The 1909 Canadian football season was the 18th season of organized play since the Canadian Rugby Union (CRU) was founded in 1892 and the 26th season since the creation of the founding leagues, the Ontario Rugby Football Union (ORFU) and the Quebec Rugby Football Union (QRFU) in 1883. The season concluded with Toronto Varsity defeating Toronto Parkdale in the 1909 Dominion Championship game. This year was notable for being the first year that the champions were awarded the Grey Cup trophy, although it was not delivered to the University of Toronto until March 1910.
Canadian football news in 1909 Lord Earl Grey, the Governor General of Canada, donated a trophy to be awarded for the Dominion Football Championship of Canada. Only teams registered with the Canadian Rugby Union were eligible to compete for the trophy. The championship game was played in Toronto at Rosedale Field on December 4 between the University of Toronto and the Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club with the University of Toronto winning 26–6 before 3,807 fans. Hugh Gall kicked a record eight singles in the game for the U of T. The gross revenue was $2,616.40.
On December 11, following an invitation from the New York Herald newspaper, the Hamilton Tigers and Ottawa Rough Riders played an exhibition game of Canadian football in New York City at Van Cortland Park. The Tigers won 11–6 before 15,000 fans.
Saskatchewan Rugby Football League did not play in 1909.
Regular season
Final regular season standings Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points + Interprovincial Rugby Football Union2009 Canadian Football League Facts, Figures & Records, Canadian Football League Properties/Publications, Toronto, Ontario, , p.294 Team GP W L T PF PA Pts Hamilton Tigers 6 5 1 0 111 22 10 Ottawa Rough Riders 6 5 1 0 76 71 10 Toronto Argonauts 6 1 5 0 54 93 2 Montreal Football Club 6 1 5 0 36 91 2+ Ontario Rugby Football Union Team GP W L T PF PA Pts Toronto Amateur Athletic Club 4 3 1 0 51 30 6 Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club 4 3 1 0 92 20 6 Peterboro 4 0 4 0 19 112 0+ Intercollegiate Rugby Football Union Team GP W L T PF PA Pts Toronto 6 6 0 0 166 27 12 Queen's 6 3 3 0 84 63 6 McGill 6 2 4 0 75 56 4 Ottawa 6 1 5 0 31 179 2*Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs + Manitoba Rugby Football Union Team GP W L T PF PA Pts St.John's Rugby Football Club 4 3 1 0 38 35 6 Winnipeg Rowing Club 4 1 3 0 35 38 2 + Calgary Rugby Football Union Team GP W L T PF PA PtsCalgary Tigers 3 3 0 0 55 5 6 Calgary YMCA 3 1 2 0 18 49 2 Hillhurst Hornets 2 0 2 0 5 24 0
League Champions Football Union League ChampionIRFUOttawa Rough RidersCIRFUUniversity of TorontoORFUToronto ParkdaleMRFUSt.John's Rugby Football ClubARFLCalgary Tigers
Grey Cup Playoffs Note: All dates in 1909
Alberta Rugby Football League Playoffs
Date Away Home+ ARFL Finals Games 1 & 2October 25 Calgary Tigers 25 Edmonton Esquimaux 1October 30 Edmonton Esquimaux 6 Calgary Tigers 23 Calgary wins the total-point series 48-7.
IRFU Playoff November 20 IRFU Playoff: Rosedale Field – Toronto, Ontario Ottawa Rough Riders 14 Hamilton Tigers 8 Ottawa advances to the East Semi-Final.
ORFU Playoff November 20 ORFU Playoff: Varsity Grounds – Toronto, Ontario Toronto Parkdale 8 Toronto Amateur Athletic Club 3 Toronto Parkdale advances to the Grey Cup.
Dominion Semi-Final
November 27 Dominion Semi-Final: Rosedale Field – Toronto, Ontario Ottawa Rough Riders 7 Toronto Varsity 31 Toronto Varsity advances to the Grey Cup.
Playoff Bracket
Grey Cup Championship December 4 1st Annual Grey Cup Game: Rosedale Field – Toronto, Ontario Toronto Varsity 26 Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club 6 Toronto Varsity are the 1909 Grey Cup Champions
References