Twenty-one years earlier than Uruguay lifted the primary Fifa World Cup, there was one other try to create a world soccer match, with golf equipment moderately than nations.

Sir Thomas Lipton, philanthropist and creator of Lipton Ice Tea, created a soccer competitors that noticed Europe’s elite face off in opposition to one another.

With the competitors set to be held in Turin, Italy, invites have been despatched to the soccer associations of England, Germany, Italy and Switzerland – the predominant powerhouses of the sport – with all however the English FA accepting the provide to ship considered one of their finest groups to participate.

Germany and Switzerland despatched their respective champions, Stuttgart and Winterthur, whereas Italy despatched a mixed Turin and Piemonte aspect.

Not eager to see England go unrepresented on the match, Lipton turned his consideration to the Northern League and West Auckland City.

Why precisely the newbie outfit have been chosen is a a lot speculated topic however, in keeping with native historian Martin Connolly, there are a few potential eventualities.

“The parable was that Sir Thomas Lipton had requested for Woolwich Arsenal Soccer Membership, WAFC, and his secretary made a mistake, however my analysis exhibits that isn’t right,” he instructed BBC Actual Time in 2014.

“The Northern League was one of many oldest leagues in England with improbable groups and it is thought that Bishop Auckland might need been the goal – however, actually, West Auckland obtained the invite.”

Mistake or not, newbie aspect West Auckland duly accepted the invitation and the stage was set for the primary World Cup, or, by its official and really inventive title, the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy.