Allison Trophy


The [Chelsea F.C|]Allison Challenge Trophy was an annual football match between an Edinburgh Select XI and a leading English Football League club.

History

The Edinburgh Charities Committee invited a top English club each year to play an Edinburgh Select XI, which consisted of players from Hibernian and Heart of Midlohian, with all proceeds going to worthy causes. They alternated between Easter Road and Tynecastle Park as the match venue.
The trophy was donated by Mr William S. Allison, who was then chairman of the Edinburgh Charities Day Committee, ahead of the first meeting between Edinburgh and English opposition on 5 August 1944.

Hearts XI matches

Prior to the Edinburgh Select XI matches, Tynecastle Park hosted charity matches between Heart of Midlothian XI and invited opposition while World War II was ongoing.
A charity match between Heart of Midlothian and Arsenal was played on 2 August 1941, with the purpose of raising money for the Scottish National War Memorial.
Another match in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund and other war charities was played between a Hearts Select XI, which featured players of other Scottish and English clubs against a Royal Air Forces XI on 7 August 1943.

Similar events

The Festival Cup was contested for by an Edinburgh Select XI against German giants Bayern Munich in 1985. Edinburgh won 3–2 in the charity match at Tynecastle Park in front of a crowd of 10,000. The Select featured players from Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, and Meadowbank Thistle.
A testimonial match for retired Hearts legend John Cumming was played against a North East XI. The North East XI was made up of players from Dundee, Dundee United, and St Mirren. An attendance of 6,000 saw Edinburgh beaten 3–4 on 11 May 1980.

Results

SeasonHome teamScoreAway TeamVenueAttRef
1944Edinburgh Select XI3–4Aston VillaTynecastle30,000
1945Edinburgh Select XI4–0Huddersfield TownTynecastle30,000
1946Edinburgh Select XI2–3Aston VillaTynecastle
1947Edinburgh Select XI4–5Derby CountyEaster Road42,000

1948		Edinburgh Select XI1–1BlackpoolTynecastle
1949Edinburgh Select XI2–3WolvesEaster Road46,077
1950Edinburgh Select XI1–1Newcastle UnitedTynecastle45,000
1951Edinburgh Select XI1–2LiverpoolEaster Road35,000
1952Edinburgh Select XI3–2PortsmouthTynecastle
1953Edinburgh Select XI3–2WolvesEaster Road39,000
1954Edinburgh Select XI3–2Bolton WanderersTynecastle45,000
1955Edinburgh Select XI1–1Newcastle UnitedEaster Road
1956Edinburgh Select XI2–1Birmingham CityTynecastle
1957Edinburgh Select XI1–3Preston North EndEaster Road40,000
1958Edinburgh Select XI2–2LiverpoolTynecastle28,000
1959Edinburgh Select XI4–3Newcastle UnitedEaster Road
1960Edinburgh Select XI3–2
Chelsea		Tynecastle34,000
1961Edinburgh Select XI4–7BurnleyEaster Road14,000
1962Edinburgh Select XI2–4BurnleyTynecastle
1963Edinburgh Select XI7–0Dunfermline AthleticEaster Road

Total titles

WinnersTrophy WinsTrophy WinsTotal
WinnersWonSharedTotal
Edinburgh Select XI8412
Aston Villa202
Burnley202
Liverpool112
Newcastle United022
Derby County101
Preston North End101
Wolves101
Blackpool011