The Shropshire Senior Cup is a county cup football

Football (soccer)

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

 competition that is open for professional and non-professional senior football teams in the county of Shropshire

Shropshire

Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...

.

The competition is one of the oldest Cup competitions in the world, and notably, the original winning trophy is still presented to the winners, some 130 years after the Cup's inception.

The competition was first staged in the 1877-78

1877-78 in English football

The 1877–78 season was the seventh season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Wanderers became the first club to win the FA Cup three times in a row after beating Royal Engineers 3–1 in this season's final. It was the fifth time they had won the competition overall...

 season, the inaugural winners being Shrewsbury F.C, who beat Wellington Parish Church Institute 1-0. (Shrewsbury F.C are not connected to the current Shrewsbury Town

Shrewsbury Town F.C.

Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...

, and dissolved late in 1879)

Over the years, the competition has been dominated by the county's two leading football teams, Shrewsbury Town and Telford United

Telford United F.C.

Telford United F.C. was an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire.The club existed under various names for a total of 132 years from its formation in 1872. The club was founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979 and played at this level for 25 years before being wound up in...

, and more recently A.F.C. Telford United

A.F.C. Telford United

A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford...

 following the demise of the old Telford United in 2004. Shrewsbury Town are the current holders of the cup, having beaten AFC Telford United 2-1 on Tuesday 17th November 2009.

Other county teams to have featured in the cup in recent years have included Market Drayton Town

Market Drayton Town F.C.

Market Drayton Town F.C. is a football club based in Market Drayton, Shropshire, England.-History:They joined the West Midlands League Division One North in 1998. In 2003, they changed their name from Little Drayton Rangers to their present name...

, Shifnal Town

Shifnal Town F.C.

Shifnal Town F.C. is a football club based in Shifnal, Shropshire, England. They have reached the 4th round of the FA Vase three times in their history...

, Bridgnorth Town

Bridgnorth Town F.C.

Bridgnorth Town F.C. are a football club based in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England. They joined the Worcestershire Combination in 1938 and have twice reached the 5th round of the FA Vase...

, Ludlow Town

Ludlow Town F.C.

Ludlow Town F.C. are a football club based in Ludlow, Shropshire, England.-History:Ludlow Town Football Club was founded in 1890 and played on council grounds around the town until 1981 when they acquired their own facilities at The Riddings Park....

 and the former Oswestry Town

Oswestry Town F.C.

Oswestry Town F.C. was a football club, formerly playing in the League of Wales.The club was founded as Oswestry United in 1860, which meant they were one of the world's oldest football clubs. Matches were latterly played at Park Hall stadium, Oswestry, after a spell at Victoria Road...

.

The final for the 2008-09 season was played on 21st July 2009, around the traditional time for the start of the event, owing to thunderstorms the previous season which led to postponed fixtures. It was decided by Telford and Shrewsbury that they would play the final in the close season, rather than in the middle of a packed mid-season. Four months later, the 2009 final was played, Shrewsbury reclaiming the title. In recent seasons, notably 2009-10 and 2010-11 the competition has turned into a farce and caused many problems with teams who feel they should be playing in it. Market Drayton Town, Bridgnorth Town and Ellesmere Rangers who all play at Step 5 and higher within the national Non-League System are the only clubs at that level in the country who do not participate in their parent counties Senior Cup. This has caused many problems with scheduling of both the Challenge Cup fixtures, to which they have been entered into instead and league fixtures as the Midland Football Alliance and the Northern Premier league don't recognise the Challenge Cup. In 2011 AFC Telford United withdrew from the competition, and as a result the Shropshire FA then invited Market Drayton Town to contest the final against Shrewsbury Town. This caused friction from other Shropshire clubs as they felt Market Drayton shouldn't be participating in two County Cups. However AFC Telford United then decided they could play in the final, and the Shropshire FA controversially allowed them back into the competition. The following season, 2011-12 despite all the previous controversy the Shropshire FA still decided not to invite Bridgnorth and Ellesmere into the competition but even more bewildering was their decision to invite The New Saints into the cup. This seemed a very strange decision as they weren't even affiliated to the Shropshire FA.

Semi Final

EWLINE Tie no Home team Score Away team 1 Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football... 5 - 0 Bridgnorth Town Bridgnorth Town F.C. Bridgnorth Town F.C. are a football club based in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England. They joined the Worcestershire Combination in 1938 and have twice reached the 5th round of the FA Vase... 2 Ludlow Town Ludlow Town F.C. Ludlow Town F.C. are a football club based in Ludlow, Shropshire, England.-History:Ludlow Town Football Club was founded in 1890 and played on council grounds around the town until 1981 when they acquired their own facilities at The Riddings Park.... 1 - 3 AFC Telford United A.F.C. Telford United A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford...

Final

EWLINE Tie no Home team Score Away team 1 Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football... 5 - 1 A.F.C. Telford United A.F.C. Telford United A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford...

Final

EWLINE Tie no Home team Score Away team 1 Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football... 4 - 1 A.F.C. Telford United A.F.C. Telford United A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford...

Semi-Final

EWLINE Tie no Home team Score Away team 1 A.F.C. Telford United A.F.C. Telford United A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford... 5 - 1 Market Drayton Town Market Drayton Town F.C. Market Drayton Town F.C. is a football club based in Market Drayton, Shropshire, England.-History:They joined the West Midlands League Division One North in 1998. In 2003, they changed their name from Little Drayton Rangers to their present name...

Final

EWLINE Tie no Home team Score Away team 1 A.F.C. Telford United A.F.C. Telford United A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford... 1 - 1 Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football... Shrewsbury won 4-1 on Penalties

Semi Final

EWLINE Tie no Home team Score Away team 1 Shifnal Town Shifnal Town F.C. Shifnal Town F.C. is a football club based in Shifnal, Shropshire, England. They have reached the 4th round of the FA Vase three times in their history... 1 - 2 Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football... 2 Market Drayton Town Market Drayton Town F.C. Market Drayton Town F.C. is a football club based in Market Drayton, Shropshire, England.-History:They joined the West Midlands League Division One North in 1998. In 2003, they changed their name from Little Drayton Rangers to their present name... 1 - 1 AFC Telford United A.F.C. Telford United A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford... Market Drayton won 5-4 on Penalties

Final

EWLINE Tie no Home team Score Away team 1 Market Drayton Town Market Drayton Town F.C. Market Drayton Town F.C. is a football club based in Market Drayton, Shropshire, England.-History:They joined the West Midlands League Division One North in 1998. In 2003, they changed their name from Little Drayton Rangers to their present name... 0 - 3 Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...

Quarter Final

EWLINE Tie no Home team Score Away team 1 Bridgnorth Town Bridgnorth Town F.C. Bridgnorth Town F.C. are a football club based in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England. They joined the Worcestershire Combination in 1938 and have twice reached the 5th round of the FA Vase... 1 – 0 Shifnal Town Shifnal Town F.C. Shifnal Town F.C. is a football club based in Shifnal, Shropshire, England. They have reached the 4th round of the FA Vase three times in their history...

Semi Final

EWLINE Tie no Home team Score Away team 1 AFC Telford United A.F.C. Telford United A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford... 3 - 0 Bridgnorth Town Bridgnorth Town F.C. Bridgnorth Town F.C. are a football club based in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England. They joined the Worcestershire Combination in 1938 and have twice reached the 5th round of the FA Vase... 2 Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football... 3 - 2 Market Drayton Town Market Drayton Town F.C. Market Drayton Town F.C. is a football club based in Market Drayton, Shropshire, England.-History:They joined the West Midlands League Division One North in 1998. In 2003, they changed their name from Little Drayton Rangers to their present name...

Final

EWLINE Tie no Home team Score Away team 1 Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football... 1 – 1 AFC Telford United A.F.C. Telford United A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford... Telford won 4–1 on penalties

Final

EWLINE Tie no Home team Score Away team 1 AFC Telford United A.F.C. Telford United A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford... 1 – 2 Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...

Final

EWLINE Tie no Home team Score Away team 1 Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football... 1 – 0 AFC Telford United A.F.C. Telford United A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford...

Semi Final

EWLINE Tie no Home team Score Away team 1 The New Saints The New Saints F.C. The New Saints of Oswestry Town & Llansantffraid Football Club , also known as The New Saints or simply TNS is a full-time-professional British football club representing Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain in Powys, Wales and Oswestry in Shropshire, England . They play in the Welsh Premier League... 2 - 1 Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football... 2 Market Drayton Town Market Drayton Town F.C. Market Drayton Town F.C. is a football club based in Market Drayton, Shropshire, England.-History:They joined the West Midlands League Division One North in 1998. In 2003, they changed their name from Little Drayton Rangers to their present name... 1 - 4 AFC Telford United A.F.C. Telford United A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford...

Final

EWLINE Tie no Home team Score Away team 1 AFC Telford United A.F.C. Telford United A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford... 1 – 1 The New Saints The New Saints F.C. The New Saints of Oswestry Town & Llansantffraid Football Club , also known as The New Saints or simply TNS is a full-time-professional British football club representing Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain in Powys, Wales and Oswestry in Shropshire, England . They play in the Welsh Premier League... The New Saints won 4–2 on penalties