WNY Connolly Cup

The Connolly Cup Committee has been recognizing Western New York’s Outstanding High School Football Players since 1972.The Connolly Cup has become one of this area’s most prestigious amateur awards. 

During the past fifty plus years the game of football has seen quite a few changes. What has not changes is the Connolly Cup Committee honoring, on a weekly basis, the area’s best players. At the end of the season the ten best players are invited to our awards banquet. It is from this group that the William R. Connolly Memorial Cup is awarded to the Most Outstanding player of the season.

While the Connolly Cup is immediately associated with the best football player in the Western New York the story of its namesake is not as well known.

William R. (Bill) Connolly truly was the embodiment of community service. He was a volunteer with the local Boy Scouts of America as well as the American Red Cross. He became a football official working little league and high school games. Even in his professional life Bill still helped those in need working for the United Way. When health concerns forced Bill to stop officiating, he found another way to stay connected to the game. He became a volunteer trainer for the Riverside High School football team. He held the same position with the Riverside Athletic Club’s entry in the JFK Touch Football League. Bill’s willingness to help others had no boundaries. During family vacations to their family summer home in Canada Bill organized a soft ball league for the area boys. When his daughter Molly pointed out she could not play in the boys league, Bill then created a junior co-ed league as well for the younger children. In 1971 the ball field near the Connolly summer home was named in Bill’s honor. In 2008 Molly’s friends led the way in making improvements to the field and rededicating it to Mr. Connolly.

Later in 1971 Pat Sullivan of Auburn won the Heisman trophy over fan favorite Ed Marinaro of Cornell. Members of the Riverside Athletic Club – all avid football fans – were in complete disagreement. I

Upon Bill’s untimely death the members of the RAC named their award in memory of their dear friend. The William R. Connolly Memorial Cup would be awarded to the Most Outstanding High School Football Player in Western New York.