Lancashire Senior Cup returns

Last updated : 04 June 2004 By Tony Scholes

Most recently it was the Lancashire Cup and was played as a pre-season competition but teams began dropping out of the competition and it was finally brought to an end at the end of the nineties with Wigan Athletic the last winners of the impressive trophy.

After discussions with the clubs it is now set for a return in 2004/05 season and will revert to the competition it was up until the 1970s, a straight knock out competition and played during the season.

Back then the Clarets used to field their reserve team whilst clubs in the lower divisions and those non-league clubs taking part would take part with their first teams. The Clarets’ reserves would invariably come out on top then.

We last won that competition in 1972, beating Manchester United in the final, but we did win the trophy under its new format in 1992 with a Turf Moor win over Bury.

Eight of the thirteen clubs within the Lancashire FA have agreed to take part next season whilst Manchester United have indicated that they will be included from the 2005/06 season.

Burnley are one of the eight clubs to have agreed to a return for the competition and they will be included in the draw along with Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers, Bury, Oldham Athletic, Preston North End and Rochdale.

There are no dates as yet but the draw for the first round will take place before the start of the season.