Records vary as to when Bermuda first became gripped by Cup Match, but its link to Emancipation Day celebrations are beyond question.

According to James Smith's Echoes Of Bermuda's Past, the origins of the event can be traced back to 1901 when Bermudian blacks held a picnic to mark the anniversary of the emancipation of slaves on the Island.

During the picnic, an impromptu ¿ and, perhaps tellingly, hotly-contested ¿ match took place between the east and west branches of the Oddfellows Lodge. After the game, both sides agreed to play again the following year.

In 1902, a best-of-three format was arranged for Emancipation Day and, 12 months later, it was agreed a single match would be played over two days.

The event grew in popularity until, in 1944, two official national public holidays were set aside to accommodate the Cup Match classic, allowing thousands of people to enjoy watching Somerset and St. George's lock horns on an annual basis.