The Anderson Cup is a

hockey Hockey is a term used to denote a family of various types of both summer and winter team sports which originated on either an outdoor field, sheet of ice, or dry floor such as in a gymnasium. While these sports vary in specific rules, numbers o ...

tournament for clubs that are members of the Premier League of the Ulster Senior League. The current holder is

Kilkeel Kilkeel () is a small town, civil parish and townland (of 554 acres and 6521inh) in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the southernmost town in Northern Ireland. It lies within the historic barony of Mourne. Kilkeel town is the main fishing ...

Trophy

The trophy was donated to the

Ulster Hockey Union The Ulster Hockey Union is the governing body for field hockey in Ulster. It is affiliated to Hockey Ireland. It organises a number of leagues and cup competitions for clubs and schools in the province. These include the Ulster Senior League, th ...

of the

Irish Hockey Association Hockey Ireland, previously known as the Irish Hockey Association, is the governing body for field hockey in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is responsible for organising both the Ireland men's national field hockey team and t ...

by Mr T N Anderson as a memorial for his brother Captain J G Anderson MC.

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

Anderson was a prominent member of the

Banbridge Hockey Club Banbridge Hockey Club is a Field hockey, hockey club based in Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland. The club was formed in 1897. Grounds The club's first home was at Millmount Green, off the Lurgan Road in Banbridge. In 1949, the club purch ...

and Irish International player who was killed whilst serving in the

Royal Army Medical Corps The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all Army personnel and their families, in war and in peace. The RAMC, the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, the Royal Army Dental Corps a ...

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. One of the conditions requested by the donor was that the Final should be played at the ground of Banbridge Hockey Club. The Ulster Hockey Union agreed to this condition except for when Banbridge was one of the Finalists.

Current format

From 2015-16, the competition reverted from nine-a-side back to eleven-a-side. Played in the second half of the season, all Ulster Premier League teams take part. From 2018-19 Ulster members of the Irish Hockey League also take part.

Historical formats

Until the reorganisation of Senior hockey after the 2000-01 season, all the senior league clubs participated in the Anderson Cup. The trophy was competed for through an open draw. Between 2001-02 and 2008-09 the eight teams competing in the Premier League of the Ulster Senior League were drawn into two groups of four. The winners and runners-up of these two groups then proceeded to the semi-finals. The competition became a nine-a-side tournament until reverting to eleven-a-side in 2015-16. The gate receipts at the Final of the competition were donated to hospital charities, and the competition was often referred to as the Anderson Charity Cup. At the 1926 Final record gate receipts of £50 was reported.Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1926 Page 10 Following the reorganisation of the league structure following the 2008-09 season until 2014-15, the ten clubs of the Premier League of the Ulster Senior League and the ten Section One teams competed for the trophy. The competition reverted to an open draw format.

Finals

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2020s

2010s

Sources

External links

Ulster Branch of Irish Hockey Association
{{Ulster field hockey links Field hockey competitions in Ulster 1919 establishments in Ireland Field hockey cup competitions in Ireland