Liverpool Tournament

The Liverpool Tournament was a competition played at the Liverpool Ice Rink that was modeled after the Durham-based Northern Tournament. The tournament was staged annually from 1949 to 1956.

Champions

• 1949-50: Streatham Royals
• 1950-51: Sussex
• 1951-52: Liverpool Leopards
• 1953-54: Southampton Vikings
• 1954-55: Livepool Leopards

Results

1950

The Leopards as the home team met each of the visiting teams twice during the season and the standings were based on goal average. The top four teams qualified for the final round. They were the hosts, Royal Air Force, Streatham Royals, and the Earls Court Marlboroughs. The R.A.F. team was unable to participate in the final round due to service commitments. Earls Court thus received a bye. Streatham defeated Liverpool in the final and beat the Marlboroughs 4-3 in the final to claim the tournament.

Marlboroughs roster: Marsden, Robinson (goal); Davies, Patterson, Hughes, Parry (defence); Thorne, Francis, Booth, Almond, Zarlikowski, Sturtridge, Gallagher (forwards); Ritchie (coach).

1951

Excerpt from the Ice Hockey World Annual 1951/52: "There was unexpected champagne for the Sussex intermediate squad which won the 1950-1 Liverpool Amateur Tournament and with it the 'C.W. Jones' Cup.

Liverpool Leopards, who opposed the Southern team in the final, were so confident of their victory that they ordered champagne for after the game.

When they went down to a 9-3 defeat the Liverpool boys sportingly presented Sussex with the 'bubbly.'

This game highlighted a very successful second season of the competition. Sussex, on their path to the final, eliminated last year's winners, Streatham Royals, and Liverpool trimmed Earl's Court Marlboroughs, finalists last season by a 5-3 score in the other semi-final.

Although Leopards failed to clinch their own Cup it was in every other respect a good campaign for the home club..."

1952

Excerpt from the Ice Hockey World Annual 1952/53: "The Streatham Royals became top of the table when they beat Leopards 5-1 in the preliminary. The play-off on June 14 resulted in a 4-2 victory for Leopards, Royals lacking the inspired leadership of Ken Gardener."

Team placements (after Liverpool and Streatham): Sussex, Earl's Court Marlboroughs, Grimsby Redwings, Harringay Hornets, Nottingham Wolves, Blackpool Seagulls, Ulster Monarchs

• Final: Liverpool Leopards 4 - Streatham Royals 2
• Scorers: Liverpool: Sturtridge, Francis, Booth, Davies. Assists: Gallagher. Streatham: Fresher, E. Smith.
• Rosters: Liverpool: Marsden, Gallagher, Parry, Holmes, Patterson, Davies, Sturtridge, Francis, Booth, Lowrie, O'Hagan. Streatham: B. Millard, A. Smith, Lucas, Davis, Cook, Cummins, Wellen, E. Smith, Fresher, C. Millard.

1952-53

• 10/25: Earl's Court Marlboroughs - Liverpool Leopards 5:2
• 11/29: Streatham Royals - Liverpool Leopards 9:1
• 1/31: Liverpool Leopards - Harringay Hornets 6:1

1955

• 3/26: Liverpool Leopards 5 - Richmond Ambassadors 4
• Final: Liverpool Leopards 4 - Southampton Vikings 3

1955-56

• 11/12: Blackpool Seagulls 7 - Liverpool Leopards 7 @ Blackpool (not a tournament game)
• 11/26: Nottingham Wolves 7 - Liverpool Leopards 6
• 2/11: Liverpool Leopards 24 - Streatham Royals 4
• 3/3: Liverpool Leopards 11 - Brighton Tigers 3

Sources

• Ice Hockey World Annual
• Homes of British Ice Hockey