WEST AUCKLAND TOWN (Darlington Road)

NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, WEST AUCKLAND TOWN 1-1 DURHAM CITY, ATTENDANCE: 180 (est)

It's not often you get a chance to see a club that has won the "World Cup" in action but by paying a visit to West Auckland, near Bishop Auckland, today I did just that.

Founded in 1893, the club is most famous for being the winners of the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy, one of the world's first international footballing competitions, twice, in 1909 and 1911. Unofficially the competition was dubbed "the first World Cup" There was a statue in unveiled late last year to commemorate the achievement.

The Statue unveiled in October 2013 (click here)

The clubhouse, club programme and even the club badge (pictured Left) are dominated by images and tales of this story. Briefly, an idea for an international tournament came from local businessman Sir Thomas Lipton (he of the famous Tea company) who wished to see a competition between the leading football clubs of Europe. The Football Associations of Italy, Germany and Switzerland agreed to send teams, but the Football Association of England refused to nominate a club (glad to see they were just as progressive back then as they are now).

West Auckland, an amateur side of coalminers from the Northern League were entered into the competition, although it has never been exactly clear why. The feature in the programme speculates that it may have been because an employee of Sir Thomas happened to have been a referee in the Northern League and it is therefore thought likely that he was instrumental in finding a substitute team from that league i.e. West Auckland Town.

West Auckland players headed to Turin, where the first tournament was being held, most of them paying out of their own pocket to do so. They beat Sportfreunde Stuttgart 2-0 in the semi-finals and in the final beat Swiss side FC Winterthur 2–0 to take the trophy.

Two years later West Auckland returned to defend their crown and, after beating FC Zürich 2–0, they ran out 6–1 over Juventus. Under the rules of the competition, they were allowed to keep the trophy having won it consecutively.

The achievement was not without it's downside though as the club ran into financial difficulties, caused by the tour, which led to to the trophy being sold off to pay debts before the club disbanded in 1912, reforming in 1932. They were re-elected back to the Northern League in 1934 where they have remained members ever since.

           

The trophy was bought back by the club in 1960, but stolen in 1994 and has never been recovered. The story of West Auckland's heroics was made into a film 'A Captain's Tale' starring 'I Could Be So Good For You' legend Dennis Waterman and 'Auf Wiedersehn, Pet' Star Dennis Healy.

Back to the current squad and West Auckland are having a great season thus far, currently lying in third spot in the table, with games in hand on the leaders Celtic Nation, and also into the Quarter Finals of the FA Vase.

Today they were taking on near neighbours Durham City and it was a hard fought draw, however if West Auckland had taken the chances they created then they would have ran out comfortable winners. The homesters No10 was the most profligate, spurning two one-on-one chances. When he did manage to maintain his composure to slot home he was ruled offside. He was later substituted and left the field in a right strop, hurling his shirt at the bench before storming down the tunnel.

Durham took the lead in the 24th minute when Steven Turnball headed home (pictured right) before Dennis Knight levelled for West in the 58th minute.

This match was my personal choice for game two, as part of a three game hop in the North East, having previously visited Stokesley. 

The early kick off at Marske United ended with a 4-0 win for Guisborough Town and upon leaving West Auckland I headed to Darlington Railway Athletic, where they succumbed 2-3 to Thornaby. For reports on these two games may I point you in the direction of Laurence's blog (click here). 

Another long, but thoroughly enjoyable, day in the North East. Roll on Easter for the final North East Groundhop :)

The full West Auckland story can be found here:
http://www.westaucklandtownfc.co.uk/index.php?page=How-we-won-the-World-Cup