The Slough Town Challenge Cup

 The idea of a “Slough Town Challenge Cup Competition” was conceived when Mr. A.E. Payne, of the Berks and Bucks F.A. Council, and the Chairman of Slough F.C. reminded the Annual General Meeting of the Slough F.C. that a cup was lying idle at the bank, and suggested that it should be the trophy for a competition among the junior clubs of the District. The idea was considered a good one, and a sub-committee was appointed to carry it into effect. Mr. A.E. Payne and Mr. I. Day were deputed to arrange a set of rules to govern the competition, and Mr.. I. Day., who agreed to act as hon-secretary, sent out invitations to the junior clubs affiliated to the Berks and Bucks F.A. within a six mile radius of the Slough Post Office. 

 It was hoped that sixteen clubs would compete, and favourable replies were received from Cippenham, Datchet, Farnham United, Langley, Noakes Athletic (Windsor), Slough British Legion, Slough St. Mary's, Stoke Rovers, Taplow, Clewer St. Stephen's Old Boys, Wraysbury, Hedgerley United and Chalvey Old Boys.

The inaugural meeting was held at the Dolphin Hotel on 10th August 1923. 

 Slough F.C. gave the Competition its full support and recognised that the juniors of today were the seniors of the future. 

The first officers of the Competition were:

Hon. Secretary- Mr. I. Day

Chairman- Mr. A. E. Payne

President- Mr. H. B. Brown

Vice-Presidents- Lord Desborough, Mr. F. Farr, Mr. R. M. Price and Mr. G. E. Bennett

Treasurer- Mr. W. A. Roe

The first full meeting was held on 18th September 1923 and delegates from 21 clubs were present. 

In the first Round, played on 6th October 1923, results included:
Colnbrook 5v3 Wraysbury

Burnham 0v3 Datchet

Hedgerley United 2v1 Stoke Poges (after extra time)

In another match in the first round Slough St.Mary's defeated Taplow 14-0 and the referee reported that Taplow had not one foul given against them and “not a murmur from any of their players.”  In neither of the Semi-Finals nor the Final “did the referee have occasion to whistle for a deliberate piece of unfair play”.

The first Final was held on Easter Monday 21st April 1924 at the Dolphin, when Maidenhead United Res. defeated Farnham United 1-0. The “gate” receipts were £19.
 

The idea of a "Junior" or "Secondary" Cup was first raised in 1928 and a trophy was donated to the Competition by Mr. E. T. Bowyer, the President.

The draw for the first round of the Junior Section included Cippenham Res., Dorney and Eton Wick Res., Amplion Res., Eton Victoria Res., Farnham United Res., Stoke Rovers Res., Timbertown Minors, and St. Helen's Cable Res. 

The first Junior Section Final, in 1930, was between Cippenham Res. and GWR Sports Res. Cippenham Res. won but it is recorded that “they played their first eleven”. After that the Rules were changed so that players who had played in the Premier Section were ineligible to play in the Junior Section. 

For more information about the Slough Town Cup, please click below and visit their website.