JW Hunt Cup

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}

{{infobox football tournament

| current =

| logo =

| caption =

| founded = 1926

| region = Staffordshire, Shropshire, Leicestershire, Worcestershire, West Midlands, England

| number of teams = 32 (2023–24)

| current champions = Lichfield City FC

| broadcasters =

| motto =

}}

The JW Hunt Cup is an annual charity football competition for teams based in the West Midlands area of England.

The current defending champions are Lichfield City FC, who defeated Wolverhampton Sporting 3-1 in the 2023–24 final at the Molineux Stadium.{{cite web |url=http://www.simplesite.com/jwhuntcup/20693928 |title=JW Hunt Cup History |website=simplesite.com |publisher=JW Hunt Cup (1926)|accessdate=18 February 2020}}

History

The JW Hunt Cup was formed in 1926 to raise funds for the benefit of the local blind. It is named in memory of John William Hunt, a local businessman, keen supporter of charities and founder of the Chillington Tool Company.

The inaugural winners at the end of the 1926–27 season were Short Heath United, beating Cannon Iron on 14 April 1927 at Molineux.{{Cite web|url=http://wmrl.non-league.org/jw_hunt_cup.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116035727/http://wmrl.non-league.org/jw_hunt_cup.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=16 January 2011|title=THE JW HUNT CUP.}} Short Heath United are the joint most successful club in the competition alongside Goodyear F.C, with both clubs having won on four occasions. Other successful clubs in the competition include Richmond Swifts and Great Wyrley.

The 2021–22 tournament set a then-record for the longest penalty shootout in British football history, as AFC Wulfrunians defeated Lane Head after 44 penalty kicks.https://jwhuntcup.simplesite.com/451773353 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}} The record was broken a few months later by Washington and Bedlington Terriers with 54 penalty kicks.{{cite web | url=https://the18.com/en/soccer-news/longest-penalty-shootout-record-sunderland-washington | title=World Record for the Longest Penalty Shootout Was Set in 2022...In the 10th Tier of English Football }}

Charity

The cup aims to raise money for local blind charities, raising over £360,000 since its formation in 1926.{{cite web |url=http://www.simplesite.com/jwhuntcup/ |title=Season 2011/12. - www.simplesite.com/jwhuntcup |website=www.simplesite.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002170630/http://www.simplesite.com/jwhuntcup |archive-date=2011-10-02}} In 2018, the cup committee presented a cheque worth £10,000 to the Beacon Centre for the blind.{{cite web |url=http://www.simplesite.com/jwhuntcup/441798439 |title=JW Hunt Cup (1926)-2021/22 season. |website=simplesite.com |date=20 July 2012 }}

JW Hunt Cup winners

class="wikitable"
Year

! Team

2023/24

|Lichfield City

2022/23

|Lichfield City

Lichfield City Fc

|2021/22

|Lye Town

2020/21

|Not held

2019/20

|Not held

2018/19

|Sporting Khalsa

2016/17

| Alvechurch

2015/16

| Sporting Khalsa

2014/15

| Tividale

2013/14

| Tividale

2012/13

| Black Country Rangers

2011/12

| Black Country Rangers

2010/11

| AFC Wulfrunians

2009/10

| Bloxwich United

2008/09

| Bloxwich United

2007/08

| Wednesfield F.C.

2006/07

| Wyrley Rangers

2005/06

| Great Wyrley

2004/05

| Great Wyrley

2003/04

| Great Wyrley

2002/03

| Old Wulfrunians

2001/02

| Marston Wolves

2000/01

| Ounsdale

1999/00

| Continental Star

1998/99

| Blackheath Electrodrives

1997/98

| Tamworth

1996/97

| Richmond Swifts

1995/96

| Richmond Swifts

1994/95

| Richmond Swifts

1993/94

| Walsall Phoenix

1992/93

| Handrahan Timbers

1991/92

| Old Wulfrunians

1990/91

| Bilston Community College

1989/90

| Shifnal Town

1988/89

| Bloxwich Strollers

1987/88

| Weston United

1986/87

| Harvey Plant FC

1985/86

| Deeleys FC

1984/85

| Lower Gornal YL

1983/84

| Ettingshall Holy Trinity

1982/83

| Ettingshall Holy Trinity

1981/82

| New World

1980/81

| John Thompsons

1979/80

| Kingswinford United

1978/79

| Sedgley Rovers

1977/78

| Willenhall Town

1976/77

| Wolverhampton United

1975/76

| Manders FC

1974/75

| Whitmore Old Boys

1973/74

| Northicote Old Boys

1972/73

| Wednesfield Town

1971/72

| Wednesfield Town

1970/71

| Willenhall Town

1969/70

| Wednesfield Social

1968/69

| Public Works

1967/68

| Albrighton

1966/67

| Gibbons Bros.

1965/66

| Albrighton

1964/65

| Whitmore Old Boys

1963/64

| Stewarts & Lloyds

1962/63

| Highley Miners

1961/62

| Madeley Miners

1960/61

| Whitmore Old Boys

1959/60

| Wednesbury Tube

1958/59

| Donnington Wood

1957/58

| Jenks & Catell

1956/57

| Claregate Old Boys

1955/56

| Sankey (Hadley)

1954/55

| Sankey (Hadley)

1953/54

| Marandola

1952/53

| Goodyear FC

1951/52

| Goodyear FC

1950/51

| Goodyear

1949/50

| Stafford Road Works

1948/49

| Lower Gornal

1947/48

| Walsall Trinity

1946/47

| C. Snapes

1945/46

| Oxley

1944/45

| Oxley

1943/44

| Oxley

1942/43

| Coley Hay

1941/42

| Butlers Sports

1940/41

| Albion Works

1939/40

| Yale & Town

1938/39

| Essington St. John

1937/38

| Goodyear FC

1936/37

| Heath Town United

1935/36

| Short Heath United

1934/35

| Streetly Works

1933/34

| Streetly Works

1932/33

| Blakenhall Villa

1931/32

| Short Heath United

1930/31

| Hickmans Institute

1929/30

| Short Heath United

1928/29

| Tarmac

1927/28

| Tarmac

1926/27

| Short Heath United

References

{{Reflist}}