I had the pleasure today of going up to to Cumbria to take part in some of the celebrations related to the 125th anniversary of the Northern League. The second oldest football league in the world (the first is the actual Football League, started just a year earlier in 1888).
The Northern League is made up of the small town and villages around the North East. However, Middlesbrough was once a member, and another team West Auckland won the first 'World Cup' (Thomas Lipton Trophy).
I tell you what, I've come back from there completely refreshed and inspired about what football means to people.
A lot of the Northern League teams won the FA Amateur Cup, and they hold that trophy in such reverance it's amazing. Most people have never heard of it. But when the local teams won it (the final was at Wembley, at one final 100,000 people went to see it) they paraded the trophy on an open top bus through the various villages and small towns on the way to their own ground. Everyone would come out to watch this parade, and some of the pictures look like major cities welcoming FA Cup winners home.
Also, as mentioned, West Auckland took part in the first international football competition, the forerunner of the World Cup and won it. Technically, it was the first world cup and the sign welcoming you into West Auckland boasts as much.
It was a fantastic day, and it really made me appreciate what the phrase "grassroots football" signifies.
Anyway, some items related to the Northern League are on show until April at the National Football Museum until April. Just have a look if you can. But if not, Google the Northern League and the FA Amateur Trophy. It's fascinating. Even today I saw footage of the 1954 Amateur Trophy final and the referee had one arm. For some reason that meant something, then I realised it was Alf Bond who refereed the 1956 FA Cup Final.
The Northern League is made up of the small town and villages around the North East. However, Middlesbrough was once a member, and another team West Auckland won the first 'World Cup' (Thomas Lipton Trophy).
I tell you what, I've come back from there completely refreshed and inspired about what football means to people.
A lot of the Northern League teams won the FA Amateur Cup, and they hold that trophy in such reverance it's amazing. Most people have never heard of it. But when the local teams won it (the final was at Wembley, at one final 100,000 people went to see it) they paraded the trophy on an open top bus through the various villages and small towns on the way to their own ground. Everyone would come out to watch this parade, and some of the pictures look like major cities welcoming FA Cup winners home.
Also, as mentioned, West Auckland took part in the first international football competition, the forerunner of the World Cup and won it. Technically, it was the first world cup and the sign welcoming you into West Auckland boasts as much.
It was a fantastic day, and it really made me appreciate what the phrase "grassroots football" signifies.
Anyway, some items related to the Northern League are on show until April at the National Football Museum until April. Just have a look if you can. But if not, Google the Northern League and the FA Amateur Trophy. It's fascinating. Even today I saw footage of the 1954 Amateur Trophy final and the referee had one arm. For some reason that meant something, then I realised it was Alf Bond who refereed the 1956 FA Cup Final.