Cup Fever March 10, 2008
What a weekend of Cup excitement – the FA Cup massaged the soul of a nation. It did what the World Cup does : catch the eye of the innocent bystander, sensing something special is afoot. For now it was all Barnsley and Cardiff and “Goodnight Irene” sung at valiant Bristol Rovers. Plus Portsmouth beating the mighty Man United.
In Cumbria, there is a another Cup, not sanctioned by The FA, but nevertheless running since 1922. It involves teams of farmers boys over in eastern Westmorland : the Waitby Cup. Today I got to hold the Cup, lifting it out of the window of The Black Bull in Nateby where it is on display. Nateby are the holders. Few records – nothing on the web – lists the winners down through the years so I get out my pencil and read them off the plaques surrounding the trophy’s base. 2007 is missing : easy, that’s Nateby. 1939–1945 are missing : the World War. 2001 is missing – it was never played for, because of Foot & Mouth. Livelihoods if not lives themselves were lost at this juncture.
The Waitby Cup came into being so that farmhands who could not sign up for a weekend team – such is the demands of their job – could at least have a go during a mad few weeks of May and June, a kind of reward for the harvesting of crop and animal. The teams revolved around village communities and HAD to have the team’s core locals or lads working locally (many attempts since have been to swell a team and its prospects enlisting ‘proper’ players). What is more they played on make-shift pitches loaned them by a farm, rutted and being Cumbria, likely muddied. They kicked lumps out of each other. Not necessarily on purpose but because as footballers go they weren’t practised. And they were egged on by quite a crowd. Legend has it now of tremendous brawls involving all. Carried on to the very doors of the post-match pub. Nowadays the games are likely all played on the one pitch at Kirkby Stephen, the town acting as magnet for the game – Waitby has long since surrendered its famous field, its pub, and most of its farmhands. Some teams live on as amalgams of villages. Looking at the list of winners Warcop are probably top of the all-time winners, with Ravenstonedale on their heels. Other holders include Crosby Garrett (a force in the early years), Hartley, Winton, Kaber + Winton, Soulby, Asby (though not since 1950 as well as in that very first year Mr.Chairman!!), Newbiggin, Musgrave, Brough Sowerby, Church Brough, Smardale, Ormside… forgotten anyone?
Across from the Black Bull I met one of the holders, a player, one of 3 brothers Alderson, who own the Nateby garage. In fact the only one left. The others have flown the nest, potentially weakening the chances of turning out a winning team.
The big Cup Draw is in April, matches in May with the Final in June.
