Manchester Senior Cup


The Manchester FA Senior Cup is an annual football tournament held between the clubs of the Manchester Football Association which was first played in 1885; the first winners were Hurst who beat Newton Heath LYR in the final. As of 2025, the competition has been on hiatus since the 2015/16 season was abandoned due to the Final not being able to be arranged.

Organisation

The competition featured the major professional clubs of the Manchester area — Manchester United, Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers, Bury, Oldham Athletic, and Stockport County — until 1970, after which only non-league clubs entered. The Senior Cup was not held from 1979 to 1998, but was reintroduced as a reserve team tournament for the six professional clubs, typically in round-robin format with a final usually held at the end of the season in early May.
The overall winners table is as follows
TeamWinsNotes
Manchester United33including 4 as Newton Heath LYR and 2 as Newton Heath
Manchester City13plus two shared with Bury
Bury12plus two shared with Manchester City
Bolton Wanderers10
Oldham Athletic9
Stockport County4
Droylsden3
Ardwick2
Mossley2
Hurst1the original Hurst club
West Manchester1
Crewe Alexandra1
Wigan Borough1
Hyde United1
Ashton United1
Dukinfield Town1

In 2021, a medal from the competition won by Newton Heath's Tommy Fitzsimmons in 1893, believed to be the oldest such item relating to Manchester United to have been offered for sale, was auctioned for £24,000.

Finals

This section lists every final of the competition played since the first final in 1885 where known; including the winners, the runners-up, and the result.

Key

SeasonWinnerResultRunner-upDateVenueAttendanceNotes
1884–85Hurst3–0Newton Heath LYRSaturday 25 April 1885Whalley Range around 3500This is the original Hurst club that folded in 1892. The 2nd half was delayed due to heavy rainfall. HT 0-0
1885–86Newton Heath LYR2–1Manchester AssociationSaturday 3 April 1886Whalley Range around 8000The largest crowd ever for association football in Manchester at the time. HT 2-0
1886–87West Manchester2–1Newton Heath LYRSaturday 23 April 1887Whalley Range around 4000HT 1-1
1887–88Newton Heath LYR7–1DentonSaturday 28 April 1888Whalley Range around 8000
1888–89Newton Heath LYR7–0Hooley HillSaturday 27 April 1889Whalley Range around 4000
1889–90Newton Heath LYR5–2RoytonSaturday 3 May 1890Hullard Hall around 2000
1890–91Ardwick1–0Newton Heath LYRSaturday 18 April 1891Hullard Hall around 10000
1891–92Ardwick4–1Bolton WanderersSaturdaty 23 April 1892North Road around 7000
1892–93Newton Heath2–1Bolton WanderersSaturday 15 April 1893Hyde Road around 8000
1893–94Bury4–2Heywood CentralSaturday 7 April 1894Hyde Road around 5000HT 0-2
1894–95Bolton Wanderers0–0BurySaturday 30 March 1895Bank Street around 7000
Bolton WanderersREPLAY
3–2		BuryMonday 8 April 1895Hyde Road around 4000
1895–96Bury2–1Manchester CitySaturday 11 April 1896Bank Street around 12000
1896–97Bury3–1Bolton WanderersSaturday 3 April 1897Hyde Road around 10000The Official History of Bury FC book reports that this game finished 3-0
1897–98Stockport CountyVOID
0–4		Manchester CitySaturday 9 April 1898Fallowfield Stadium around 25000The tie was voided and re-played due to Manchester City fielding an ineligible player.
Stockport County2–1Manchester CityMonday 18 April 1898Bank Street Gate receipts for both ties combined £464 12s 11d
1898–99Stockport County2–2BuryWednesday 12 April 1899Hyde Road around 2000
Stockport CountyREPLAY
2–1		BurySaturday 29 April 1899Bank Street around 3000
1899–00Bury2–0Bolton WanderersWednesday 4 April 1900Hyde Road around 4000
1900–01Manchester City4–0Newton HeathMonday 29 April 1901Hyde Road around 5000
1901–02Newton Heath2–1Manchester CitySaturday 26 April 1902Hyde Road between 10000 and 15000This was the last match for Newton Heath before they renamed to Manchester United
1902–03Bury2-2
AET		Manchester CityWednesday 29 April 1903Bank Street around 15000Both teams were declared joint winners with both receiving gold medals. It was agreed until the following September, when the game may have be re-played. However it was not and so both were officially joint winners. Gate receipts £444 3s 6d.
1903–04Bury0–0Manchester CitySaturday 30 April 1904Hyde Road around 18000
BuryREPLAY
POSTPONED		Manchester CityMonday 17 October 1904Bank Street Postponed due to Manchester City being banned from playing additional games for a month
BuryREPLAY
POSTPONED		Manchester CityMonday 28 November 1904Bank Street Postponed due to fog
BuryREPLAY
4-2
ABANDONED		Manchester CityMonday 5 December 1904Bank Street around 3000HT 3-0. Abandoned on 84 mins due to darkness. Although the victory was stated as morally Bury's, the result did not stand and no further replay was arranged. Hence the Cup was again shared between the two clubs The Official History of Bury FC book incorrectly states that the game was abandoned at 4-0 with the result allowed to stand
1904–05Bury3–1Manchester UnitedSaturday 29 April 1905Hyde Road around 5000HT 1-0. The Official History of Bury FC book incorrectly states that the game was at Gigg Lane
1905–06Bolton Wanderers3–0BuryMonday 30 April 1906Bank Street around 2500
1906–07Manchester City2–0Stockport CountyMonday 29 April 1907Hyde Road around 10000
1907–08Manchester United1–0BuryThursday 30 April 1908Hyde Road around 3000
1908–09Bolton WanderersPOSTPONEDStockport CountyMonday 26 April 1909Hyde Road
Bolton Wanderers3–0Stockport CountyThursday 29 April 1909Hyde Road "poor"
1909–10Manchester United2–0Stockport CountyWednesday 20 April 1910Old Trafford 800
1910–11Manchester City3–1Manchester UnitedWeednesday 14 December 1910Hyde Road around 6000
1911–12Manchester United0–0RochdaleWednesday 27 March 1912Hyde Road
Manchester UnitedREPLAY
1–1		RochdaleTuesday 30 April 1912Boundary Park around 5000
Manchester UnitedREPLAY-2
5–0		RochdaleTuesday 17 September 1912Gigg Lane around 2000
1912–13Manchester United4–1Bolton WanderersMonday 21 April 1913Hyde Road around 3000
1913–14Oldham Athletic1–0HurstTuesday 21 April 1914Bower Fold between 6000 and 7000Had been originally due to be played at Manchester City's Hyde Road
1914–15Stockport County4–3
AET		RochdaleSaturday 1 May 1915Hyde Road After 90 mins was 1-1

The competition was not held between 1916 and 1919 due to World War I
SeasonWinnerResultRunner-upDateVenueAttendanceNotes
1919–20Manchester United1-0Oldham AthleticMonday 10 May 1920Hyde Road
1920–21Bolton Wanderers2-0Manchester UnitedWednesday 11 May 1921Burnden Park "record crowd"Gate receipts £819
1921–22Bolton Wanderers3-1Eccles UnitedSaturday 20 May 1922Old Trafford HT 2-1
1922–23Stockport County2–0Stalybridge CelticMonday 7 May 1923Hyde Road
1923–24Manchester United3-0Manchester CitySaturday 10 May 1924Old Trafford around 16000Both teams played a weak side, practically reserve XIs
1924–25Bury1-0Manchester CitySaturday 9 May 1925Old Trafford around 15000
1925–26Manchester United2-0Manchester CitySaturday 8 May 1926Maine Road around 5000
1926–27Crewe Alexandra2-1Manchester UnitedSaturday 14th May 1927Maine Road around 6000
1927–28Manchester City4-2Manchester UnitedWednesday 9 May 1928Maine Road
1928–29Manchester City2-0Bolton WanderersSaturday 11 May 1929Maine Road
1929–30Wigan Borough3-2
AET		Manchester CityWednesday 7 May 1930Maine Road 2600Score at 90 mins was 2-2. Manchester City were effectively their reserves as they fielded their Central League side
1930–31Manchester United5-1BurySaturday 9 May 1931Maine Road 4948HT 1-1
1931–32Manchester City1-0Oldham AthleticSaturday 14 May 1932Boundary Park
1932–33Manchester City2-1Manchester UnitedMonday 15 May 1933Hyde Road
1933–34Manchester United1-0Manchester CityMonday 7 May 1934Old Trafford
1934–35Bury2-1Manchester UnitedSaturday 11 May 1935Maine Road
1935–36Manchester United5-1Oldham AthleticSaturday 9 May 1936Old Trafford
1936–37Manchester United1-0
AET		BurySaturday 8 May 1937Old Trafford "meagre"Score at 90 mins was 2-2
1937–38Bolton Wanderers2-1Manchester UnitedSaturday 14 May 1938Old Trafford Manchester United also fielded a team in the Lancashire Senior Cup Final on the same day
1938–39Manchester United4-1Oldham AthleticSaturday 13 May 1939Old Trafford

The competition was not held between 1939 and 1946 due to World War II
In 1958, the five Senior clubs currently involved met together to put forward a proposal that the format of the Manchester Senior Cup should be changed. The proposal was that two of the five senior clubs involved should, in sequence, play in the competition as a one-off Final. The teams would choose their first teams and charge first team prices. The format was approved by the full Council and the Football Association gave its approval
SeasonWinnerResultRunner-upDateVenueAttendanceNotes
1958–59Manchester United4-0Manchester CityMonday 13 April 1959Old Trafford 23509
1959–60Bury5-1Oldham AthleticTuesday 15 March 1960Gigg Lane 2555HT 2-0
1960–61Bolton WanderersPOSTPONEDManchester UnitedWednesday 26 April 1961Old Trafford Postponed due to a waterlogged pitch
Bolton Wanderers1-0Manchester UnitedMonday 13 November 1961Old Trafford 5710HT 0-0
1961–62Bury1-0Manchester CityTuesday 27 March 1962Gigg Lane 5397HT 0-0
1962–63Bolton Wanderers3-1Oldham AthleticMonday 20 May 1963Boundary Park
1963–64Manchester United5-3Manchester CityThursday 7 May 1964Maine Road 36434It doubled as a Charity match organised by the Variety Club of Great Britain for the Duke of Edinburgh Trophy, raising around £20,000 for underprivileged children's charities. Attendance included the Duke of Edinburgh. Denis Law scored a hat-trick

In 1964, Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City and Manchester United declined to compete in future competitions, instead making a payment in lieu. This means that all finals now were to be between Oldham Athletic and Bury.
SeasonWinnerResultRunner-upDateVenueAttendanceNotes
1964–65Oldham Athletic2-0BuryTuesday 6 April 1965Boundary Park 1827HT 2-0

It was decided that for 1965-66 and 1966-67 not to hold the Manchester Senior Cup match, following problems with the staging of the competition. The fixture resumed for 1967-68
SeasonWinnerResultRunner-upDateVenueAttendanceNotes
1967–68Bury3-1Oldham AthleticTuesday 3 April 1968Gigg Lane 1751HT 1-1
1968–69Oldham Athletic2-0BuryFriday 2 May 1969Boundary Park 709HT 0-0
1969–70Oldham Athletic4-1BuryTuesday 28 April 1970Boundary Park HT 2-1

The Manchester FA relaunched the competition in 1970 and senior non-league sides then played in it.
SeasonWinnerResultRunner-upDateVenueAttendanceNotes
1970–71Dukinfield TownLEG-1
2-0		MossleyMonday 24 May 1971National Park Dukinfield Town were sharing Curzon Ashton's National Park at the time
Dukinfield TownLEG-2
3-2
AGG 5-2		MossleyWednesday 26 May 1971Seel Park
1971–72MossleyLEG-1
2-0		DroylsdenWednesday 10 May 1972Butcher's Arms
MossleyLEG-2
0-1
AGG 2-1		DroylsdenSaturday 13 May 1972Seel Park
1972–73Droylsdenp1-1Radcliffe BoroughFriday 11 May 1973Butcher's Arms Droylsden won 5–3 on Penalties - no extra time was played. HT score was 0-1
1973–74Oldham Athletic reservesUNKNOWNDroylsdenUNKNOWNUNKNOWN
1974–75Hyde Unitedp0-0
AET		Oldham Athletic reservesTuesday 6 May 1975UNKNOWNHyde United won 3–1 on Penalties
1975–76DroylsdenLEG-1
4-1		Ashton UnitedMonday 10 May 1976Hurst Cross
DroylsdenLEG-2
2-1
AGG 6-2		Ashton UnitedFriday 14 May 1976Butcher's Arms Some sources incorrectly report Ashton United as the winners
1976–77MossleyLEG-1
5-0		DroylsdenFriday 8 April 1977Butcher's Arms
MossleyLEG-2
7-3
AGG 12-3		DroylsdenMonday 2 May 1977Seel Park
1977–78Ashton UnitedLEG-1
0-1		Hyde UnitedMonday 10 April 1978Ewen Fields
Ashton UnitedLEG-2
2-0
AGG 2-1		Hyde UnitedMonday 24 April 1978Hurst Cross
1978–79DroylsdenLEG-1
1-1		MossleyThursday 17 May 1979Butcher's Arms
DroylsdenLEG-2
3-0
AGG 4-1		MossleyThursday 24 May 1979Seel Park

In 1979 the competition was put on hiatus until it was relaunched in 1998 as a reserve competition for the senior professional sides
No Manchester Senior Cup matches have been played since the 2016 abanadoned competition, and therefore as of 2025, is currently on hiatus. It is not clear when or if it will return.