Tradition in place since 1936/37 season continued by Town board against Swansea City
- The Loving Cup introduced in 1936/37
- Town board observe annual tradition each January
- Full details below
At the first home league match of each calendar year the Town board observe the tradition of The Loving Cup, which was first gifted to the Club in the 1936/37 season.
Donated to Town by Sir Francis Joseph, then chairman of Stoke City, a replica of The Loving Cup was presented to the 22 members of the old First Division in the 1936/37 season – as well as the two newly promoted clubs, The FA, The Scottish FA, Glasgow Rangers, The Football League and King George VI.
Intended as a celebration of the new King’s coronation, the tradition states that on the occasion of your first home league match of each calendar year, the Club should raise the Loving Cup in their boardroom as a toast to football and the monarchy.
As far as the Club is aware, Town are in possession of only one of few such cups in existence. As well as ourselves, West Bromwich Albion, Everton, Rangers, Leicester City, Grimsby Town and Stoke City are known to still observe the tradition, with Chelsea keeping their cup in their club museum.
Having welcomed Swansea City to the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday 15 January 2022 in our first home league match of the new calendar year, once again the Town board observed the tradition alongside their counterparts from South Wales, keeping a proud history alive.
Commenting on the Loving Cup tradition, Operations Director Ann Hough said:
“Keeping these traditions going not only helps to remind us of the proud history of our Club, but gives us a real connection with the past and our fellow sides that still observe the tradition in their own way.
“It’s special to have been one of a select few to have received just one of 30 cups that were created at the time, and now especially so with what appears to be less than a third of those still in existence.”
