History
In 1909, two neighborhood soccer teams, United and Weston, amalgamated to form United Weston Football Club. One hundred and one years and two World Wars later, the Club is still operating, and believed to be the longest existing amateur soccer team in all of Canada.
The biggest accomplishments in United Weston’s history are the two Dominion Cup National Championships in 1924 and 1926, and the domination of the local Cup scene between 1922 and 1940, representing Manitoba on 11 occasions.
After the war, the Club played in the Winnipeg and District League with most of the players being from the Weston area. These fellows carried the Weston colours through the late 40’s and early 50’s. Around 1954, the influx of British and European players changed the complexion of the game, with United Weston once again becoming a local power.
In the late 50’s, professional clubs from Britain, including Tottenham Hotspur and Scottish Champions Hearts, toured Canada making stops in Winnipeg to play a Manitoba all-star squad. This gave United Weston players a chance to show their stuff against some of the world’s best players. The Club also has the distinction of being the first team to have traveled abroad to play against Bermuda in the post war years.
During the 50’s and 60’s, when the Winnipeg soccer scene was at its most competitive, Vince Leah contributed to and supported United Weston through his articles in the Winnipeg Tribune and Winnipeg Free Press. Many of his articles gave notoriety to the Club and let Winnipeggers know about United Weston’s unique history and the fact that this was the oldest club in Canada.
United Weston continued through the 70’s as a provincial power, but were unable to capture a title. Later through the 80’s, the team suffered some of their leaner times, dropping down to lower divisions. During this time, the spirit of years gone by was continued by the loyalty of players and executive who always seemed to find a way to keep the team going.
In the late 80’s and early 90’s, the team had a long run in the 1st Division. Since then the team has fought its way back to Manitoba’s Premier Division.
The Team Today
United Weston’s 2012 indoor team competes during the winter months in an indoor league. The current team, is playing a 20-game indoor season in the top Division Skylight Complex.
United Weston - Manitoba Hall of Fame
The full article including old photograph can be found under the Manitoba Hall of Fame website at: Manitoba Hall Of Fame
For a brief recap please see below...
Honoured Members
The 1924 and 1926 United Weston Football Club
Team/Soccer
Inducted 2004
Winners of the Connaught Cup as Dominion (National) Champions of football, or what we now refer to as soccer, the 1924 United Weston Football Club was the fourth Manitoban side to win the Cup. The feat was accomplished under a format that pitted the winners of the East against the winners of the West in Challenge Cup competition. The Football (Soccer) Association of England then donated the Challenge Trophy to be awarded each year to the national champion of Canada in 1926. Since the first team to win the Connaught Cup was Manitoban (the 1913 Norwood Wanderers), it is fitting that our province was the first to claim this new trophy. The 1926 United Weston Football Club matched their 1924 brethren as Senior Soccer Champions of Canada. It would not be until 1955 that each province would send the winners of their own provincial championships to compete for the National Championship of soccer in Canada. The 1954 A.N.A.F. Scottish of Winnipeg (inducted in 1999) were the last to win the Challenge Cup under the old format.
1924 ROSTER: C. MacMillan-Exec., D. Hampton-Treas., H.J. Singleton – Sec’y, J. Cowan – Pres., A. McIntosh – Vice-Pres., J. Hampton – Exec., F. Foxon – Exec. 2nd Row: T. Mullock – Exec., W. Matthews – Centre Half, A.D. King (Capt.) – Left Back, D.C. King – Right Back, J. McNeil – Left Half, J. Hardwick – Exec. 3rd Row: W. Houston & W. Russell – Trainers. W. Lang – Outside Right, J. Derby – Inside Right, A. Sudders – Centre, E. Derby – Goal, J. Foxon – Right Half, D. Clark – Inside Left, G. Grant – Outside Left.
1926 ROSTER: Archie McIntosh, H. Rowson, Bill Matthews, George Hutchinson, Eddie Derby, Bobby McIntosh, Don King, Scotty Lang, Art King, Jock McNeil, Johnny Lang, Dunc Watson, Dusty Miller, Alex Slidders, Pat Kane, Jim Kelly-Trainer, Charles MacMillan-President.
