1876–77 Sheffield Challenge Cup

It was the biggest tournament played to the Sheffield code and the equivalent of the FA Cup, which at the time was mostly confined to the south of England.

The Sheffield Football Association was founded in 1867 and took a subscription of 5 shillings from its member clubs in order to entitle them to entry.

The Sheffield rules in force at the time had four main differences to the Association laws: At the time, neither the Association nor Sheffield codes prescribed the number of players per side, and the size of the teams was a matter for negotiation between the captains or the relevant tournament rules.

For this tournament, the Sheffield FA mandated 12 men per side, as did the Birmingham Senior Cup the same year.

The competition was organized as a straight knockout tournament, with replays to a conclusion.