The NL Cup crowned its 2026 champions on Saturday night at the historic King George V Pitch in St. John’s, with St. John’s Blue Water Shipping taking the men’s title and Banshees/Slayers securing the women’s crown.
Historic pitch hosts provincial knockout climax
The NL Cup, modelled on the English FA Cup and staged across Newfoundland and Labrador, brings together men’s and women’s teams from multiple divisions in a single-elimination format. The competition rewards one-off performance and gives teams outside established leagues the chance to test themselves against higher-level opposition.
On Saturday, the KGV turf provided a fitting backdrop for the tournament’s drama and pageantry. In the women’s final, Banshees/Slayers defeated Paradise Jubilee by a 3-1 margin to lift the trophy — a milestone moment as they became the first team from an Intermediate division to win the NL Cup women’s title.
Paradise opened the scoring early when Jordan Osmond found the net three minutes into the match. Banshees’ Rebecca Squires equalized in the 23rd minute, and Maria Mills then netted a brace to put the victory beyond reach.
- Final (Women): Banshees/Slayers 3, Paradise Jubilee 1
- Key scorers: Rebecca Squires (Banshees), Maria Mills (two goals), Jordan Osmond (Paradise)
- Significance: Banshees/Slayers are the first Intermediate division side to capture the women’s NL Cup.
Banshees/Slayers reached the final after a notable run, including a victory over Feildians’ Jubilee squad. The winning roster Saturday included Geana George, Maria Mills, Rebecca Squires, Sydney Ezekiel and Alexandra Vaughan-Jackson among others, with coaches Fomba Fambulleh and Matt Lahey at the helm.
Men’s final settled after extra-time and penalties
The men’s final provided the kind of edge-of-your-seat drama the NL Cup has become known for. St. John’s Blue Water Shipping emerged as champions in a contest that saw regulation time, extra time and ultimately penalty kicks play a part in deciding the winner against Feildians.
The match unfolded as a tense, tightly contested affair, with both sides trading chances and defences holding firm for long stretches. In the end, Blue Water Shipping prevailed to claim the Challenge Cup, giving their club a major provincial honour and bringing the tournament to a close in front of a lively local crowd.
| Division | Champion | Runner-up | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | Banshees/Slayers | Paradise Jubilee | 3–1 |
| Men | St. John’s Blue Water Shipping | Feildians | Decided after extra time and penalties |
What this means for soccer in the province
The NL Cup’s single-elimination structure offers smaller clubs a shot at silverware and the chance to test themselves against teams they might not otherwise meet in league play. Banshees/Slayers’ victory as an Intermediate team highlights that structure’s unpredictability and opportunity: it is a reminder that on any given night, cohesive teamwork and determination can alter the expected pecking order.
For Blue Water Shipping, the men’s title adds to a proud local tradition of competitive club soccer in St. John’s, while Feildians will take comfort from a deep run and the experience gained in high-pressure knockout football.
- NL Cup format: single-elimination, men’s and women’s divisions, inspired by FA Cup-style draws.
- Trophy design: the cup for the competition was created by Newfoundland and Labrador sculptor Morgan MacDonald and features local motifs including the provincial pitcher plant.
- Community impact: the tournament provides exposure for clubs across the province and a showcase for players, coaches and volunteers who sustain the amateur game.
As the season moves forward, clubs across Newfoundland and Labrador will return to league play and local competitions, but Saturday’s finals at KGV will linger in the memories of players, coaches and supporters who turned up to witness Kings and Queens of a different sort — the cup-takers of the NL Cup.
Coverage and a replay of the women’s final livestream were made available via an online stream linked by event organisers.
— Reporting from King George V Pitch, St. John’s.
