Uruguay DID NOT win the first World Cup. THIS VILLAGE DID!

I visited West Auckland to investigate the incredible story of the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy.
Often believed to be "The First Ever World Cup", this tiny village team made up of local miners were amateur footballers who conquered Europe. They fended off German, Swiss and Italian opposition in 1909 & 1911 to win the "World Cup" back-to-back.
They even beat Juventus in this tournament that predates the FIFA World Cup by many years. This small non league club wrote themselves into the history books in one of the most incredible football achievements of all time!
My Social Media:
INSTAGRAM: / footy.adventures
TWITTER: / the_sam_north
#football #english #worldcup

[@FootyAdventures]

What other incredible football stories should I cover next?

[@Swedishpolymath]

If you come to Helsinki for the UEFA Super Cup you could do something for HJK's 1998-1999 Champions League season. But I guess that's a pipedream😁.

[@sayqulislam6724]

Make a video of South hall united please

[@jamesthomson3025]

Come to a Newtongrange Star game 🙂

[@alanfox691]

Just a little bit about Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton he was born in The Gorbals in Glasgow his parents where from County Fermanagh Northern Ireland they emigrated to Glasgow like many because of The Famine. He also donated the Copa Lipton trophy which was contested between the national football teams of Argentina and Uruguay from 1905 to 1992. It looks like he had a keen interest in rawing & football. Keep Safe.

[@alanfox691]

Alan Shields Hamilton South Lanarkshire Scotland. The Vienna Cup When Glentoran became European Champions. The Vienna Cup was a European Tournament before The European Cup. Keep Safe.

[@westaucklandtownfc7433]

Massive thanks for calling and spreading the word of our amazing story. The Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy is something all of West Auckland is proud of and long may the story be told. Anyone wishing to view the trophy or original medals please get in touch. All the best Dave.

[@Mk1Male]

Come on WAFC. Sir Thomas was a magnate not a magnet.

[@paulgray3065]

The film about this is still shown on youtube. The film is called ‘A captains tale’. It stars the late great Dennis Waterman. Well worth a watch

[@derickl436]

I remember watching the film years ago on the telly.

[@jonathancole833]

Funnily enough it was first shown on TV exactly 40 years ago, around the time of the 1982 World Cup. It also starred Richard Griffiths and Tim Healy, which is probably why the latter's name is on the monument.

[@carljones7380]

I only watched the captains tale few months ago on KZbin for the first time in forty years, my Granddad was from Blackhall told me about the miners winning the world cuo when i was little.

[@heatherflof]

I love your film and enthusiasm. I was born and grew up in West Auckland and as you can tell, we are all very proud of this accolade. I lived in London for nearly 30 years and there will be people from all over the world who came to London to work or for nights out and had to suffer this woman (me) banging on about her little village of West Auckland and the first World cup. Thank. you for sharing your video. I wonder if you went to the main town about 3 miles away, Bishop Auckland? There is a lot of football history there too. They are always rivals to West Auckland, but doing a lot better as their stadium, approx two miles away from where this film was made, will testify. In the 1950's after the Munich Air disaster which sadly killed most of the Manchester United team, players from the two blues (Bishop Auckland) were given on loan to Manchester United for the 54/55 FA cup which they won. Some of those players went on to play for international teams like Chelsea and Man Utd. Bob Hardisty is the best known in the town and a main road in Bishop Auckland is now named after him. Laurie McMenemy former England coach started his career here as manager. I also believe the Two blues are the only non league side to have a Subbuteo team, due to the FA Cup success I think. I stand to be corrected. I have the subbuteo figures, boxed, given as a gift though currently no pitch or other team to play against! :0). Thank you again for your West Auckland video.

[@williamanderson5437]

Thanks for the additional info Heather. I'll have a look at BA & WA next time I'm around Beamish / Newcastle. Appreciated. - 'A Captains Tale' is a Great Gem of a Film.

[@liveforgolf4764]

This man truly loves you he game !! And I love his watching his passion !!

[@williamanderson5437]

Period Drama released on Video, now on KZbin - called The World Cup - 'A Captain's Tale' staring Dennis Waterman and Introducing Tim Healy (Auf Wiedersehen Pet, Benidorm, Faintheart). Fairly accurate coverage of all the main events - A TRUE STORY. One for every football fan to enjoy and savour....

[@RossParker1877]

Brilliant as always Sam. Fascinating story. Getting a wisdom tooth out knocked me for days. Glad to see you're on the mend

[@vojtechkostovski951]

Your videos are great. I drank Lipton tea a thousand times in my life and didn't even realize that the person who sent it all over the world was also hosting one of the first football tournaments in the world. Football is full of interesting, beautiful and sometimes unfortunately tragic stories. I wouldn't know a lot of them without your videos. Good job Sam!

[@kristianlindstrom3730]

Fantantic show once again! Keep up the great work. Many salutations from Sweden!

[@FootyAdventures]

Thank you very much! I'd love to come out to Sweden and make some videos!

[@TerniBAFC]

i live in this village and have done for past 24 years. i support the rivals Bishop Auckland as i was born there. it’s sad to see they don’t have the original trophy but the replica is always a talking point 😀

[@amc5966]

Absolutely fascinating video. Thanks Sam.

[@Sal.K--BC]

Fun Fact: KZbinr JackSucksAtLife (and JackSucksAtGeography) grew up in West Auckland.

[@dylanmurphy4342]

Very fascinating great video Sam keep up the great content

[@hh2981]

Great video as always!!!👍

[@niallcassidy7212]

That has got to best your best ever video. Thanks so much once again. I remember watching the movie in the eighties and being amazed by the whole story. I'm surprised no UK network has ever done a documentary on this before. Onwards and upwards for you pal.

[@FootyAdventures]

Thanks Niall, really glad you enjoyed this. Got some similarly strange football related topics coming over the next few days!

[@trevormoir1927]

Great intel Sam as always.Great facts.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

[@iainpalmer2000]

Fantastic video really enjoyed it. Looks like i need to go up there and see it personally

[@dylanmurphy4342]

Very fascinating had no idea this team existed keep going with the great content Sam

[@ryanoconnor5612]

Great to see you back!

[@ianhart8811]

West Auckland Town today play in Ebac Northern League Division One the 5th Tier of Non-League Football & play in FA Vase Competition. A unique history & friendly Football club to visit for match day experience. A must for me to cover for first home match of season on Nova Radio North East 102.5 FM for new season.

[@nickmullerITFC78]

Dennis Waterman was in a film about this cup 🚜🚜🚜🚜🚜⚽️⚽️🏆🏆

[@brianmunich553]

This is mega interesting and deserves more views

[@alexanderhawksworth7309]

Great video here Sam, love these sort of videos

[@michaelmalone3089]

Quality Sam!....as always my friend.

[@Ricky8_8]

Awesome to see you cover a team so close to where I live and an area I Know so we'll. Awesome video as always.

[@WalkerOiOi]

glad you like our village

[@AB-kx4nc]

Great video,remember watching the film many moons ago

[@waynehough13]

I never thought the World Cup trophy would be kept in the same room that has Live Laugh Love on the walls 😂

[@Ricky8_8]

its awesome that you did a video and covered a team so close to where i live. Awesome work as always 👍👍

[@jackslater227]

Love this! i live just round the corner

[@JFX1]

Crazy story really interesting video thanks for putting out this amazing content all the time

[@CelticFansYT]

What a great video. Reminds me a bit of your early Queens Park video. Class history

[@davidhall7744]

Brilliant video 😀👍

[@bobdixon2099]

Jack Greenwell was part of the 1909 team. He went on to play for Barcelona in 1912 and went on to manage then too.

[@pkjlr77]

Brilliant video Sam, definitely one of your best videos for sure. Wasn't aware of this at all tbh. Keep up the great work 👍⚽

[@FootyAdventures]

Thanks so much!! This video was right up my alley. Non league team who have won a “World Cup” beating Juve in the process. Love it!

[@pkjlr77]

@@FootyAdventures Brilliant Sam, your passion for football really shines through, can see how much you love doing the videos. Thought may have done a video on the LFC parade but I guess you had your wisdom tooth pain so stopped you filming?

[@peterrichardson5664]

Superb video Sam.

[@falovalovaslist]

This is an incredible story, I'm amazed I'm only just hearing this

[@BurnRoddy]

After the first international runs between Montevideo and Buenos Aires in late XIX Century. Sir Thomas Lipton pioneered this format as he established the Lipton Cup in Rio de La Plata in 1905, held between Argentine and Uruguayan clubs, and which itslef, had a similar formula to another friendly tournament by another British philanthropist just a few years earlier in 1900, a gentleman by the name of Francis Hepburn Chevallier Boutell. However, none of these tournies were World Cups, despite donning the moinker of "International" tournaments, all of these were actually contientnal tournaments since the British considered themselves, and in fact indeed were, still at the time vastly superior for national teams from outside of the UK to have a chance against either Great Britain or any of the National teams from the British Home Championship which the British considered it as the true World Cup. Even the Olimpic gold medals won by Grest Britan in 1908 and 1912 were effectively European competitions. The first true global tournament eas the Olimpic Football Tournament of 1920 in Ambers because of the inclusion of Egypt and which was held according to the English FA and FIFA and organized jointly by then. So technically the very frst world champion was crowned at 18:06 of the 2nd of September 1920 in Antwerp, and it was the host nation Belgium by a score of 2-0 against a Czechslovakia that walked off the field on the 39th minute of the first half in protest against what they considered a highly questionable perfomance by the oficials.

[@williamanderson5437]

'Abandoned matches' never have any value. Although what you say is quite correct. Crooked officials spoilt that event.

[@BurnRoddy]

@@williamanderson5437 It was a lot more that this. By 1878 fans had become too violent for XIX standards (on hindsight this is very funny I know but regardless) so many top footballers refused to play due to their families being expossed to this so amateur footballers from some British clubs began to percieve a sort of sallary based wins propprtional to ticket sales it was almost nothing but it was something on top of their regular sallary. This trndency spread like wildfire and although GB somehow managed to slowdown its momentum in continental Europe this became common practice and by the 1920s some foorballers were full on professionals but in name only and those were usually the best footballers. But no matter what happened the IOC and the English FA insisted on sports being amateur in nature. This is why Rimet was so keen on international football having its own set of rules. The 1920 Summer Olynpic football championship was specially hard by the debate and as you can imagine many footballers abstained from taking part in fear of retaliation by the governing bodies others were accused theoughout the competiton and were expelled. It was chaos. But regardless, I do think that is fair that Belgium should be labeled as the first world champions.

[@crazykids1233]

Hi I really enjoy ur vids and u r so underrated u deserve so much more respect 🙌

[@simonseymour3099]

That's made your day and are's thanks again

[@kevinhall9681]

Great video & story

[@Youchoose4625]

Great video Sam! You are a terrific communicator. History repeated itself ( in a way) when Chelsea declined the entry to the initial European Cup in 1955, after 'advice' from the English Football League. Maybe the story about the 'mistake' was put about by local rival teams?

[@iancharlton]

Good video there is a plaque in memory of Bob Paisley about 10 miles away in Hetton le hole his birthplace worth a look

[@leeregno]

This is definitely a crazy story. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it😅 But it seems to be more of an ancient version the fifa club world Cup than the world Cup itself

[@FootyAdventures]

Ah yeah really good point. I didn’t think of that. Definitely more of a Club World Cup than a World Cup!

[@morganlee7373]

@@FootyAdventures yeah I was thinking that great video

[@cheifwhat]

The world cup is between national teams, not club sides. Anyone can create a tournament and call it 'a' world cup.

[@bobbysutherland4700]

But this was legit as international football wasn’t a thing

[@bigmandaz1794]

I live near hear and I already knew this and makes me proud to live around the area 👌 so glad more people can learn about this

[@pug4866]

nice to see me driving just round the corner as it starts lol

[@coryshannon3815]

It is crazy to think, a team that plays in the 9th tier of the English football system beat Juventus in a game, and blew them out at that.

[@original.dwornboy]

No really. Association Football was in its infancy on the continent. In Britain we had been playing soccer rules for decades.

[@jockcusick261]

So interesting didn't know about it excellent once again

[@darrenwilson8042]

Driven through West Auckland on many occasions whilst working - 1st WC is mad isn't it? I think the Captains Tale was the first vehicle that brought the story to the attention of a nation

[@adamcran9859]

Amazing my brother 💙👍🏻

[@benjaminstern3881]

Talking about Woolwich Arsenal have you ever considered doing a vid in Woolwich? I know right outside the station there’s a memorial thing

[@FootyAdventures]

Definitely! I’ve wanted to do a full arsenal video for a while where I visit all their old stadium sites from south to north. I’ll do that soon!

[@crystalencore91]

I love your channel mate

[@jackslater227]

I live right round the corner from here

[@Jaydaepops]

Hi Sam, great video although it’s not entirely true. Renton FC were the first team to win the “World Cup” in 1888 when they beat West Brom 4-1 at Cathkin Park in a match to decide who became the “ Champions of The United Kingdom and the World” Renton won the 1888 Scottish Cup and West Brom won the 1888 Fa Cup which led to this exhibition match The First instance of a game like this was the year before in 1887 where Hibs played Preston, but this wasn’t considered a legitimate champion match because Preston didn’t win the FA cup they only made the Semis Because there was such little international football the game was given international billing as it was essentially viewed as a Scotland Vs England game to this day they still have a plaque at Tontine Park that reads “Home of the World Champions”

[@steveforster9764]

There's a old movie on KZbin called a Captains Tale starring Dennis Waterman from the 1980s about this event.

[@gcrawford407]

Outstanding video as usual. The next time you're up in Glasgow, perhaps it would be a good to do a video about the gallant pioneers, tell the story of how four young men had a dream and set about building Rangers Football Club....

[@JamesBond-si7xs]

He has I think. ??

[@mrmervinjminky1536]

Are you talking about the made up story about the origin of Rangers or the Charles Green and Craig Whyte version of The Rangers? 😂

[@gcrawford407]

@@mrmervinjminky1536 perhaps we can have a proper look at the seedy and perverted history of you club instead? The paedophile rings that were in place and how the club denied it, all in the name of protecting the club at all costs? What's your thoughts on that?

[@bobbysutherland4700]

@@mrmervinjminky1536 the newco story please 💚💚

[@depekthegreat359]

Wow!!!This is indeed a fact that a non league team won two world cups without the FIFA's organisation's and congratulations to one of my favourite respective English clubs West Auckland for their achievement and I am looking forward to be watching their matches,mainly in the Non League Football and wish them all the very best for the future,good friends!!!WEST AUCKLAND EVER!!!🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏋‍♂️

[@mumblic]

For two minutes I thought he was in NZ ;-))

[@Stu1919]

It was the 1st World cup because thats what it was billed as and Lipton had the foresight as did the Italians. The first FIFA world cup was something different and was amongst nations. you cant say the WBA isnt a boxing world title because of the WBA or IBA. Plus when you look at the recognition Juventus get as a massive club. Congratulations West Auckland Brilliant achievement

[@blakjjags0697]

Damn you made a video on it. This was my go to obscure football fact😅😅

[@JustinGardinerx]

Thought I was drunk when I read the title of the video🤣

[@GenialHarryGrout]

The players from the winning teams would have returned home to West Auckland as heroes then back to work down the coal mine the next day

[@FootyAdventures]

I expect so!

[@frasergibson72]

Please do a live ground hopping episode it’d be a great watch

[@fifajay]

Total mind blow. I'm wondering if the Sir Thomas Lipton trophy 🏆 was the inspiration for the Jules Rimet trophy 🏆 🤔

[@WeAreThePeople1690]

If you ever go to Northern Ireland for any games you have to go to Milford Co. Armagh. Thats where the dreaded pen kick was invented. Some good local derbies in the area too, Portadown vs Annagh Utd just played the prem division play off. Both are from the same town. Portadown vs Glenavon the later playing in Neil Lennons home town. Armagh City vs Loughgall Utd if you want 2nd league level. Then you have Coleraine(coal-rain) vs Ballymena Utd local north antrim area derby, Crusaders vs Cliftonville north belfast derby, Linfield vs Glentoran the "big two" and Larne vs Carrick Rangers the north east coast derby. Also Derry City who are based in Northern Ireland but play in the Republic of Irelands Prem League as well.

[@timhefty504]

That's similar to the baseball World Series, it was originally an actual WORLD Series that would be played at World's Fairs in the US

[@philipwinter8729]

Lovely story!

[@thomas-h22]

I don't want to downplay this, but it seems like this club won the first Champions League/European Cup rather than the World Cup. Thanks for your storytelling and the incredible stories on the channel! (Also their logo is great!) Definitely liked so Insigne won't do a u-turn and head to Montreal.

[@kangdiamond4358]

The Northern League is full of great clubs and stories. Get yourself down to Thornaby anytime

[@michaellynch6755]

Hello I was on you video at the Celtic Motherwell game 5:20 to 7:00 minutes

[@stevenwilcox8631]

This is going to be an unpopular comment, but they won the equivalent of the champions league, not the world cup.

[@Sam15000]

Come to Whickham FC, same league as West Auckland

[@sark0283]

So it would be a club World Cup, not a nation one.

[@districtvillage]

I wish you happiness, good luck in your wonderful deeds)

[@justinganz1173]

Are there any teams along the coast that’s a non league team so advice would be great!

[@chairmanalf7856]

Somehow, the organisers confused West Auckland with ‘Woolwich Arsenal’, mainly due to the initials.

[@dorothymckillop992]

My uncle's father, Joe Rewcastle in this match!!!!

[@peterhamill7927]

Love your enthusiasm about these quirky topics. I would've thought that it was more a European cup as let's be honest there was only European teams playing.

[@RobSAFC]

You'll have to come back for a game!

[@nickmullerITFC78]

They made a film with Dennis waterman it's a good film 🚜🚜🔵⚪️🔵⚪️🔵

[@michaellynch6755]

I was at the celtic motherwell game I was on the video 5:20 to 7 minutes

[@jackslater227]

I live right round the corner

[@nickmullerITFC78]

dennis waterman was in the film 🚜🚜🚜🚜🚜🏆

[@FootyAdventures]

Cheers for watching as ever nick. Really appreciate the support still 🙌🏼 Ipswich this year for sure

[@nickmullerITFC78]

@@FootyAdventures the films worth a watch it was made for TV 1980 there was a glitch with me COMMENTING not sure if anyone else had it they were not showing up 🚜🚜🚜🏆

[@charcolew]

"Sir Thomas Lipton the grocery magnet..." Oh dear, sack the typist.

[@rottebazooka]

I think it would be more like West Auckland won the first champions league/ europa league as only european teams participated, so no representation from most of the world.

[@TheTimelord62]

Lipton the tea owner put up the money and the cup. There is a film about this.

[@merseydave1]

Great video (I knew the history) although you have used the wrong wording ... It is the very first "football Club" World Cup. Not International Team World Cup.

[@Tillyard86]

Isn’t this more like the first World Club Cup?

[@mervynhardy6161]

Shame Ramsey is spelt wrong ,Sir Alf is Ramsey.. nevertheless this is an interesting video.

[@sportifymedia]

You are the football version of Steve Irwin

[@herlawman]

Go to Consett FC. Pretty interesting little club

[@rossclegg654]

How come?

[@baselinecontracts]

I thought Renton rovers were the first team to win a football World cup

[@stephensaunders1984]

Was never classed as a World Cup so they're living a lie. Fair play to them winning it twice but in doing so the original club folded.

[@neilburrows5245]

We'll just av to call yer Norman now that u've lost ur Wisdom! 😄

[@zapre2284]

The big arsenal of today .....Fat Arsenal !

[@lauruguayitausa]

What countries participated in such a World Cup?

[@kevinhalligan5283]

DID YOU NOTICE THEY,VE SPELT ALF RAMSEY,S NAME WRONG THET HAVE SPELT IT RAMSAY AND NOT RAMSEY...DIVVIES

[@samrabey89]

More of a champions league than a world cup but still impressive nonetheless

[@jasongarufi8187]

When I first saw West Auckland I though what is Sam doing in New Zealand!? lol😄