West Auckland Town heads off to defend world title
Jul 31 2009 by Neil McKay, The Journal
JUVENTUS have proved themselves pretty swift at settling scores over their illustrious history.
They have not stacked up 27 Serie A titles, nine Coppa Italias, one European Cup and one Champions League crown, one Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup, three Uefa Cups, two European Super Cups and two Intercontinental Cups by taking defeat lightly.
But they have been waiting for the chance to put right their latest score – with County Durham non-leaguers West Auckland Town – for 98 years.
The Northern League Division One side set off for Turin yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s clash with the Italian giants, who are looking to avenge the 6-1 defeat they suffered in the final of the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy back in 1911.
This weekend’s game marks the centenary of the first time that competition – known as the first World Cup and involving clubs from Italy, England, Switzerland and Germany – was organised in Turin by British merchant Sir Thomas Lipton.
West, England’s representatives, beat Swiss outfit FC Winterthur 2-0 in the final in 1909. Two years later they returned to Turin to hammer Juventus and retain the trophy.
“So we have a lot to live up to,” West Auckland coach Brian Honour said yesterday. “I think the score might be the other way round this time. But it’s the chance of a lifetime. It’s not often a Northern League team gets to play the mighty Juventus. It’s a celebration and we are going to enjoy it.”
The two sides have enjoyed contrasting fortunes since their last meeting.
While Juve have amassed a record number of Italian titles, West’s most successful campaign came in 1961 when they won the Northern League championship by four points from rivals Bishop Auckland and reached the final of the FA Amateur Cup, losing 2-1 to Walthamstow Avenue in the final at Wembley.
But Honour, who expects Juve to field an under-21 side for the game at their training complex, still wants his squad of assorted students and builders to give them a decent game. “I don’t think they are going to field any first-team players but they will still be the cream of the talent,” he said.
“But we know that the TV cameras are going to be watching us. We don’t want to get embarrassed.
“We wouldn’t like any sort of good hiding. The eyes of the world are on us. We are not going to stand off them, we are going to compete and try our best.”
The game, which West had originally approached Juventus about, had been in danger of falling through as the non-leaguers could not afford the trip out to Turin.
But the Football Association stepped in to pick up the cost.
