Town finished 20th in the ninth tier of English football this year

West Auckland Town will take on a Juventus team in a repeat of their 1909 World Cup match, after the Football Association donated £10,000 to them.

The trip, which commemorates the Town's trophy victory in Turin, was in doubt for financial reasons, until the FA's donation to help them travel to Italy.

"The FA is delighted to support West Auckland's return to Turin," said FA chairman Lord Triesman.

"It's so important they are able to celebrate the 100th anniversary."

In 1909, Sir Thomas Lipton, a millionaire philanthropist awarded the Grand Order of the Crown of Italy, commissioned the trophy for world competition, which featured sides from the host country as well as Germany, Switzerland and Great Britain.

Beating Stuttgart of Germany in the opening round the team, made up in the main of local coal miners, went on to beat Winterthur of Switzerland 2-0 in the inaugural final.

Two years later, again in Italy, West Auckland retained the trophy on a permanent basis after beating Zurich in the opening match, before seeing off Juventus 6-1 in the final.

The match takes place on Saturday, 1 August against a Juventus youth side in the village of Chiusa Pesio near Turin.

West Auckland now play in the Northern League Division One, the ninth tier of English Football.

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