The Peter J. Peel Challenge Cup, better known as the Peel Cup, was an open soccer competition that crowned the Illinois state champion until it was replaced by the Illinois Governor’s Cup in 1970.

Origins

Peter Peel

Peter Peel

Peter J. Peel was a three time president of the United States Football Association. He also managed the U.S. Olympic team at the 1924 Summer Olympics and founded the Peel Cup.-Biography:...

 was born in 1866 in Dublin, Ireland

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

 and moved to Chicago

Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...

, Illinois

Illinois

Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...

 when young. In 1909, he established a competition, named after himself, open to all soccer clubs in the state of Illinois. Proceeds from the competition went to a fund to benefit injured soccer players. Until the 1914 establishment of the U.S. Open Cup

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...

, the Peel Cup was among the most significant cup competition in the United States. While it was intended to crown the Illinois State Champions, it was a de facto Chicago championship due to the large number of talented teams in the city, especially those playing in the National Soccer League of Chicago

National Soccer League of Chicago

The National Soccer League of Chicago, formed by the merger of the Chicago Soccer League and International Soccer Football League of Chicago in 1928, is a semi-professional U.S...

. At the time, aside from Betheleham Steel

Bethlehem Steel F.C.

Bethlehem Steel Football Club was one of the most successful early American soccer clubs. Known as the Bethlehem Football Club from 1911 until 1915 when it became the Bethlehem Steel Football Club, the team was sponsored by the Bethlehem Steel corporation and played their home games first at East...

, teams from Chicago, New York City and Saint Louis dominated U.S. soccer.

Name changes

In 1970 the cup awarded to the winner of the Peel Cup disappeared. The decision was made at that time to replace it with the Governor’s Cup. Since then, the cup has changed names multiple times based on a tradition that the first team to win it three times keeps the cup. It is currently named after George Chazaro who is the President of the Illinois State Soccer Association.^{http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/content/printer_friendly/y2007/m09/d10/c116494.html} However, through all its name changes it continues to crown the annual Illinois State Champions.

Peel Shield

The Peel Cup should not be confused with the Peel Shield which was established by Peter Peel in 1912 and held until 1919 as a high school soccer competition.

2007 Final

On September 21, 2007, the cup final between RWB Adria

RWB Adria

RWB Adria is a Croatian American soccer club from Chicago, Illinois. The club currently competes in the National Soccer League, the premier semi-professional soccer competition in Illinois.-History:RWB Adria was founded in 1959 by Croatian immigrants in the city of Chicago...

 and United Serbs was halted in the 40th minute with the score tied at 2-2 after rival fans began rioting.^{http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2007&mm=09&dd=23&nav_category=112&nav_id=43983}

Peel Cup

• 1909 Campbell Rovers
• 1910 Hyde Park Blues
  Hyde Park Blues
  Hyde Park Blues was an early twentieth century U.S. soccer team. Hyde Park Blues were an ethnic British team which played in Chicago's Association Football League before moving to the Chicago Soccer League.-History:...
  
  
• 1911 Blue Island
• 1912 Pullman F.C.
  Pullman F.C.
  Pullman F.C. was one of the dominant U.S. soccer team of the early twentieth century. Established in 1893 as the Pullman Company team, it was an inaugural member of the Chicago League of Association Football before moving to the Association Football League...
  
  
• 1913 Pullman F.C.
  Pullman F.C.
  Pullman F.C. was one of the dominant U.S. soccer team of the early twentieth century. Established in 1893 as the Pullman Company team, it was an inaugural member of the Chicago League of Association Football before moving to the Association Football League...
  
  
• 1914 Pullman F.C.
  Pullman F.C.
  Pullman F.C. was one of the dominant U.S. soccer team of the early twentieth century. Established in 1893 as the Pullman Company team, it was an inaugural member of the Chicago League of Association Football before moving to the Association Football League...
  
  
• 1915 Pullman F.C.
  Pullman F.C.
  Pullman F.C. was one of the dominant U.S. soccer team of the early twentieth century. Established in 1893 as the Pullman Company team, it was an inaugural member of the Chicago League of Association Football before moving to the Association Football League...
  
  
• 1916 Chicago Americans
• 1917 Harvey F.C.
  Harvey F.C.
  -History:Harvey F.C. competed in the Association Football League of Chicago in 1909-1910, finishing fourth out of four teams. The team also won the 1917 Peel Cup, went to the fourth round of the 1921 National Challenge Cup and the quarterfinals of the 1925 National Challenge Cup...
  
  
• 1918 Joliet F.C.
  Joliet F.C.
  Joliet F.C. was an early twentieth century U.S. soccer team sponsored by the Joliet Steel Works of Joliet, Illinois which experienced a brief period of national success between 1915 and 1918.-History:...
  
  
• 1919 Scottish-Americans
• 1920 Bricklayers and Masons F.C.
  Bricklayers and Masons F.C.
  Bricklayers and Masons F.C., also known as Chicago Bricklayers, was a U.S. soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois which joined that city's Association Football League in 1914. Over the next twenty years, Bricklayers won two Peel Cups and was the runner up in the 1928 and 1931 National Challenge...
  
  
• 1921 Pullman F.C.
  Pullman F.C.
  Pullman F.C. was one of the dominant U.S. soccer team of the early twentieth century. Established in 1893 as the Pullman Company team, it was an inaugural member of the Chicago League of Association Football before moving to the Association Football League...
  
  
• 1922 Olympia
• 1923 Pullman F.C.
  Pullman F.C.
  Pullman F.C. was one of the dominant U.S. soccer team of the early twentieth century. Established in 1893 as the Pullman Company team, it was an inaugural member of the Chicago League of Association Football before moving to the Association Football League...
  
  
• 1924 Bricklayers and Masons F.C.
  Bricklayers and Masons F.C.
  Bricklayers and Masons F.C., also known as Chicago Bricklayers, was a U.S. soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois which joined that city's Association Football League in 1914. Over the next twenty years, Bricklayers won two Peel Cups and was the runner up in the 1928 and 1931 National Challenge...
  
  
• 1925 Pullman F.C.
  Pullman F.C.
  Pullman F.C. was one of the dominant U.S. soccer team of the early twentieth century. Established in 1893 as the Pullman Company team, it was an inaugural member of the Chicago League of Association Football before moving to the Association Football League...
  
  
• 1926 Pullman F.C.
  Pullman F.C.
  Pullman F.C. was one of the dominant U.S. soccer team of the early twentieth century. Established in 1893 as the Pullman Company team, it was an inaugural member of the Chicago League of Association Football before moving to the Association Football League...
  
  
• 1927 Coal City Maroons
• 1928 Chicago Sparta
  Chicago Sparta
  The Sparta Athletic and Benevolent Association Football Club, better known as Chicago Sparta, is one of the longest continually established soccer clubs in the United States...
  
  
• 1929 Chicago Sparta
  Chicago Sparta
  The Sparta Athletic and Benevolent Association Football Club, better known as Chicago Sparta, is one of the longest continually established soccer clubs in the United States...
  
  
• 1930 Chicago Sparta
  Chicago Sparta
  The Sparta Athletic and Benevolent Association Football Club, better known as Chicago Sparta, is one of the longest continually established soccer clubs in the United States...
  
  
• 1931 Chicago Sparta
  Chicago Sparta
  The Sparta Athletic and Benevolent Association Football Club, better known as Chicago Sparta, is one of the longest continually established soccer clubs in the United States...
  
  
• 1932 Chicago Sparta
  Chicago Sparta
  The Sparta Athletic and Benevolent Association Football Club, better known as Chicago Sparta, is one of the longest continually established soccer clubs in the United States...
  
  
• 1933 Chicago Sparta
  Chicago Sparta
  The Sparta Athletic and Benevolent Association Football Club, better known as Chicago Sparta, is one of the longest continually established soccer clubs in the United States...
  
  
• 1934 Wieboldts
• 1935 Harvey United
• 1936 Maccabees A.C.
• 1937 Chicago Sparta
  Chicago Sparta
  The Sparta Athletic and Benevolent Association Football Club, better known as Chicago Sparta, is one of the longest continually established soccer clubs in the United States...
  
  
• 1938 Manhattan Beer
• 1939 Chicago Sparta
  Chicago Sparta
  The Sparta Athletic and Benevolent Association Football Club, better known as Chicago Sparta, is one of the longest continually established soccer clubs in the United States...
  
  
• 1940 Vikings
• 1941 Vikings
• 1942 Slovaks
• 1943 Slovaks / Vikings
• 1944 Vikings
• 1945 Swedish-Americans
• 1946 Chicago Sparta
  Chicago Sparta
  The Sparta Athletic and Benevolent Association Football Club, better known as Chicago Sparta, is one of the longest continually established soccer clubs in the United States...
  
  
• 1947 Chicago Sparta
  Chicago Sparta
  The Sparta Athletic and Benevolent Association Football Club, better known as Chicago Sparta, is one of the longest continually established soccer clubs in the United States...
  
  
• 1948 Chicago Sparta
  Chicago Sparta
  The Sparta Athletic and Benevolent Association Football Club, better known as Chicago Sparta, is one of the longest continually established soccer clubs in the United States...
  
  
• 1949 Vikings
• 1950 A.A.C. Eagles
  A.A.C. Eagles
  A.A.C. Eagles is an American amateur soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1940, the team plays in Region II of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
  
  
• 1951 Slovaks
• 1952 Chicago Falcons
  Chicago Falcons
  The Chicago Falcons were an American soccer team which won the National Challenge Cup in 1953.The Falcons won promotion to the NSL Major Division from the NSL First Division in 1952, the year they won the first of their two Peel Cup titles. In their first season in the Major Division, they...
  
  
• 1953 Chicago Falcons
  Chicago Falcons
  The Chicago Falcons were an American soccer team which won the National Challenge Cup in 1953.The Falcons won promotion to the NSL Major Division from the NSL First Division in 1952, the year they won the first of their two Peel Cup titles. In their first season in the Major Division, they...
  
  
• 1954 A.A.C. Eagles
  A.A.C. Eagles
  A.A.C. Eagles is an American amateur soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1940, the team plays in Region II of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
  
  
• 1955 A.A.C. Eagles
  A.A.C. Eagles
  A.A.C. Eagles is an American amateur soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1940, the team plays in Region II of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
  
  
• 1956 Ukrainian Lions
  Ukrainian Lions
  Ukrainian Lions also known as "Chicago Levy" is an American soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois. The club was founded in 1949 by Ukrainians that had been settled in the Chicago area after the second world war...
  
  
• 1957 A.A.C. Eagles
  A.A.C. Eagles
  A.A.C. Eagles is an American amateur soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1940, the team plays in Region II of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
  
  
• 1958 Schwaben
• 1959 Kickers
• 1960 Kickers
• 1961 Kickers
• 1962 Kickers
• 1963 A.A.C. Eagles
  A.A.C. Eagles
  A.A.C. Eagles is an American amateur soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1940, the team plays in Region II of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
  
  
• 1964 Kickers
• 1965 Olympics
• 1966 Hansa
• 1967 Kickers
• 1968 Olympic
• 1969 Chicago Sparta
  Chicago Sparta
  The Sparta Athletic and Benevolent Association Football Club, better known as Chicago Sparta, is one of the longest continually established soccer clubs in the United States...
  
   / Kickers
• 1970 Olympics

Illinois Governor’s Cup

• 1971 Schwaben
• 1972 Ukrainian Lions
  Ukrainian Lions
  Ukrainian Lions also known as "Chicago Levy" is an American soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois. The club was founded in 1949 by Ukrainians that had been settled in the Chicago area after the second world war...
  
  
• 1973 Croatans
• 1974 Ukrainian Lions
  Ukrainian Lions
  Ukrainian Lions also known as "Chicago Levy" is an American soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois. The club was founded in 1949 by Ukrainians that had been settled in the Chicago area after the second world war...
  
  
• 1975 Wisla
• 1976 Croatans
• 1977 Ukrainian Lions
  Ukrainian Lions
  Ukrainian Lions also known as "Chicago Levy" is an American soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois. The club was founded in 1949 by Ukrainians that had been settled in the Chicago area after the second world war...
  
  

Fred W. Netto Cup

• 1978 Croatan
• 1979 San Francisco
• 1980 Winged Bull
• 1981 Wisla
• 1982 Winged Bull
• 1983 Winged Bull

William P. Hemmings Cup

• 1988 RWB Adria
  RWB Adria
  RWB Adria is a Croatian American soccer club from Chicago, Illinois. The club currently competes in the National Soccer League, the premier semi-professional soccer competition in Illinois.-History:RWB Adria was founded in 1959 by Croatian immigrants in the city of Chicago...
  
  
• 1989 RWB Adria
  RWB Adria
  RWB Adria is a Croatian American soccer club from Chicago, Illinois. The club currently competes in the National Soccer League, the premier semi-professional soccer competition in Illinois.-History:RWB Adria was founded in 1959 by Croatian immigrants in the city of Chicago...
  
  
• 1990 Schwaben
• 1991 Schwaben
• 1992 Chicago Pegasus
• 1993 RWB Adria
  RWB Adria
  RWB Adria is a Croatian American soccer club from Chicago, Illinois. The club currently competes in the National Soccer League, the premier semi-professional soccer competition in Illinois.-History:RWB Adria was founded in 1959 by Croatian immigrants in the city of Chicago...
  
  

Alfredo V. Arias Cup

• 1994 RWB Adria
  RWB Adria
  RWB Adria is a Croatian American soccer club from Chicago, Illinois. The club currently competes in the National Soccer League, the premier semi-professional soccer competition in Illinois.-History:RWB Adria was founded in 1959 by Croatian immigrants in the city of Chicago...
  
  
• 1995 Chicago Pegasus
• 1996 United Romanians
• 1997 United Romanians
• 1998 Santos Degollado
• 1999 A.A.C. Eagles
  A.A.C. Eagles
  A.A.C. Eagles is an American amateur soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1940, the team plays in Region II of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
  
  
• 2000 A.A.C. Eagles
  A.A.C. Eagles
  A.A.C. Eagles is an American amateur soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1940, the team plays in Region II of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
  
  
• 2001 Morelia
• 2002 RWB Adria
  RWB Adria
  RWB Adria is a Croatian American soccer club from Chicago, Illinois. The club currently competes in the National Soccer League, the premier semi-professional soccer competition in Illinois.-History:RWB Adria was founded in 1959 by Croatian immigrants in the city of Chicago...
  
  
• 2003 RWB Adria
  RWB Adria
  RWB Adria is a Croatian American soccer club from Chicago, Illinois. The club currently competes in the National Soccer League, the premier semi-professional soccer competition in Illinois.-History:RWB Adria was founded in 1959 by Croatian immigrants in the city of Chicago...
  
  

George L. Chazaro Cup

• 2004 Vikings
• 2005 RWB Adria
  RWB Adria
  RWB Adria is a Croatian American soccer club from Chicago, Illinois. The club currently competes in the National Soccer League, the premier semi-professional soccer competition in Illinois.-History:RWB Adria was founded in 1959 by Croatian immigrants in the city of Chicago...
  
  
• 2006 RWB Adria
  RWB Adria
  RWB Adria is a Croatian American soccer club from Chicago, Illinois. The club currently competes in the National Soccer League, the premier semi-professional soccer competition in Illinois.-History:RWB Adria was founded in 1959 by Croatian immigrants in the city of Chicago...
  
  
• 2007 Suspended^{http://rwbadria.com/rwb/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=2}