The 'Joseph Shield' was introduced in 1955 for the smaller schools in the association following a proposal at the 1954 annual meeting that a trophy for the smaller schools in the association should be introduced. Mr Josephs, of Josephs Sports in Sunderland, was keen to sponsor the trophy and did so for a number of years.

 

After discussion, it was agreed that the competition should be open to schools with 100 pupils or less on the role. A school was not allowed to compete in the C B Watson Cup and the Josephs Shield and this is a rule which still exists today.

 

There is a wide variation in the sizes of schools in the league and it gives small schools a chance to win a trophy. That is not to say that small schools have never won the league title - far from it. The success of a football team is very much down to the enthusiasm of the teacher. Teams which entered the first competition were:

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St Cuthberts

Fatfield

Ravensworth Tce

Waldridge

St Josephs

Fence Houses

Lambton

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First winners of the Joseph Shield in season 1954-55 were Waldridge. Fatfield were runners up

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In the 1970's, the trophy became known as the Cestria Cup