Charity match is the season’s curtain-raiser

THE FA Cup holders, Manchester United, beat league champions Leicester City in the Charity Shield last week.

I’d like to know how many times the Shield has been won by the cup holders rather than the league winners. – T.

The Charity Shield began in 1908 and has taken place each year, except for during the World Wars.

It evolved from the Sheriff of London Shield fixture that had been played annually between a leading professional club and a leading amateur club.

In 1904, for example, famous amateurs Corinthians (as in “the Corinthian spirit”) took on FA Cup holders Bury – and beat them 10-3!

It has only been between the FA Cup holders and league champions since 1930 with the exception of a few years when other teams, such as the losing cup finalists or league runners-up have taken part as a club have won both the league and cup the previous year.

Before 1974, the Shield was played at various club grounds during the season, but FA Secretary Ted Croker proposed the match should be played as a curtain-raiser to the new season, a role it has filled ever since.

In 2002, it became known as the FA Community Shield.

The League winners are by far the most successful, having won 45 times in the 76 matches since 1930, with the Shield being shared 10 times.