The American Cup

Association Football in the United States developed in industrialised areas in the East. The blue collar sector of East Coast society included a significant percentage of European workers.The influence of the textile industry in New Jersey was particularly important, as were the connections that a number of the leading manufacturers (Clark Thread Company of Paisley, Michael Nairn & Company of Kirkcaldy) had with Scotland. Paterson was noted for silk production, which also attracted a great deal of experienced Scottish labour.

As we have seen in previous posts one of the biggest problems that American soccer has faced during its history has been the power struggles between rival governing bodies and  associations. The American Football Association, founded in 1884, was the United States' first Association Football Governing body, and it was under the auspices of this Association that the first 'cross league' competition was played.
The tournament is usually referred to simply as The American Cup. Here is a list of the finals, up until the 8 year hiatus that saw the tournament lose it's prestige.

1885	Clark O.N.T.	1	0	New York
1886	Clark O.N.T.	3	1	Kearny Rangers
1887	Clark O.N.T.	3	2	Kearny Rangers
1888	Fall River Rovers	5	1	Newark Almas
1889	Fall River Rovers	4	0	Newark Caledonian
1890	Fall River Olympics	4	3	Kearny Rovers
1891	Fall River East Ends	3	1	Brooklyn Longfellows
1892	Fall River East Ends	5	2	New York Thistle
1893	Pawtucket Free Wanderers	3	1	New York Thistle
1894	Pawtucket Olympics	4	1	Paterson True Blues
1895	Newark Caledonian	4	0	Pawtucket Free Wanderers
1896	Paterson True Blues	7	2	Fall River Olympics
1897	Philadelphia Mainz	5	2	Paterson True Blues
	Replay following a 2-2 draw.
1898	Kearny Arlington	4	2	Paterson True Blues

The first edition attracted 6 entrants (some sources state 13 but this appears to confuse the event with later editions).

The entrants were:
Caledonian Thistle Club (Paterson)- whose name leaves no doubt about their Scottish origins.
Clark O.N.T. (Kearney) -sponsored by the Clark Thread Company ONT was short for Our New Thread, Clark’s latest product.
Domestic (Newark)- backed by a well known sewing machine manufacturer.
Kearny Rangers
New York F.B.C.
Paterson F.B.C.

First Round
25.10.84	Clark O.N.T.	2	0	Domestic	ONT AA Grounds Kearney
01.11.84	Kearny Rangers	3	2	Caledonian Thistle	Domestic Baseball Grounds Newark
01.11.84	New York	5	0	Paterson	Hoboken
Semi Final
A draw was made that gave Clark O.N.T a bye into the final.
27.11.84	Kearny Rangers	0	4	New York	Domestic Baseball Grounds Newark
FINAL
14.02.85	Clark O.N.T.	2	1	New York	Emmet Street Grounds Newark
The match was played in snow. New York protested that not all the ONT players were genuine members of the club and that the goal posts were not regulation size. The AFA ordered a replay.
25.04.85	Clark O.N.T.	1	0	New York	Olympic Grounds Paterson

As well as a handsome trophy the winners received prize money of $150.