1876–77 Sheffield Challenge Cup
The 1876-77 Sheffield Senior Cup was the first edition of the tournament, played to Sheffield rules. It was the biggest tournament played to the Sheffield code and the equivalent of the FA Cup, which at the time was mostly confined to the south of England. Background The Sheffield Football Association was founded in 1867 and took a subscription of 5 shillings from its member clubs in order to entitle them to entry. Sheffield F.C. did not enter, as the club was concentrating on national matches. The Sheffield rules in force at the time had four main differences to the Association laws: players were onside so long as one opponent was between them and the goal-line, whereas the Association offside law demanded three; if the ball went off the side of the pitch, it was put back into play by a kick-in, rather than a throw-in, in any direction; if the attacking team put the ball out of play to the side of the goal, the defending team returned the ball from the nearest corner; if either team put the ball out of play over the bar of the goal, the defending team returned the ball from within 6 yards of