The Decline of Local FA County Cup Competitions: Tradition vs. Modern Demands

County Cup competitions have long been a cornerstone of local football, however, in recent years, the importance of these tournaments has waned significantly. As teams across the country prioritise league performance and national cup runs, county cups are often viewed as secondary pursuits. Here, we’ll explore the factors contributing to this shift and examine what it means for the future of the competitions, reflecting on the historical significance of county cups for clubs like Southport.

County Cups were originally established to promote local football, offering teams at various levels an opportunity to compete for a prestigious title within their region. These competitions have rich histories, with many dating back over a century. For clubs that don’t often venture far in national competitions, winning a county cup provided a major achievement to celebrate with fans and within the community.

The Lancashire Challenge Cup, one of the oldest regional tournaments, saw teams like the original Southport Football club get their first taste of competitive football, years before the advent of the first league format competitions. Local support was strengthened whilst introducing fans to the thrill of knockout football. The very first of these games was against Stacksteads Working Men at the start of the club’s second season, with ‘the Reds’ of Southport prevailing by four goals to nil.

A year later and the same Southport side entered the Liverpool Challenge Cup for the first time, this time falling 2-4 to the Liverpool Ramblers.

The importance of these competitions, however, has diminished as football’s landscape has evolved. The emergence of professional and semi-professional leagues, alongside the ever-increasing financial stakes of league positions, has diverted attention and resources away from county cups.

For many clubs, the priority today is clear: focus on league success. Promotion to a higher tier can mean greater exposure, sponsorship opportunities, and increased gate receipts. Financially, it makes sense for teams to channel their resources into achieving a strong league position rather than exerting themselves in county cups that offer limited monetary reward and prestige in comparison.

With tight schedules and limited squad depth, managers often view county cups as an unnecessary strain, where they now serve as a platform for emerging talent through the inclusion of second string or youth players. Fixture congestion has become a significant factor, with clubs preferring to save their first team players for crucial league games or higher-profile cup ties. For many, risking injury in a county cup match is a gamble not worth taking.

The FA Cup and, to a lesser extent, the FA Trophy and FA Vase have taken precedence over county cups for non-league and semi-professional clubs. While a county cup run might bring local bragging rights, a successful FA Cup campaign offers the chance to play against bigger clubs and possibly secure televised matches. These national competitions provide the financial incentives and media exposure that county cups lack.

For the current club, who began as Southport Central in 1888, the secondary importance of the county cups was shown little over a month after formation. On 6th October 1888 the Liverpool & District Football Association scheduled a Liverpool Challenge Cup game against Whiston on the same same as the Football Association had schedule an FA Cup First Qualifying round game against Irwell Springs. There was no decision to make for Central who duly took their First team to Bacup to compete in (and win) their first ever FA Cup game, whilst the second string stayed behind to play (and lose to) Whiston.

When Southport became a non-league club once again in 1978, the importance of the county cups temporarily rose. The county cups offered a brief respite from what had been an otherwise turgid period, with a reasonable chance of at least some success.

The dwindling interest in county cup competitions today however is also reflected in the stands. Fans, too, have become more invested in league progress and potential national upsets than in local tournaments. Attendance for county cup matches, especially in the early rounds, is often low, reflecting a lack of enthusiasm and engagement. It is not uncommon for an attendance to be up to ten times lower for a county cup game than a standard league fixture, even with vastly reduced gate prices.

For clubs striving to maintain financial stability, low attendances mean limited income from gate receipts, further weakening the appeal. Some clubs have even faced a dilemma over whether to enter their county cup competition at all, as the financial burden sometimes outweighs the perceived benefits.

In the “important information for players” guidance issued each season by the Football Association, they confirm that “The Senior County Cup Fixture will not be treated as a first team fixture and can not be used to serve suspensions for first team matches. Any misconduct for the Senior County Cup will be dealt with by the County FA as Non First Team misconduct”.

It seems pretty clear therefore that today, County Cup games are not even considered first team games. For that reason they are not counted towards Heritage statistics on this website. But, despite these challenges, county cups remain part of the calendar and some clubs continue to embrace the tradition.

If county cups are to regain relevance, organisers might consider implementing reforms, such as improved prize money or revised schedules to ease fixture congestion – such as a return to the pre-season format trialed by Lancashire in the mid-90s under the banner of the Marsden Trophy or the Manx Cup.

While the road ahead may be uncertain, there is still potential for county cup competitions to play a role in the modern game – but for now, the reality is that the traditional allure of these competitions is increasingly overshadowed by the demands and rewards of the broader football landscape.