A short history of the Myles N. Kenyon Cup

The Myles N Kenyon Cup was a benevolent competition run by the committee of the Bury & District Football Leagues' and Referees' Association Central Benevolent Fund.

When first formed, the competition involved teams from four amateur football leagues, all based in the Bury area. They were:
* The Bury Amateur Football League
* The Bury Metro Alliance Amateur Football League
* The Radcliffe Amateur Football League
* The Bury & District Sunday Schools' Amateur Football League

Representatives from the above leagues, along with the Bury and District Referees' Association and all the Life Members, formed the Central Benevolent Fund. The competition began in 1922.

Our financial records go back to 1958. In 1958-59, no fewer than 55 teams participated in the competitioon, each paying an entrance fee of 5/- (5 shillings). The Hon. Treasurer that year was Mr M.V. Wareing, the Hon. Secretary Mr James B. Howarth and the Hon. Auditor Mr F. Turner, all as recorded on the statement of accounts for the season. That same year, the Fund invested in a typewriter costing £16!

The original Kenyon Cup was unfortunately stolen a few years ago. According to a valuation from 1978, the cup was an 8in hallmarked silver cup, with handles and scalloped top to bown of cup. It had a double riser plinth with two complete name bands. It was engraved, "Bury & District Football Leagues Benevolent Fund, The Myles N. Kenyon Cup." It weighed 25oz.

The replacement cup held by the winning team was very kindly donated by our sponsors, Albany International Ltd, following the theft of the original.

Over the years, sadly the above amateur leagues gradually declined and for many recent years, the only remaining participating league was the Bury Amateur League. When the Bury Amateur League's competition was also suspended before season 2004-05, the Kenyon Cup was similarly held in abeyance.

This season in abeyance gave the Fund Committee time to take stock and, at the start of season 2005-06, it was relaunched as a pre-season competition. Once again, clubs from a variety of leagues in the area were invited to participate, taking the competition back in many ways to its traditional cross-league status.

The new format was highly spoken of, and the competition has carried on in a similar format since. A further development was that the First Round was played on a group basis, so as to provide the teams with at least three games as part of their pre-season programme.

In Summer 2007, we were delighted to be donated the magnificent Spencer Cup by the Committee of the former Bury Amateur League. The magnificent Spencer Cup was first used in 1895 by the Bury Sunday Schools' League, and was passed on to the Bury Amateur League on the demise of the Sunday Schools' League.

With this kind donation, the Spencer Cup continued to be used and was presented to the Winner on the night of the Final Tie. The current Myles N. Kenyon Cup will be available for use by the Winning Club for them to display throughout the season.

In January 2011, we took delivery of a new Chain of Office for our Chairman. This was worn at our Finals, when presentations are being made and sponsors and other guests being met.

In 2017, with great regret it was decided that the 2016-17 competition would be the Kenyon Cup's last. On Thursday 20 April 2017, members of the Committee were received by the Mayor of Bury and his consort in the Mayor's Parlour at Bury Town Hall. The committee presented the Mayor with the historic Spencer Cup, so that this valuable part of Bury's football heritage can be retained by the Metropolitan Borough of Bury for safekeeping.

On Monday 24 April 2017, the Kenyon Cup's Final Final was played at Gigg Lane, with Walshaw Sports Club playing Westbury Sports Club. After a competitive 90 minutes, the score was level. During the penalty kicks, Walshaw won 4-3. Walshaw will therefore permanently retain the Myles N. Kenyon Cup. Westbury were presented with the Bill Lomax Runners-Up Shield.

The Final Tie brought together mixed emotions of pride and sadness for the committee. We were extremely proud of the quality of our competition for over 95 years, particularly since we reformed to our current format 12 seasons ago. We were however extremely sad that the Final was the last ever game in the Myles N. Kenyon Cup.

After the Final and when it had been confirmed that the Fund has no outstandling liabilities, the Fund's monetary assets were disposed of. The Committee was keen to ensure that the Fund was used to benefit local amateur football, so the funds were distributed between the 8 remaining clubs along with local leagues and referees' associations. By 15 July 2017, all the Fund's monetary and non-monetary assets had been disposed of.

The following members made up the Fund's Committee in 2017:
Chairman: Tony Salmon
Secretary: Paul Dugdale
Treasurer: Alex Walker
Referees' Secretary: Martin Collinge
Minutes Secretary: David Hanson
Bury RA Representatives: David Barrett, Pat McKenna and Phil Thompson
Life Members: Paul Dugdale, Derek Edwards, Pat Fitzgerald, Bill Jones and Alex Walker