1880 Friendship Cup
The 1880 Friendship Cup – a unique trophy competed for by Lisburn Distillery and Moyola Park – was first played for in the 2021/22 season.
On the evening of 18th November 1880 the Irish Football Association – the governing body for association football here in Northern Ireland – was formed by seven clubs in Queen’s Hotel, Belfast (at the junction of York Street/Donegall Street in the city).
Those clubs were Alexander, Avoneil, Cliftonville, Distillery, Knock, Oldpark and Moyola Park.
The trophy was funded by a number of people, our thanks to them and is now played for annually, the venue alternating between the two clubs, and currently on the back of a corresponding league fixture between the sides.
The first season the trophy was shared by the clubs following a draw at New Grosvenor, last season Moyola Park won the trophy following a 1-0 win at Coleraine Showgrounds (as development work was ongoing at Mill Meadow, Castledawson).
The Whites lifted the trophy after Saturday’s win and captain Ethan Carry is pictured receiving the trophy from Lisburn Distilley’s President, Roy Darrah.
Our thanks to Moyola Park for their sportsmanship at the presentation and who would have thought that 143 years on from when our club represenatives sat round a table at a historic meeting, that the two historic clubs would be competing for the aptly named “1880 Friendship Cup”.
Next season will see the cup game played at a re-developed Mill Meadow.