers: GK Lang, DF Lonsdale, Bradley, MF Waring, Buckley, Adams, FW Bell, Brookshaw, Wilde, Duff, Blakely. Pawtucket: GK Booth, DF Smith, J.Stewart, MF Pilling, Love, Conley, FW Harding, H.Stewart, Sandilands, McGuire, Lennox. Rangers: GK J.Smith, DF E.Walker, W.Lines, MF R.McDonald, T.Spencer, W.Allsopp, FW Walter Taylor, G.Sargeant, J.Campbell, W.Turner, E.Stark. Ansonia: GK W.Winfield, DF C.Williams(c), J.Williams, MF E.Wood, J.Lewis, J.Davidson, FW C.Williams, G.Bell, C.Wood, A.Wherle, M.McHale. Semifinals. Rovers: GK Mullen, DF Bradley, Lonsdale, MF Buckley, Waring, Adams, FW Bell, Bruckshaw, Blakeley, Wilde, Duff. Rangers: GK J.H.Smith, DF W.Lines, L.Walker, MF R.McDonald, H.Bennett , W.Allsop, FW W.Taylor, G.Sargent, T.Spencer, A.Campbell, E.Stark. Alma: GK H.Farron, DF E.Morton, F.McDonald, MF P.Fagin, F.Britchford, R.Patterson, FW P.Brennan, J.Lucas, T.Bright, H.Maxfield, J.Gray. Final. Rovers: GK: J.Mullin, DF R. Lonsdale, F. Bradley, MF: J. Buckley, H. Waring, H. Adams, FW: R. Bell, T. Bruckshaw, J. Blakeley, H. Wilde, C. Duff. Alma: GK F.Farrow, DF F.McDonald, W.Fagin, MF E.Morton, R.Patterson, F.Britchford, FW P.Garron, F.Cornall, T.Bught, J.Gray, H.Maxfield.