What is the highest attendance for a game between 2 teams from the Isle of Wight?
The answer is an incredible 20,544 when a multitude of Islanders made the journey across the Solent to cheer on Newport and Cowes in the final of the Hampshire Senior Cup at the Dell in 1932. On that occasion, the Port won 2-1.
The Hampshire Senior Cup has been contested every year since 1887, apart from the period of the Great War between 1914 and 1919. It is open to all teams from the Premier League to level 10 (Wessex League 1) affiliated with the Hampshire Football Association.
Island teams have won the Senior Cup on 23 occasions to date. Cowes Sports were the 1st Island side to lift the cup back in 1897 when they beat the 2nd Gordon Highlanders 2-1 in a replay at the County Ground, Southampton. The last time an Island side won the competition was in 1998, when Newport beat Fareham Town at the Dell.
Cowes are the most successful Island side in the Senior Cup, having lifted the trophy on 9 occasions. Only Premier League Southampton (17 victories) have won the cup more often than the Yachtsmen. The last time Cowes Sports were victorious in the Senior Cup was in 1967 when they beat Newport 2-1 at Partlands in Ryde.
Newport are the Island’s 2nd best side in the Senior Cup, winning the competition 8 times in all. The Port are the 4th most successful team overall.
The now sadly defunct Ryde Sports won the Senior Cup 6 times, all their victories coming before the 2nd World War. Their 1st victory was against Portsmouth Reserves in 1900 (1-0) and their last against Portsmouth Gas Company at the Dell in 1939.
East Cowes Vics have never lifted the Hampshire Senior Cup. The closest they came was in 1983 when they lost 1-3 to Sholing in the final at the Dell.
Tonight (Tuesday, 24th August) all 3 Wessex League teams are in action in the Senior Cup.
Cowes Sports play fellow Wessex Premier League side Christchurch at Westwood Park. Kick off is at the earlier time of 19.15. A win for the Yachtsmen would earn them a home tie against holders AFC Bournemouth in the next round.
East Cowes Vics face Wessex League 1 Fawley at Beatrice Avenue, a side they held to a 4-4 draw away from home last Wednesday. Kick off is at 19.30.
Victory for Vics will see them play National League Eastleigh at home in the next round.
Newport travel to Farnborough to play Cove, who ply their trade in Division 1 of the Combined Counties League. A win would give Port an away tie at Wessex Premier Blackfield & Langley in Round 2.
