Soccer Ashes

The Soccer Ashes is a soccer trophy contested by Australia and New Zealand.[1] It was initially held between the 1920s and 1950s before the trophy was lost.[2][3] The trophy was found in 2023, and a renewal is scheduled for October.[1]

Soccer Ashes
Founded1923 (1923)
Number of teams2
Current champions Australia
Most successful team(s) Australia
(5 series wins)

History

The concept of awarding a trophy made of ashes was inspired by the Ashes urn awarded to the winner of series between Australia and England in cricket.

The Soccer Ashes were created in 1923 after New Zealand had defeated Australia in the inaugural series in 1922. The ashes consisted of the remains of cigars smoked by the two captains, Alec Gibb (Australia) and George Campbell (New Zealand). The ashes were encased in a razor case used by an Australian soldier, Andrew Fisher during the Gallipoli campaign during World War I. The case was then set in wood from both countries.[4][5]

The whereabouts of the trophy were not known from the mid-1950s until they were found in 2023 by the grandchildren of former Australian Soccer Football Association chairman Sydney Storey.[6] Upon the recovery of the trophy, the first edition of the match since 1954 was scheduled for October. It is set to be played in London.[1]

List of Soccer Ashes series
Series Year Host Australia AUS Draw New Zealand NZL WT Ref.
GW GS GW GS
1 1922  New Zealand 0 3 1 2 7 [7]
2 1923  Australia 1 5 0 2 8
3 1933  Australia 3 14 0 0 8
4 1936  New Zealand 3 21 0 0 2
5 1948  New Zealand 4 17 0 0 0
6 1954  Australia 2 9 0 1 4
7 2023  England 1 2 0 0 0 [8]

See also

References
  1. "All Whites to face Socceroos for historic Soccer Ashes trophy this October in London". www.nzfootball.co.nz. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  2. Rugari, Vince; Bossi, Dominic (11 April 2019). "FFA backing fresh push to find the lost 'Soccer Ashes'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  3. Bertram, Gavin (22 April 2015). "Anzac Ashes the forgotten sporting battle played between Australia and New Zealand". Stuff. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  4. "Soccer Ashes". Sun-Herald. 5 September 1954. Retrieved 19 February 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "The Soccer Ashes of Australasia". Hawera & Normanby Star. 3 May 1924. Retrieved 19 February 2014 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  6. "ANZAC Soccer Ashes Trophy recovered". Football Australia. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  7. Curulli, Chris (13 July 2023). "What is the Soccer Ashes Trophy? Find out more about the prize for October's match v New Zealand". socceroos.com.au. Football Australia (FA). While the Soccer Ashes trophy was not masterminded and built until 1923, it was actually played for a year earlier. Australia and New Zealand took to the pitch for their first 'A' Internationals in June 1922 in Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland, before a return tour in Australia in 1923. With a well-organised set-up, boosted by the heroics of their captain George Campbell, New Zealand had the edge throughout these fixtures, winning two and drawing one of the first series.
  8. Gibson, Tim (18 October 2023). "Socceroos secure Soccer Ashes with comfortable New Zealand win". Socceroos. Football Australia.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.