He was so good they gave him the FA Cup - to keep
Arthur Kinnaird as captain of Old Etonians, 1879
The esteem in which Arthur was held in the footballing world can be measured by the decision in 1911 to present him with the nation’s most iconic sporting trophy: the FA Cup. He played in nine FA Cup finals, still a record to this day.
Arthur won the trophy in his very first FA Cup tie, captaining Wanderers to victory in 1873, and he lifted it again with Wanderers in 1877 and 1878. Moving to Old Etonians, he captained two more cup-winning teams in 1879 and 1882 - equalling the record of five victories that was not broken until 2010 by Ashley Cole. He also played on the losing side in the finals of 1875, 1876, 1881 and 1883.
The original ‘tin pot’ remained in service until September 1895, when it was stolen from a shop window display in Birmingham. The FA had to commission a replica, made by Vaughtons from a cast of the original, and this was presented at the finals from 1896 until 1910. Around that time, the FA discovered that the trophy had been copied for commercial gain, and resolved to replace it. Designs were commissioned from a range of jewellers, and the company chosen was Fattorini & Sons of Bradford, who created a new trophy - the design that is still in use today - at a cost of £57 and 13 shillings.
The FA had to decide what to do with the old one and agreed that it would make a fitting gift for their President. On 6 February 1911 the FA held a dinner in honour of Lord Kinnaird and Charles Clegg (FA Chairman) at the Holborn Restaurant in London, organised by a dinner committee of six Council members: Charles Crump, William Heard, Henry Huband, Herbert Porter, James Buteux Skeggs, and FA Secretary Frederick Wall.
Among the 71 (all male) guests were three of Lord Kinnaird’s sons, Douglas, Kenneth and Arthur, with youngest son Patrick deemed, at 12 years old, to be too young for such an event. Douglas Kinnaird’s personal copy of the menu is now on display at the Scottish Football Museum along with the table plan, which reveals a top table of 17 overseeing a further 54 guests comprising the great and the good of English football.
The evening was a lavish gastronomic affair, and among the dishes listed are pot au feu, boiled turbot, devilled whitebait, chicken sauté Windsor, fillets of beef piqué Richelieu, roast pheasant and mayonnaise of lobster, followed by a choice of desserts. The drinks started with an 1886 Montilla very dry sherry, followed by a choice of Rudesheimer 1906 (white) or Pommard 1904 (red), then an 1898 Irroy Carte d’Or Extra Sec champagne, and finished by a 35-year-old Courvoisier brandy.
Then, the eating over, came the presentations, starting with Lord Kinnaird. The cup had been specially prepared for the presentation with two silver shields attached to the plinth, one of which read: ‘Presented by The Football Association To The Right Hon Lord Kinnaird in appreciation of long and very valuable services rendered to the game, 6th February 1911’; the other was inscribed ‘The Right Hon Lord Kinnaird. International 1873. Final Cup Competition, 1873. 7. 8. 9 & 1882. Member of Council since 1868. President Of The Football Association Since 1890’.
Next, Charles Clegg was presented with an elaborate album of photos of his colleagues, in acknowledgement of his services as chairman of Council for 20 years. The illuminated address which prefaced the album paid tribute to his ‘sturdy independence of character, exceptional judgement and knowledge’.
The cup went home with Arthur to go in display in his house at St James’s Square, and remained in the family for many years. Although initially kept on show, latterly it was held in a bank vault, and only resurfaced to the public gaze in 2005, the star lot in an auction of football memorabilia at Christie’s auctioneers in London. After fierce bidding it was acquired by the millionaire David Gold, at that time chairman of Birmingham City (he is now owner of West Ham United). He paid £478,400 for Lord Kinnaird’s FA Cup, and promptly gave it to the National Football Museum on long term loan. It has since been the centrepiece of a touring exhibition entitled ‘Saved for the Nation: the story of the FA Cup’, and not only is Arthur’s contribution recorded, there is a life-size statue of him standing on his hands – his famous celebration after the 1882 victory – ensuring that Lord Kinnaird’s legacy is brought to a new generation of football fans.
Arthur won the trophy in his very first FA Cup tie, captaining Wanderers to victory in 1873, and he lifted it again with Wanderers in 1877 and 1878. Moving to Old Etonians, he captained two more cup-winning teams in 1879 and 1882 - equalling the record of five victories that was not broken until 2010 by Ashley Cole. He also played on the losing side in the finals of 1875, 1876, 1881 and 1883.
The original ‘tin pot’ remained in service until September 1895, when it was stolen from a shop window display in Birmingham. The FA had to commission a replica, made by Vaughtons from a cast of the original, and this was presented at the finals from 1896 until 1910. Around that time, the FA discovered that the trophy had been copied for commercial gain, and resolved to replace it. Designs were commissioned from a range of jewellers, and the company chosen was Fattorini & Sons of Bradford, who created a new trophy - the design that is still in use today - at a cost of £57 and 13 shillings.
The FA had to decide what to do with the old one and agreed that it would make a fitting gift for their President. On 6 February 1911 the FA held a dinner in honour of Lord Kinnaird and Charles Clegg (FA Chairman) at the Holborn Restaurant in London, organised by a dinner committee of six Council members: Charles Crump, William Heard, Henry Huband, Herbert Porter, James Buteux Skeggs, and FA Secretary Frederick Wall.
Among the 71 (all male) guests were three of Lord Kinnaird’s sons, Douglas, Kenneth and Arthur, with youngest son Patrick deemed, at 12 years old, to be too young for such an event. Douglas Kinnaird’s personal copy of the menu is now on display at the Scottish Football Museum along with the table plan, which reveals a top table of 17 overseeing a further 54 guests comprising the great and the good of English football.
The evening was a lavish gastronomic affair, and among the dishes listed are pot au feu, boiled turbot, devilled whitebait, chicken sauté Windsor, fillets of beef piqué Richelieu, roast pheasant and mayonnaise of lobster, followed by a choice of desserts. The drinks started with an 1886 Montilla very dry sherry, followed by a choice of Rudesheimer 1906 (white) or Pommard 1904 (red), then an 1898 Irroy Carte d’Or Extra Sec champagne, and finished by a 35-year-old Courvoisier brandy.
Then, the eating over, came the presentations, starting with Lord Kinnaird. The cup had been specially prepared for the presentation with two silver shields attached to the plinth, one of which read: ‘Presented by The Football Association To The Right Hon Lord Kinnaird in appreciation of long and very valuable services rendered to the game, 6th February 1911’; the other was inscribed ‘The Right Hon Lord Kinnaird. International 1873. Final Cup Competition, 1873. 7. 8. 9 & 1882. Member of Council since 1868. President Of The Football Association Since 1890’.
Next, Charles Clegg was presented with an elaborate album of photos of his colleagues, in acknowledgement of his services as chairman of Council for 20 years. The illuminated address which prefaced the album paid tribute to his ‘sturdy independence of character, exceptional judgement and knowledge’.
The cup went home with Arthur to go in display in his house at St James’s Square, and remained in the family for many years. Although initially kept on show, latterly it was held in a bank vault, and only resurfaced to the public gaze in 2005, the star lot in an auction of football memorabilia at Christie’s auctioneers in London. After fierce bidding it was acquired by the millionaire David Gold, at that time chairman of Birmingham City (he is now owner of West Ham United). He paid £478,400 for Lord Kinnaird’s FA Cup, and promptly gave it to the National Football Museum on long term loan. It has since been the centrepiece of a touring exhibition entitled ‘Saved for the Nation: the story of the FA Cup’, and not only is Arthur’s contribution recorded, there is a life-size statue of him standing on his hands – his famous celebration after the 1882 victory – ensuring that Lord Kinnaird’s legacy is brought to a new generation of football fans.
 Presentation plaque on the FA Cup |
 Dinner menu from 1911 |
