Entries reach a 75-year high for Mexborough Montagu Cup

A total of 33 teams have entered the Montagu Cup for the 2025/26 season, the best since 1950/51.

Spokesman Chris Brook said: “It is an incredible number when you consider that in 1999/2000 only nine teams took part.

“That was the last season of a ‘Saturday teams only’ rule.”

The highest ever number of entries was in 1934/35 when 58 teams played.

That’s in contrast to 1917/18, which had only four entrants (by invitation). This was to revive the competition after two seasons off in 1915/16 & 1916/17. Since the Mont Cup’s 125th anniversary in 2021/22 (12 entries) there has been a steady increase in numbers.

There has also been a noticeable shift towards the Sunday League teams over the years – they make up 29 of this season’s 33 teams. Last season’s beaten finalists, AFP, are involved again. They lost to Westville in the 2025 decider.

This season’s draw – Sunday July 27 - Preliminary Round: Gate Inn v Chapeltown RBL.

Sunday July 27 - First Round: Mailcoach v AFP Pewter Pot, Lord Reresby v Wombwell Main, Scawthorpe Athletic v Wombwell Town Reserves, Whiston FC v Deer Park Tap, Hickleton Harriers v Lord Nelson, Ville v Kinsley Boys, Butchers Arms v Westville, Thorpe Hesley Village v Swinton Ring o’ Bells.

Sunday August 3 - First Round: Monkwood v Clubhouse, Stannington Village v Groves Social, Brinsworth DC v Dog Daisy, Club Dearne v Auckley, FC Tickhill v Trades, Edlington Top Club v Pocket, The Gate Inn OR Chapeltown RBL v Barnsley Town, Wickersley CC v Gym Bar

All proceeds go to the Mexborough Montagu Comforts Fund, a charity that supports local hospital patients.

For the record, the 38 teams in 1950/51 teams were: Annerley Street, Bakers & Bessemers, Bowbroom, Bramley Sports, Canklow, Darton Hall, Dearne Athletic, Denaby Rovers, Denaby United Reserves, Harlington, Hickleton YC, Hoyland Common Athletic, Ings Lane, Kilnhurst Colliery, LNER, Lord Conyers, Magnet Athletic, Manvers Main, Miners Arms, Monkwood, New Stubbin, Newhill, Parkgate Welfare, Providence United, Queen's Foundry, Rawmarsh Welfare, Rotherham Pals, Rotherham YMCA, Silverwood Colliery, Spurley Hey, Swinton Athletic, Thrybergh St. Leonards, Waterstones, Wath & West Melton, Wath Athletic, Wentworth, West Riding County Fire Service, Yorkshire Tar Distillers.

The trophy was won by Rawmarsh Welfare with a 2-1 Easter Monday win against Bowbroom (from Swinton).