Clinton Cup - the history
The Clinton Cup was named after co-founders of the league David and Diane Clinton and was first competed for during the 1980-81 season. The first ever winners of the trophy being Roseville, who triumphed 7-1 over Kennedy in the final.
Extra time has been required in several previous finals to decide the final winner, whilst penalties helped Punjab to victory over Compton in the 1984-85 season and also in 1991-92 when Bescot defeated Claregate Wanderers 5-3 on spot kicks, after the tie had finished 1-1 after extra time.
Several local non-league grounds have hosted the final in previous years including Butlers Sports Ground, Springvale Sports & Social Club and more recently, Aldersley Stadium, Wolverhampton Casuals, Bilston Town, Dell Stadium, Willenhall Town and AFC Wulfrunians.
Bescot United were the first team to retain the trophy, winning in 1991 and 1992 against Sedgley Working Mens Club and Claregate Wanderers respectively.Coven Colts and Orton Vale, are the only other clubs to reach the final of this competition twice - Colts losing finalists in 2005 and 2010, whilst Vale were triumphant in 2011 and again the following year. Longacres reached the final in successive season’s losing out to Wrottesley Arms in 1993, but going one better the following year with success over Coseley.
Sixteen clubs, since 1981, have completed the second division league and cup double. These include Coven Celtic (1982), Sporting Bilston (1990), Patricks (1995) and Wombourne North in 1999.More recent successes were Kingswinford Bridge (2001), Bushbury Tool Hire in 2009 and Orton Vale, who achieved the feat in 2012.
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