West Auckland to celebrate World Cup win anniversary
Apr 11 2009 by Neil McKay, The Journal
FOOTBALL minnows preparing to celebrate the anniversary of winning the first ever World Cup have been rebuffed by the team they defeated in their second victorious final.
Despite the support of a former Prime Minister’s daughter and a British Consul, village side West Auckland appear to have lost the chance of playing Italian giants Juventus.
The County Durham team had hoped that a match against the millionaire superstars of Serie A would provide be the highlight of celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of winning the first ever “World Cup.”
They had the backing of Carol Thatcher, daughter of the ex-British PM who presented an episode of television’s The One Show from the village and who, along with co-presenter Adrian Chiles, mooted the idea of a re-match against the team West Auckland beat in the second final in 1911.
The rematch was supported by the British Consulate in Milan, who wrote to Juventus and reported that they “seemed keen on the idea.”
But instead of jetting off to Turin, West Auckland will play at home to Chester-le-Street in the Skilltraining Northern League today – the weekend of the anniversary.
Last night the club’s general manager, Stuart Alderson, who played as a winger for Newcastle United in the mid-1960s, said he was “bitterly disappointed” that Juventus had pulled out of a proposed game.
“We were planning to go to Italy to play them at some stage this year to mark the first ever World Cup. But this week we received a letter from Juventus saying they could not fit us into their schedule this season. It is very disappointing and just another indication of how the rich clubs have no time for grass roots football at our level any more.”
However, all may not be lost.
When The Journal contacted Steven Anderson, Deputy British Consul in Milan, he said: “We are still in contact with Juventus about a possible match. Whilst a game against their first team will not be possible due to other commitments, a match against their junior squad (they do not have a reserve team as such ), may be possible. But we are still waiting for Juventus to make a final decision.”
West Auckland’s claim to immortality came after the original invitation to the inaugural World Cup competition was offered to the English Football Association, who were asked to nominate a team, but they declined.
Tea magnate Sir Thomas Lipton, who provided the trophy, insisted that Great Britain was represented and it is thought that an employee of his recommended West Auckland.
Then, as now, the team was in the Northern League but it funded its own trip to Italy to represent Great Britain where it won the trophy without conceding a goal, beating FC Winterthur of Switzerland 2-0 in the final on April 12, 1909.
Two years later they returned to Turin and beat Juventus 6-1 to win the Sir Thomas Lipton trophy outright.
Mr Alderson added: “I think Juventus have improved a bit more than us since 1911, but they obviously did not fancy a re-match.”
This afternoon West Auckland will be striving for victory over Chester-le-Street to keep them away from relegation, and the ignominy of being the only former World Cup winners to play in the second division of the Northern League.
