Whiskey drinkers around the globe must be familiar with the popular brand Dewar’s. Thomas Dewar, along with his brother John, built their family label from being a local company into a global success. In 1898, Thomas, then the Sheriff of London, offered a shield up for the taking, hoping to pit the best professional and amateur clubs against each other in a game of football with the proceeds of the match going to charity. The annual fixture was named Sheriff of London Charity Shield, which was also called the Dewar Shield. The first-ever charity shield match saw Corinthian FC take on Sheffield United FC.
Corinthian were the premier amateur side of that era, giving many players to the England national team. United had won their first-ever top division title in the 1898/98 season.
Played at The Crystal Palace in London, the first half was reportedly a feisty affair on a very wet pitch. Referee EE Stewart had to issue several cards to pacify the intemperate athletes. The second half witnessed some attacking display. Corinthian striker GO Smith, who also played first-class cricket for Oxford University and Surrey, and carried the moniker ‘the first great centre-forward, came close to scoring but United’s champion centre-back Henry Thickitt was equal to the challenge. The match ended in a draw, forcing the two teams to play a rematch. The two teams remained largely unchanged in the replay except for one or two replacements. John Almond gave United the lead in the first half. 15 minutes into the second half, Corinthian equalised through first-class cricketer for Worcestershire and English army officer Wilfrid Foster.
The match ended 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes. United refused to play extra time, and the first-ever Sheriff of London Charity Shield was shared. The shield itself was over six feet high and is arguably the largest trophy in competitive football history. In 1974, FA Secretary Ted Croker proposed that the game should be played at London’s Wembley Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the new season. Before that, the matches were played at various grounds up and down England.