Sir Thomas Lipton trophy winner's medal awarded to a member of the West Auckland team v Winterthur, played in Turin, 12th April 1909, silver-gilt, ob

Sir Thomas Lipton trophy winner's medal awarded to a member of the West Auckland team v Winterthur, played in Turin, 12th April 1909, silver-gilt, obverse with footballers in relief, reverse embossed with football and II TORNEO INTERNAZIONALE D FOOT-BALL INDETTO DALLA STAMPA SPORTIVA TORINO APRILE 1909, with suspension ring, diameter 30mm., bears wear and some cut marks on rim, silver-gilt worn; sold together with a original still b & w photograph from 'A Captain's Tale' film, featuring Dennis Waterman, taken during filming in Italy when West Auckland were playing Juventus, 16 by 22cm., (2) West Auckland defeated Winterthur (Swiss) 2-0, with goals by R. Jones and J. Jones. The Torneo Internazionale Stampa Stampa Sportiva was first hosted in 1908 and in 1911 and 1911 teams competed for The Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy. In the era before the World Cup It is regarded as an early international football trophy, albeit competed for by invited club sides. Italy, Germany and Switzerland sent their most prestigious club sides to the competition, but the Football Association of England refused the invitation. Not wishing to have England unrepresented in the competition, Sir Thomas Lipton arranged for West Auckland FC, an amateur side from County Durham, comprising mostly of coal miners, to take part. The reason why this team was selected is unknown, although folklore in West Auckland suggests it was because they shared the same initials as Woolwich Arsenal who the F.A. had considered entering. West Auckland won the tournament beating Torino then Winterthur in the Final. The English team returned to Italy in 1911 to defend their title. In this second competition, West Auckland beat the then amateur team Juventus 6–1 in the final, and were awarded the trophy outright. In January 1994 the original trophy, which was being held in West Auckland Working Men's Club, was stolen. An exact replica of the original trophy was commissioned and is now held by West Auckland FC. In 1982 A TV Movie starring the late Dennis Waterman was made recreating the heroics of the County Durham miners. A still from the movie is offered with the medal in this lot..