Burnley's first trophy is back on home Turf

The Dr Dean Trophy, a silver goblet, was presented to Burnley Football Club in 1883 as the winners of an amateur football knockout competition, which went on to become the Burnley Hospital Cup

The goblet is solid silver, hallmarked 1877, and is engraved with full details of the competition as well as the names of all the Burnley players in the final.

The 1882-83 campaign was the first season that the club was in existence as an association football club.

The idea for the football competition was first mooted in January 1883 and it was the brainchild of Dr Thomas Dean, Burnley’s Medical Officer of Health.

Although Dr Dean was a football follower he saw a competition between amateur clubs in the Burnley area primarily as a fund-raiser for the town’s proposed new hospital.

The competition was a huge success, both for the ultimate winners, Burnley FC, and for the fund organisers, Dr Dean and his team. It didn’t do any harm to Burnley FC’s prospects that all their games, including the final, were played at Turf Moor.

He was determined to continue with what had been the successful idea of an amateur football competition, although assurances had been given that the winners of “Dr Dean’s Cup” would be able to keep it.

Burnley FC duly won the 1884 competition, again after a Turf Moor final, and were triumphant again on a number of occasions over the next few years.

It was in October 1886 that the money raised by the competition were put to good use.

Clarets historian Ray Simpson said: “Because of its considerable value the cup itself was kept in a bank vault for many years, later being transferred, on long-term loan, to the Turf Moor trophy cabinet for safe keeping. There it remains, a magnificent symbol of a bygone era.

“Now the illustrious Hospital Cup will be joined in the Turf Moor trophy cabinet by its predecessor, the historic Dr Dean Trophy, and they will now be displayed together to be appreciated and enjoyed by supporters and visitors.”