The Norfolk Senior Cup is the oldest of the County’s cup competitions with a history that stretches all the way back to the 1881-82 season when Norfolk and Norwich became the inaugural winners as they beat Lynn Town 3-1.
Despite that initial defeat Lynn Town became regular winners of the trophy in the early years, picking up the cup on no fewer than five occasions; 1882-83, 1884-85, 1886-87, 1889-90, 1898-99. Another name to feature regularly on the cup in those initial seasons was CEYMS, especially around the turn of the century when they captured a hat-trick of titles. King’s Lynn went one better than that as they took the cup back to the west of the county an amazing four seasons on the trot between 1954-55 and 1957-58, beating Gorleston, Gothic, Great Yarmouth and most impressively Norwich City in that time.
Norwich City did bounce back from that defeat, and in some style too as they took part in one of the competitions highest scoring finals the following season, beating Gorleston 7-2. Nine goals were also scored in the 1972-73 final, but this was much closer as Fakenham Town edged past Hoveton by a score of 5-4.
In recent seasons the competition has been dominated by Clubs that compete in the Eastern Counties League. Wroxham were the team to beat in the late 1990’s and their name was engraved on the trophy in 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1999-00. Other recent winners include Diss Town, Gorleston, King’s Lynn Reserves and Dereham Town.
The 2009-10 final broke the trend of Eastern Counties winners though, as Mattishall of the Anglian Combination held Norwich United 1-1 at the end of extra time and then held their nerve on spot kicks to win 5-4, claiming a famous victory.
The 2010-11 final saw two of the County’s biggest Clubs compete for the historic trophy, and it was Dereham Town who held the upper hand on the night as they beat King’s Lynn Town by a comprehensive 4-1 score line. Meanwhile, current holders Gorleston won the 2011-12 final 2-0 against Thetford Town.
To view fixtures and results from this season’s Norfolk Senior Cup competition, staged in partnership with Sportsguard, click here.
