Stephen Salpukas © 1999

The Arthur Ballner Trophy

The CVSA Cup traces its roots to the beginning of the CVSA, with the first competition being held during the 1975-'76 season. The basic idea of the competition is to have all teams in the league participate in one inclusive tournament. It generally lasts from the fall to the spring, with games played intermittently during the regular season. The tournament gives an opportunity for lower division teams to test themselves against higher competition within the league.

The Cup is one of the four major titles awarded by the league in a calendar year. The others are the Premier Division Spring Champion, Premier Division Summer Champion, and Premier Division Fall Champion.

The trophy awarded to the winners is named for the late Arthur Ballner of Deutscher Sportclub. Mr. Ballner is one of the pioneers of adult amateur soccer in the Richmond area. In the late 1950's he led a group that started playing pickup soccer games near Byrd Airport, and became Deutscher Sportclub in 1960. Throughout the 1960's, he led the Deutscher Sportclub teams to play in Washington, DC leagues on weekends, as their weren't enough players to support a league in Richmond at the time. Their teams were good enough to win the DC Second Division at one point. As the game grew in the Richmond area Mr. Ballner branched off and founded the Internationals Soccer Club, the precursor to the very first CVSA Champions in the 1975-'76 season, and winners of two of the first three CVSA Cups. Mr. Ballner passed in 1972, three years before the founding of the league, but his enthusiasm and love of the game laid the groundwork for what is now the CVSA.

The Copa Bruce is named for longtime CVSA President S. Bruce Williams, whose idea it was to give the lower division teams a legitimate chance in cup competition. Mr. Williams led the coalition of community, business, & municipal groups who developed the Bryan Park Soccer Complex in the mid-1990's, which the CVSA uses as their primary base of operations. Mr. Williams is still an active player in the CVSA, as a leading offensive component for the Lions Masters of the CVSA Veterans Division.

X-Rams is the current holder of the CVSA Cup, winning the 2009 tournament with a 1:0 victory over FC Bosnia in the championship game at Bryan Park on June 7, 2009. This was the fourth CVSA Cup title for X-Rams (2 were won as Dublin FC) in five trips to the finals. The Copa Bruce is currently held by Richmond Celtic FC, who claimed the title over 3 Monkeys by winning a 1:0 contest that went to extra time. Celtic has now claimed two of the past three Copa Bruce titles.

 2010 CVSA Cup Champions

Richmond Celtic FC

• Round of 16 - Held April 18, 2010 
  Random draw amongst the CVSA Cup First Round survivors. Should less than 16 teams be involved in the 2nd Round of the CVSA Cup at the time of the Round of 16 drawing (either due to forfeiture, withdrawal, disbandment, or simply an incomplete field of teams for the First Round), a special random draw will be held from the losers of the prior round of CVSA Cup matches to bring the number of CVSA Cup entrants back up to 16 teams. Any team forfeiting any of their CVSA Cup matches is ineligible for the special drawing. Conversely, if more than 16 teams are alive in the CVSA Cup at the time of the Round of 16 drawing, a special draw will be made pairing teams into "Round of 16 Play-In" matches. In this case, enough teams will be drawn to reduce the field to 16 teams. No teams will be awarded a bye. Any games tied at the end of regulation will progress to two 15 minute Golden Goal Overtimes followed by kicks from the penalty spot to determine a winner. Losers are eliminated from cup play for 2009-'10; any team forfeiting will be subject to outlined penalties for forfeiture. The survivors will advance.
  
  

• Quarterfinals - Held May 18, 2010
  Random draw amongst the eight CVSA Cup Round of 16 survivors. Any games tied at the end of regulation will progress to two 15 minute Golden Goal Overtimes followed by kicks from the penalty spot to determine a winner. Losers are eliminated from cup play for 2009-'10. The four winners will advance to the CVSA Cup Semifinals.

• Semifinals - Held June 6, 2010 
  Random draw amongst the four CVSA Cup Quarterfinal winners. Any games tied at the end of regulation will progress to two 15 minute Golden Goal Overtimes followed by kicks from the penalty spot to determine a winner. Losers are eliminated from cup play for 2009-'10. The two winners will advance to the CVSA Cup Championship.
  
  
  

  Home	Away
  Partizan Richmond FC Premier	Richmond Partizan FC
  Richmond Celtic FC	Lions FC

• Championship - Held June 6, 2010 
  CVSA Cup Semifinal winners. Any games tied at the end of regulation will progress to two 15 minute Golden Goal Overtimes followed by kicks from the penalty spot to determine a winner.

CVSA Cup Past Champions

1976 - West End FC
1977 - Internationals
1978 - Internationals
1979 - Deutscher Sportclub
1980 - Deutscher Sportclub
1981 - Deutscher Sportclub 3, Lions FC 1
1982 - Lions FC
1983 - Deutscher Sportclub
1984 - Lions FC
1985 - Eclipse
1986 - European FC
1987 - Lions FC
1988 - Eclipse
1989 - Spiders FC
1990 - Spiders FC
1991 - Pink Panthers 3, Fan Rats 2 - OT
1992 - Not Played
1993 - Not Played
1994 - Fan Rats 5, Lions 30 1
1995 - Not Played
1996 - Not Played
1997 - Not Played
1998 - Not Played
1999 - Dublin FC 3, Fan Rats 1
2000 - Dublin FC 4, Lions FC 2
2001 - Lions FC 4, BlackWatch FC 0
2002 - BlackWatch FC 1, Dublin FC 0
2003 - Lions FC 3, Fan Rats 2
2004 - Fan Rats 5, Lions Express 2
2005 - Lions FC 3, Team FCA 2
2006 - X-Rams 3, Fan Rats 2
2007 - Lions 80 3, Metro Sting Masters 2
2008 - Fan Rats 3, Lions 80 1
2009 - X-Rams 1, FC Bosnia 0

Copa Bruce

S. Bruce Williams

(1959- )

Father of the Copa Bruce

Founder of the Bryan Park Soccer Complex

2010 Copa Bruce Champions 

Sticky Rice

• First Round - October / November / December, 2009
  All non-Coed divisions may opt out of CVSA Cup competition. Teams from the Premier Division, First Division and Second Division are only eligible to play in the CVSA Cup. Teams from all other non-coed divisions may choose to participate in either the CVSA Cup or the Copa Bruce, but not both. All teams choosing to participate from the ten Third Division, ten Fourth Division, ten Fifth Division, nine Sixth Division, six Seventh Division, nine Veterans Division & seven Women's Division teams are will be drawn for a First Round match. The teams will be randomly drawn against each other. If there are an odd number of teams entered, the last team drawn will receive a bye through the First Round. Any games tied at the end of regulation will progress to two 15 minute Golden Goal Overtimes followed by kicks from the penalty spot to determine a winner. Any team forfeiting will be subject to outlined penalties for forfeiture and will be eliminated from all cup play for 2009-'10. The survivors will advance, losers may have a chance for second life in the Copa Bruce.
  
  
  
  • Brew Crew vs. Falcore Industries - Brew Crew Advances
  • Richmond United vs. Cougars - Cougars Advances
  • Capital Ale FC II vs. BlackFinn - BlackFinn Advances
  • Lions Masters vs. Capital City Crew - Lions Masters Advances
  • Rogues vs. Galaxy FU II - Spring 2010
  • Sticky Rice FC vs. Titans - Spring 2010 
  • Gus' Bar & Grill vs. Resistance - Resistance Advances
  • Captain Buzzy's vs. Lobos Grises - Captain Buzzy's Advances
  • Richmond Blaze vs. Lightning - Lightning Advances
  • Upper 90 FC  vs. Titans Veterans  - Titans Veterans Advances
  • Capital Ale FC I vs. Boca Juniors - Capital Ale FC I Advances
  • Great Scott vs. Spoccer Spartans - Spring 2010 
  • The Market U's vs. Absolute D - Spring 2010
  • Capital City FC  vs. Rainbow Strikers  - Capital City FC Advances 
  • Blast HC vs. Somali Pirates - Somali Pirates Advances 
  • Fan Rats vs. Spoccer Storm - Fan Rats Advances
  • Random Heroes FC vs. Glanville United - Glanville United Advances 
  • Wellesley FC vs. Advanced FC - Wellesley FC Advances
  • River Plate vs. Mamma Zû FC - Mamma Zu Advances
  • Celtic 1888 FC vs. Sonoco Packers - Celtic 1888 Advances
  • Richmond Sting  vs. Legend Brewing Company - Legend Brewing Company Advances
  • Richmond Rebels vs. BNH FC - BNH FC Advances
  • Edo's Squid vs. Lions United - Edo's Squid Advances
  • Knights vs. Miscellaneous Parts - Knights Advances
  • Richmond Inferno vs. Defenestrators - Defenestrators Advances 
  • Strictly Soccer FC vs. MSFC Old School - MSFC Old School Advances

Bye - Sounders

• Second Round – Held April 18, 2010
  Random draw amongst the Copa Bruce First Round survivors. Should less than 32 teams be involved in the 2nd Round of the Copa Bruce at the time of the 2nd Round drawing (either due to forfeiture, withdrawal, disbandment, or simply an incomplete field of teams for the First Round), a special random draw will be held from the losers of the prior round of Copa Bruce matches to bring the number of Copa Bruce entrants back up to 32 teams. Any team forfeiting any of their Copa Bruce matches is ineligible for the special drawing. Conversely, if more than 32 teams are alive in the Copa Bruce at the time of the 2nd Round drawing, a special draw will be made pairing teams into "2nd Round Play-In" matches. In this case, enough teams will be drawn to reduce the field to 32 teams. No teams will be awarded a bye. Any games tied at the end of regulation will progress to two 15 minute Golden Goal Overtimes followed by kicks from the penalty spot to determine a winner. Losers are eliminated from cup play for 2009-'10; any team forfeiting will be subject to outlined penalties for forfeiture. The survivors will advance.

• Round of 16 – Held May 2, 2010
  Random draw amongst the sixteen Copa Bruce Second Round winners. Any games tied at the end of regulation will progress to two 15 minute Golden Goal Overtimes followed by kicks from the penalty spot to determine a winner. Losers are eliminated from cup play for 2009-'10. The eight winners will advance to the Copa Bruce Quarterfinals.
  
  

• Quarterfinals - Held May 18, 2010
  Random draw amongst the 8 Copa Bruce Round of 16 survivors. Any games tied at the end of regulation will progress to two 15 minute Golden Goal Overtimes followed by kicks from the penalty spot to determine a winner. Losers are eliminated from cup play for 2009-'10. The four winners will advance to the Copa Bruce Semifinals.

• Semifinals - Held June 6, 2010 
  Random draw amongst the four Copa Bruce Quarterfinal winners. Any games tied at the end of regulation will progress to two 15 minute Golden Goal Overtimes followed by kicks from the penalty spot to determine a winner. Losers are eliminated. The two winners will advance to the Copa Bruce Championship.
  
  

  Home	Away
  Lightning	Sticky Rice
  SU Rogues	Glanville United

  
  

• Championship - Held June 6, 2010 
  Copa Bruce Semifinal winners. Any games tied at the end of regulation will progress to two 15 minute Golden Goal Overtimes followed by kicks from the penalty spot to determine a winner.

Copa Bruce Past Champions

2000 - Big Nasty 3, Daredevils 1
2001 - Tyrants 2, Poe's Pub 1
2002 - Lions Express 3, Fan Rats 0
2003 - Lions Express 6, Pink Panthers 4
2004 - BlackWatch United 1, BlackWatch AARP 0 - 2OT
2005 - Bandito's 4, Sidewalk Café 1
2006 - Metro Sting Internationals FC 4, Reggae Boyz FC 3 - OT
2007 - Richmond Celtic I 2, 3 Monkeys 2 - 4:1 PK
2008 - CLG Flames 2, Galaxy FU 0
2009 - Richmond Celtic FC 1, 3 Monkeys 0 - OT