Statue will honour West Auckland World Cup winners

Sep 26 2009 by Amy Hunt, The Journal

A STATUE is being planned to honour a unique sporting moment in the history of a former mining village in County Durham.

Villagers in West Auckland helped choose a design for a public sculpture to commemorate the 100th anniversary of their football club’s achievement of winning the first World Cup.

In 1909, West Auckland FC became the first team ever to take the global honours, twice lifting the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy including a win over Italian giants Juventus 6-1 in the final.

Thanks to funding from the Arts Council, three artists came forward with potential designs for the artwork in honour of the local club’s achievements.

Nigel Boonham, who created the bronze statue of Cardinal Basil Hulme which stands outside St Mary’s Cathedral in Newcastle, was chosen ahead of designs from Lucy Glendinning and Mark Merer.

Mr Boonham’s statue, depicting a footballer and a miner, was chosen by a steering group of local people, along with Groundwork North East and Durham County Council.

The artwork, which residents felt captured the spirit of the village, will be put at the east end of West Auckland and the steering group will now set out to raise the £100,000 it will cost to produce it.

Football fan and West Auckland resident Beverley Rutherford said: “I was born in West Auckland but lived in London for quite a few years before returning here. I was constantly bringing friends up to visit the football club and telling them about our World Cup history.