Torneo Internazionale Stampa Sportiva

The Torneo Internazionale Stampa Sportiva (English: The Sport Press International Tournament) was an early international football competition. Held in 1908, it predated the more famous Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy by a year.[1]

Torneo Internazionale
Stampa Sportiva
Organising bodyLa Stampa Sportiva
Founded1908
Abolished1908 (1908)
RegionEurope
Number of teams4
Related competitionsSir Thomas Lipton Trophy
Last championsSwitzerland Servette (1911)
Most successful club(s)Switzerland Servette
(1 title)

Organised by Italian La Stampa Sportiva (a weekly sports supplement to newspaper La Stampa),[2] the Torneo Internazionale featured teams from Italy, France, Switzerland and Germany. All games were played in Turin, Italy. Swiss team Servette FC were eventual winners, beating Torino of Italy 3–1.

Overview

The Italian football authorities, whilst pleased with the tournament, were aware that the absence of an English team made the tournament not truly 'international'. Thomas Lipton agreed and, in a gesture of thanks to the Italians who had honoured him, donated the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy. He told them that he would organise an English team to participate in the next competition, that was held in 1909.

Lipton wanted a team from the Northern League in England to come over to Turin and his decision led to the participation of West Auckland FC from County Durham in the 1909 and 1911 tournaments. The team of miners won both these tournaments. West Auckland experienced a heavy penalty for their participation in the Trophy. A statue to their success stands in the centre of their village today.[3]

Qualifying

(Italian only)

Juventus Italy4–1
(a.e.t)		Italy Piemonte
Borel
Goccione
Donna
Brusa o.g.'		 F. Berardo
Torino Italy2–1Italy Ausonia Milano

Qualifying final
Torino Italy2–1Italy Juventus
Pozzi
Debernardi 		Donna

Tournament

Participants
Team
France US Parisienne
Germany Freiburger FC [note 1]
Italy Torino
Switzerland Servette
Notes
  1. The team then withdrew the tournament, being replacedd by Italian club Juventus.

First round
Servette Switzerland5–3Germany Freiburger FC
Torino Italy4–0France US Parisienne
Squair
Debernardi pen.'

Third place
Juventus Italy4–0France US Parisienne
Borel
Goccione

Final
Scene of the final
Torneo Internazionale Final
Torino Italy1–3Switzerland Servette
Pozzi Report Nett
Henneberg

References
  1. Torneo Internazionale Stampa Sportiva 1908 (Torino) on the RSSSF
  2. La Stampa Sportiva on Byterfly website
  3. 'The Miners' Triumph, The First English World Cup Win in Football History' Martin Connolly, ISBN 9780957465152
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