1907 Sheriff of London Charity Shield

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1907 Sheriff of London Charity Shield

The 1907 Sheriff of London Charity Shield was the tenth and final match in this charity competition. Newcastle United beat the amateur side Corinthian 5–2 at Craven Cottage in London, in front of about 30,000 spectators. The game took place on 9 March 1907 and was refereed by Pat Harrower. It was a rainy day, and Newcastle’s victory helped raise a substantial sum for charitable causes, with takings around £1,000.

Background

Newcastle United were the league champions for the 1906–07 season, while Corinthian were the leading amateur club of the era. The two clubs had previously faced each other in January 1907 at St James’ Park, where Newcastle won 3–0 in front of around 5,000 spectators. Corinthian’s goalkeeper Tom Rowlandson had also previously played for Newcastle and Sunderland.

Match details

Newcastle sent 14 players to London, and the starting line-up was not decided until the morning of the match. Admission was sixpence. Despite the persistent rain, the game was a success and produced an entertaining contest. Corinthians and Newcastle were tied 1–1 at halftime, but Newcastle pulled away in the second half to win 5–2. The high attendance helped raise funds for charity.

Aftermath

This match marked the end of the Sheriff of London Charity Shield. In the following season, 1908, the competition was replaced by the FA Charity Shield, which paired the Football League winner against the Southern League winner or FA Cup winner. The Sheriff Shield was later revived a few times in the 20th century for fundraising purposes.