Local History

A replica of the trophy won in 1909.

A definite answer has inevitably been lost in the mists of time, but some who still recall the story claim that a case of mistaken identity holds the key.

Woolwich Arsenal, who were every bit as talented on the football pitch as their modern day namesakes, dominated the football leagues of the 1900s, but a confusion involving the initials of the two teams resulted in the invitation for the fateful 1909 World Cup being offered to the understandably surprised West Auckland FC.

The dizzying heights of the World Cup were usually reserved for the finest teams from the best footballing nations of the day; England, Germany and Switzerland.

It proved not to be mission impossible for the north easterners. They breezed their way through the opening rounds of the competition, punching many league tables above their weight and stunning spectators from both sides of the stadium.

The team had to pawn whatever they could, including furniture and even wedding rings, in order to make their way to the Italian city of Turin.

But perhaps this was all just a serious case of beginner’s luck; after all, they are only coalminers from County Durham remember, surely they didn’t stand a chance against the footballing giants of Europe. Did they?

The semi-final

The lads from West Auckland find themselves face-to-face with Stuttgart, but to be defeated now is simply not an option and the pub team find themselves in the final.

The final

West Auckland made their way onto pitch in the final showdown against Switzerland’s FC Winterhouse.

Just six minutes into this decisive match, West Auckland were awarded a penalty and skipper Bob Jones delivered their first goal of the game.

The first half came and went and in the second half, Jock Jones scored another for West Auckland.

The whistle blew for full-time with West Auckland leading their Swiss opponents 2-0.

The skipper, Bob Jones was presented the trophy by Sir Thomas Lipton and King Emmanuel III of Italy before taking it home to place on the mantelpiece of the pub in West Auckland, where it still sits.

If you had asked the members of West Auckland Football Club what they had hoped to achieve that fateful year, winning the World Cup would never have entered their minds. But with a bit of luck and a lot of determination, that’s exactly what West Auckland did.