Northamptonshire Senior Cup Explained

NFA Hillier Senior Cup
Founded:1883
Region:Northamptonshire (Northants FA)
Current Champions:AFC Rushden and Diamonds, (3 titles)
Most Successful Club:Kettering Town, (31 titles)
Website:Hillier Senior Cup website

The NFA Hillier Senior Cup is a football knockout tournament involving teams from Northamptonshire, England and the surrounding area. It is a County Cup competition of the Northamptonshire Football Association and involves senior non-league teams. It has been contested annually since 1883.[1] Kettering Town have won the cup the most times, lifting the trophy on 31 occasions. The current champions are AFC Rushden and Diamonds, who beat Kettering Town in the 2024 final.

History

Initially named the NFA Senior Cup, the tournament was renamed in 1981. It was first held in 1883, and was won by Newport Pagnell Town.[1] The trophy has since been lifted by 24 different sides (not including reserve teams).[2] The winner of the competition now contests the Maunsell Cup against one of Peterborough or Northampton.[3]

In 1988, The tournament went through a re-structure with the English Football League clubs, Peterborough United and Northampton Town being withdrawn from the cup, after the Northamptonshire FA decided to make the competition an all non-league affair. Since then, the competition has been contested by the 14 highest ranked non-league teams from the previous season, within Northamptonshire. The only exception to this rule was when Rushden & Diamonds competed in the competition between 2001-2006, whilst they were in League Two. They were allowed to take part however, after agreeing to field an Under-21s team in the cup during this period.

Since 1998, the final has been held at Sixfields Stadium.[4] In 2022, The Under 18 teams of both Peterborough United and Northampton Town were eligible to enter the competition, marking the first time teams entered from both clubs since 1988.

Recent Finals

YearWinnersRunner-up Attendance
2005 Rothwell TownRaunds Town223
2006 Northampton SpencerCorby Town527
2007 Rushden & DiamondsWoodford United1,256
2008 Rushden & DiamondsBrackley Town1,747
2009 Long BuckbyBrackley Town248
2010 Corby TownDaventry Town584
2011 Brackley TownCorby Town767
2012 Brackley TownCorby Town780
2013 Corby TownDaventry Town686
2014 Daventry TownCogenhoe United314
2015 Brackley TownPeterborough Sports608
2016 AFC Rushden & DiamondsKettering Town945
2017 Kettering TownCorby Town895
2018 Kettering TownBrackley Town873
2019 AFC Rushden and DiamondsBrackley Town1,097
2022 691
2023 Peterborough SportsCogenhoe United268
2024 AFC Rushden and DiamondsKettering Town1,025
[5]

All Time Winners

PosWinnersTotal Notes
1 31 Last Win: 2018
2 22 Last Win: 1987 / Stopped Competing in 1988
3 21 Last Win: 1988 / Stopped Competing in 1988
4 12 Last Win: 2015
5 11 Last Win: 2013
6 7 Last Win: 2006 / Dissolved in 2019
Last Win: 2014
8 5 Last Win: 1963
9 4 Last Win: 1954
Last Win: 1995
Last Win: 2008 / Dissolved in 2011
Last Win: 2009
12 3 Last Win: 2024
13 2 Last Win: 2023
14 1 Last Win: 1924 / Merged in 1992 with Irthlingborough Diamonds
Last Win: 1927
Last Win: 1935
Last Win: 1957
Last Win: 1962 / Merged in 1992 with Rushden Town
Last Win: 1976
Last Win: 1978
Last Win: 1997
Last Win: 2004
Last Win: 2005
[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sorry. Something's wrong with the pitch. - Northamptonshire FA .
  2. Web site: Sorry. Something's wrong with the pitch. - Northamptonshire FA .
  3. Web site: Cobblers to travel to AFC Rushden & Diamonds for Maunsell Cup Final . 2022-07-04 . www.northamptonchron.co.uk . 7 June 2019 . en.
  4. Web site: Cobblers and Posh . 7 June 1988 . en.
  5. Web site: 'One down, one to go' for Peterborough Sports as County Cup final win is dedicated to a couple of club stalwarts . 2022-07-01 . www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk . 13 April 2022 . en.
  6. Web site: Northamptonshire FA Handbook 2021 . 2024-03-12 . www.northamptonshirefa.com. en.