Random Canadian Factoid 9 - Grey Cup: then and now

So here are 3 of the Edmonton Eskimos celebrating their win in the Grey Cup this weekend. For those of you who dont know, the Grey Cup is the final of Canada's American football competition, so our equivalent might be something like the FA cup final.

Sean Fleming booted the winning field goal in overtime to lift the Eskimos to a thrilling (CBC's words, not mine!) 38-35 win over the Montreal Alouettes in the 93rd Grey Cup in what will go down as one of the greatest contests in the history of the CFL's championship game, played in front of 59,000 in BC place in Vancouver, a futuristic indoor stadium. (Yes of course I took photos of it while I was there!) Its a long way away from the first Grey Cup final. On my wanders through Rosedale Park on Impact day (30th September), I wandered across this park and sign.



This, as the sign tells you, is the site of the very first Grey Cup final, played here in Toronto back in 1909, with rules probably more akin to rugby than current day gridiron. Today, its just a small park with a spot of baseball and tennis, but I was excited by it. Which possibly says more about me than anything else!

The first winners of the cup were the University of Toronto. Which isnt as weird sounding as all that. Because, although the first FA cup winners were (now premiership) Bolton Wanderers back in 1872, the 3rd cup (1874) was won by Oxford University, who incidentally have played in 4 FA cup finals. Thats twice as many as Birmingham City and Peterborough United. Combined.

OK. Enough trivia for one day. I might earn myself a reputation for being sad! (What do you mean, 'might'?!)