Sheffield Shield of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia were already playing each other in ad-hoc matches. The new tournament commenced in the summer of 1892–93, mandating home and away fixtures between each colony each season. The three teams competed for the Sheffield Shield, named after its benefactor. A Polish immigrant, Phillip Blashki, won the competition to design the trophy, a silver shield. The competition therefore commenced some 15 years after Australia's first Test match. In 1999, the Australian Cricket Board (now Cricket Australia) announced a sponsorship deal which included renaming the Sheffield Shield to the Pura Milk Cup, then to
Sheffield & District Football League winners, Wednesday Wanderers and Mexborough, meeting in a play-off to decide the title winners, with the Mexburians winning the game 1-0 at Oakwell. The 1894/95 competition was again split in two, with the six strongest teams being placed into the top division, with the winners Mexborough being awarded the Wharncliffe Charity Cup. Below the top division that year, there was a shield competition for another nine sides, with Eckington Works beating Wath in a play-off final. The league was disbanded in the summer of 1896, with the Sheffield Association League effectively taking its place. Sheffield & District Football League The