The 1916 American Cup was the annual challenge cup held by the American Football Association. The 1916 edition included 37 teams. The title was won by Bethlehem with a 3-0 win over the Scottish Americans courtesy of a hat trick by Neil Clarke making Bethlehem the first team to win the American and National cups in the same season.
The draw for the preliminary and first rounds was held October 2, 1915 at the Continental Hotel in Newark, NJ. The Preliminary round was to be played by October 17 and the First round by October 31. The Celtic club of New Bedford withdrew.<br>
New England District
New Jersey District
replay
New York District
replay
Philadelphia District
The Chicopee Rovers forfeited to Fore River of Quincy, MA while New York Hibernian forfeited to General Electric of Schenectady, NY. The Greenville Sporting and Soccer club had to replay the Olympic club of Paterson after the game was protested. The IRT Strollers protested the replay against Brooklyn for an ineligible player and proceeded to play a third game. Yonkers protested their replay because Clan MacDonald did not have an enclosed field so no gate was taken and a third game was ordered.<br>
New England District
replays
New Jersey District
replay
New York District
replays
Pennsylvania District
replay
The draw for the second round was held November 6, 1915 at the Continental hotel in Newark, NJ. Matches were due to be played on or before November 28. The Falls Cricket and Football Club forfeited to PanâÂÂAmerican of Fall River, MA.
replays
The draw for the third round was held December 4, 1915 at the Continental hotel in Newark, NJ.
The American Cup final took place in Taylor Stadium at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Scottish Americans, runnersâÂÂup in the National Association Football League, were the defending champions of the American Cup and it was their fourth final appearance overall. Bethlehem Steel came into the final having played 32 games winning 28 with three ties and a single loss. They had scored 116 goals with 14 against. On May 6 they won the National Challenge Cup over Fall River. Their American Cup win was then followed up by an American League of Philadelphia title when they were declared joint champions along with Disston on June 15. Neil Clarke scored a hat trick for the Steelmen with a goal in the 15th minute followed by two more in the second half.
<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">Bethlehem Steel Football Club, National and American Cup champions 1915âÂÂ16.</div>