The idea for the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital Cup originally came from a local bookbinder called Mr E Smith.
The intention being to hold an annual end of season football match to raise funds for the hospital.
Working with a local vicar, the Rev H Wimble, a collection raised £44 which was then used to obtain the trophy.
The Norfolk & Norwich Hospital Cup was first contested in the 1903/04 season. The Canaries, still an amateur side, beat local rivals CEYMS 2-0 in a replay after a 0-0 draw. Over 6,000 fans watched the games and a cheque for £88 was presented to the hospital as a result.
CEYMS provided the opposition for City for the next 2 seasons as well. In 1904/05, the Canaries won 3-2 in a replay after a 1-1 draw. Norwich City turned professional in 1905 and CEYMS lost 5-0 to the reserve side in the 1905/06 season.
1st Professional Opposition
For the 1906/07 season, Everton became the first professional club invited to play in the fixture. It was a significant achievement to bring them to Norfolk as they were an established 1st Division side and had beaten Newcastle United 1-0 to win the FA Cup at Crystal Palace in 1906.
On the day, a crowd of 9,500 at City’s Newmarket Road ground watched a 1-1 draw played in heavy rain. George Lamberton equalised for Norwich just before half-time after Everton had taken a 15th minute lead.
Every player was awarded a medal to mark their involvement in the game. The Everton Collection now have the medal awarded to Joe Donnachie here.
After 1907, the Hospital Cup continued to be contested as a first team fixture annually for most of the years through to 1960. There was a brief return for two final games against Ipswich Town in 1989 and 1991.
Norfolk & Norwich Hospital Cup Opponents
1904 CEYMS
1905 CEYMS
1906 CEYMS
1907 Everton
1908 Chelsea
1909 Hull City
1910 Hull City
1910 Newcastle United
1912 Newcastle United
1913 Middlesbrough
1914 Woolwich Arsenal
1916 Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
1917 East Anglian Munitions League
1918 193rd Infantry Brigade
1919 Boulton & Paul
1920 Tottenham Hotspur
1921 South Shields
1922 Notts County
1923 Huddersfield Town
1924 West Ham United
1925 West Ham United
1926 Leicester City
1927 Leicester City
1928 Stoke City
1929 Stoke City
1931 Liverpool
1932 Liverpool
1933 Liverpool
1934 Grimsby Town
1935 Arsenal
1936 Middlesbrough
1937 Middlesbrough
1938 Leeds United
1939 Middlesbrough
1947 Tottenham Hotspur
1949 Bolton Wanderers
1950 Tottenham Hotspur
1951 Bolton Wanderers
1952 Cardiff City
1953 Fulham
1954 Manchester United
1956 Leeds United
1957 Nottingham Forest
1958 Leicester City
1959 Ipswich Town
1960 Southampton
1989 Ipswich Town
1991 Ipswich Town
Norfolk & Norwich Hospital Cup Programmes
You can see more programmes from these games here.