| Founded | 1889 |
|---|---|
| Region | England |
| Current champions | Burton Albion (15th title) |
| Most successful club | Derby County (20 titles) |
The Bass Charity Vase is a friendly association football tournament founded in 1889 in Burton upon Trent to raise funds for medical and hospital charities.[1][2] The trophy was donated by Lord Burton and Hamar Bass the great-grandsons of William Bass, the founder of the Bass Brewery.[3][4] The trophy itself is made from gold and inscribed with the names of all previous winners. It is reputed to be one of the most valuable trophies in English football.[4] The first final was played in 1890 and was won by Derby County, who remain as of 2020 the most successful club, with 20 titles.
Over 130 years since the tournament began, the Bass Charity Vase match is now hosted almost exclusively by the only surviving professional football club in Burton upon Trent, Burton Albion. The trophy is presented to the winning club on the day of the match, and is displayed year-round at the nearby St George's Park National Football Centre.[5] It still continues on its original purpose, raising money for medical and hospital charities - as well as local community initiatives. Notably, in 2021, raising funds for community trusts during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom and supporting Midlands Air Ambulance.[6]
The current champions are Burton Albion, in their 15th reign.[7]
Most titles
Winners up to and including 2016 are sourced to the competition's website;[8] more recent winners are individually sourced.
| Club | Wins | Last final won |
|---|---|---|
| Derby County | 20 | 2019 |
| Burton Albion | 15 | 2025 |
| Burton All Saints/Town | 11 | 1940 |
| Gresley Rovers | 7 (incl. 1 shared) | 1989 Centenary |
| Notts County | 6 | 2005 |
| Newhall United | 6 (incl. 2 shared) | 1974 |
| Stoke City | 6 | 2023 |
| Leicester Fosse/City | 5 | 1982 |
| Stapenhill | 5 (incl. 1 shared) | 1966 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 4 | 2017 |
| Aston Villa | 3 | 2018 |
| Burton Swifts | 3 | 1900 |
| Burton United | 3 | 1910 |
| Coventry City | 3 | 1919 |
| Nottingham Forest | 3 | 2002 |
| Birmingham F.C./City | 2 | 2022 |
| Derby Corinthians | 2 | 1948 |
| Ibstock Penistone Rovers | 2 | 1969 |
| Kingsbury Colliery | 2 | 1946 |
| Rawdon Colliery Welfare | 2 | 1963/64 |
| 1st R.F.R. Royal Artillery | 2 | 1942 |
| Tamworth F.C./Castle | 2 | 1937 |
| Burton Wanderers | 1 | 1895 |
| Burton Workers' Union | 1 | 1915 |
| Chesterfield | 1 | 1901 |
| Coalville Munition Girls | 1 | 1918 |
| Dudley | 1 | 1906 |
| Enderby Town | 1 | 1972 |
| Kidderminster Harriers | 1 | 1939 |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1897 |
| Mansfield Town | 1 | 1935 |
| Moira United | 1 | 1947 |
| Overseal Swifts | 1 | 1912 |
| Pegson's Athletic | 1 | 1945 |
| Tutbury Hawthorn | 1 shared | 1950 |
| Whitwick Colliery | 1 | 1951 |
| Wilmorton & Alvaston | 1 | 1960 |
References
- ^ "Bass Charity Vase up for Grabs Against QPR"
- ^ "Burton Albion to host Aston Villa in Bass Charity Vase game". Derbyshirelive. 7 June 2018.
- ^ "Bass Charity Vase History". Bass Charity Vase. Archived from the original on 16 August 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ "BREWERS AND LEICESTER TO PLAY FOR THE BASS VASE". Burton Albion Official Site. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
- ^ "Bass Charity Vase: Burton Albion v Blues". Birmingham City Football Club. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- ^ Powlson, Nigel (11 April 2022). "CHARITIES BENEFIT FROM BASS VASE GAME". Burton Albion Football Club. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- ^ "REPORT: BURTON ALBION 2-1 DERBY COUNTY". www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk. 27 July 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
- ^ {Derby County"Winners and finalists". Bass Charity Vase. Archived from the original on 4 July 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.