The Mumby Shield football tournament took place at Chuter Ede Primary school, Balderton, as a girls-only competition

A popular football competition dating back 118 years has been resurrected as a girls’ trophy tournament.

The Mumby Shield competition took place last Wednesday (May 8) at Chuter Ede Primary School, Balderton, where eight teams from the Newark and District Primary Schools Association competed for the trophy.

The teams that took part were St Peter’s Cross Keys Academy, Farndon; Lowe’s Wong Junior School, Southwell; Chuter Ede Primary; Sir Donald Bailey, Barnby Road and King’s academies in Newark; Winthorpe Primary School and Coddington Primary School.

Farndon won the final with 2-0 against Chuter Ede. The Farndon team also won six of their games and drew one.

The tournament, which had nine players on each side, was organised by the Newark and District Primary Schools Sports Association and medals and trophies were provided by the Newark Sports Association.

Francis Towndrow, a trustee of the association, said: “This was both an important and remarkable event given the 118 years of history of this trophy.

“It was great to have presenting medals Terri Bennett and it was pleasingly ironic that a former all-boys’ trophy was now being played for by girls, as Terri of a similar age as a schoolgirl had been denied a chance of playing because of the Football Association ban.”

Paul Baggaley, chairman of the NSA, said it was decided that making the competition an all-girls tournament would be appropriate considering the Mumby company mainly employed women and the popularity of women’s games these days.

The Mumby Shield was first played for as an inter-school competition in 1906 and has a rich history in the Newark area.

Former England player Willie Hall won the trophy in 1924 and 1925 as captain of Lovers’ Lane.

Francis added: “The afternoon turned out to be a wonderful occasion, all the girls competing did so in the true spirts of playing the beautiful game, much laughter and excitement could be heard from the impeccably well-behaved young ladies.

“Thanks also, should go to the Glyn Hughes, of the Newark Museum who kindly brought along the Mumby Shield that attracted so much interest from all who attended.”

The event is hoped to become an annual competition and to be played for a second time at Chuter Ede next year.