The trophy, originally valued at $200,[2] was described as having "a neat design in silver and gold appropriate figures of foot ballists being engraved on it".

Clark ONT, established in 1883,[4] played at their association ground in the rear of the Kearny Mills.

The Kearny Rangers were a football and cricket club established in 1883 with navy shirts and white shorts.

The participants hailing from three different cities were as follows: The draw for the first round was reported in newspapers on October 1, 1884, after being conducted by the clubs' secretaries at Paterson.

The secretaries of the remaining three teams met on November 8 in East Newark to make the second round draw which resulted in the Rangers being pitted against New York on Thanksgiving Day with the winner to meet ONT in the final round.