There was strong local fan support for ‘beautiful game’
Wrapping up a series looking at the history of soccer in Peterborough
The 1920 soccer season in Peterborough increased in popularity as the season advanced.
In mid-June when CGE defeated Caledonians 3-2, the Examiner reporter commented, “When a goalkeeper of any respective team is playing a game it would be an advantage to the sport for some of the advocates behind the goal to go away to the side touch-line instead of giving instructions on field play to the goal-keeper or on questionable goals.” As the season advanced, the fans were more vocal, but clearly some were able to be very close to the action. As the season wound down, the Examiner was convinced that “The football fans would like to witness a real cup tie series now. They certainly would attract the spectators.”
Some indication of growing fan support was noted on June 24. “A large crowd witnessed the DeLaval and Canadian Woollen last evening at the Exhibition Grounds in a return League Fixture as one of the many attractions under Father Phelan’s Summer Fair. Many of the spectators witnessed their first football game and became great enthusiasts as the game progressed.”
The 1920 season was truncated, but each team played all the other teams twice.
The plan was for the season to decide the winner, and there would be no playoff. However, the final game moved to Wednesday, July 1, pitted the Gunners against the Vets. It determined how this first season would conclude. A win by the Gunners would leave CGE as league champion; a win by the Vets would necessitate a one-game playoff.
However, “Gunners lost two points because did not field full team last night; CGE and Vets will play sudden death game on date to be decided. Each finished with 14 points.”
In its Football Gossip column, it was noted that, “Many of the football enthusiasts were giving Bill Hitchins of Havelock the rudiments of the game.
He was right there with a great salutation. He recalled the day of the old Quakers of 1907 and is busy training the boys of the High School in Havelock the rudiments of the game. He is certainly a great coach.” There is a photo of the 1906 Quaker winners at the Peterborough Sports Hall of Fame; it is part of a small but welcome exhibit on the history of local soccer.
On July 8, the sudden death playoff between CGE and the Vets ended in a tie. The PSA executive set two days later for another sudden death playoff, set for 45 minutes. For the first time, there was an admission charge; it was 30 cents, and included the war tax. The second sudden death was won by the Vets, 3-1.
However, the playoff season was not a smooth one. On Tuesday, July 6, the Exhibition people put a pole in the “centre of the playing pitch.” This necessitated changing the direction of the pitch from east-west to northsouth, and several volunteers made the changes in layout and marking. Then on Saturday, hours before the final playoff game, the Exhibition put up a second pole. Wilfrid Jones headed up the south end crew which moved the goal posts five yards so the game could be played that evening.
Two days before the annual meeting which was held at Fred Sutcliffe’s barber shop, July 14, the CGE team protest the final because of problems with the size of the pitch and the markings for the one goal. The issue was discussed at the annual meeting and thrown out. “Even though there were mistakes in the layout of the field the field was laid out by the PFA executive and both teams played under the same conditions.”
There was no trophy for the Vets as winners of the 1920 season of the Peterborough Soccer League. Steps were underway to have suitable recognition for the 1920-21 season, about to begin in August 1920.
The F.W. Clarke Shield which was designed and donated by F. Clarke & Son, founded in 1873 at the corner of George and Brock, would be awarded to the winning team in the 1920-1921 season.
By 1908, Clarke’s, the “Store of Quality” specialized in china, gold, silverware, and diamonds. With his son, H.W. Clarke, a graduate of colleges for watchmakers and opticians the firm added new specialties. In 1920, Frank R. Clarke had his store at 170 Charlotte Street.
Fred Sutcliffe announced that the handsome football shield being donated by a prominent local merchant, would go to the winning team, who would keep it and provide security for the year. Still, it would “always remain the property of the Association.”
With the realignment around the poles at the Exhibition Grounds, the 1920-21 season played its games at Nicholls Oval and on two pitches, east and west, at the Exhibition Grounds. The east pitch was often unplayable because of the wetness.
Early in the next season, the Father Phelan Cup was donated to the Peterborough Soccer Association.
On October 13, 1920, the Peterborough Football Association meeting at the GWVA Rooms on Murray Street accepted the gift of the Phelan Charity Cup, also known as the Father Phelan Trophy. The motion read, “That we accept the trophy donated by the Rev. Father Phelan, which shall be known as the Phelan Charity Cup, and that the proceeds from the aforesaid Cup shall be donated to some charity which shall be hereinafter determined after all expenses have been deducted.” The club committee working on details was composed of Alex Dick, Sid Whatley, Mr. Coombs and Mr. Cook.
The trophy had been on display in the window of Clarke’s jewelry store since mid-September. The very attractive Phelan Cup was designed by Frank Clarke. The Examiner commented that it “demonstrates the exquisite taste in acquiring such an excellent piece of silver to be contested by the local football clubs.”
The cup was described in the Examiner, September 23. “The cup stands 12 inches high, on a black ebony base, the inside f the trophy is a gold finish and the outside is sterling silver.
The shape of the cup is of an eggcup nature, with two handles extending from top to bottom. On the front is engraved football players depicting the most critical point in the game, viz.: A player has made an attempt to break through the two full backs with the centre forward attracting their attention while the other player has tested the goal-keeper with a hard shot which compels the custodian to jump up into the air to have his goal.” The Father Phelan Cup depicted the effect of the offside rule.
The winners were to be engraved each year on the silver plate on the base. The cup is on exhibit at the Peterborough Sports Hall of Fame. This silver plate is quite large, and the base adds to the impressiveness of the cup.
The Rev. Joseph Charles Phelan (1869-1934) was ordained in 1896 and served in several parishes in the Diocese of Peterborough, including at the Cathedral, 1911-1921, where he was Chancellor, 1913 and Rector, 1914-21, and at Campbellford 19211934. Father Phelan was well-known for his summer fairs which were held annually at different venues.
The first season of the rejuvenated Peterborough Soccer Association and the Peterborough Soccer League accomplished a great deal. Soccer was back to stay. In the “beautiful game” every position was important as was the support of managers, coaches and fans.