West Auckland under wraps in our latest instalment of ‘The Lowdown.’
The biggest clash in the Isuzu FA Vase by league position, Redcar Athletic host high-flying West Auckland Town at Green Lane, and only one can advance.
WHO ARE YA?
West Auckland Town
Honoured to bear the title of first World Cup winners, West Auckland are another Northern League club steeped in history.
Invited to compete in the inaugural Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy – deemed an early precursor to the World Cup of today – in 1909, West swept through the competition without conceding, clinching the title in lieu of Great Britain.
The Durham-outfit sank Stuttgart by two goals to one in the semi-final, repeating the feat against Swiss side FC Winterthur to snatch the silverware.
Town were invited back to the competition two years later, where they remarkably defended their title, earning the right to the possession of the coveted trophy with a devastating 6-1 victory over none other than Juventus.
Unfortunately, their joy was short-lived, as the tour left the club swamped with debt, and they were forced to offer their spoils as security for a loan from a local pub.
Having regained possession of their greatest honour in 1960, the trophy was stolen in 1994, and hasn’t resurfaced since.
CURRENT FORM
West Auckland Town have enjoyed a great deal of success since a four-goal thumping at Green Lane in July, now sat just seven points behind the Steelmen in fourth place.
The First World Cup Winners rebounded from their early wobble with convincing victories over West Allotment Celtic, Whickham and Guisborough Town, coming into today’s Isuzu FA Vase clash on the back of two draws.
Stunned at North Shields in a league first defeat, Redcar Athletic responded with three straight wins, in fact 13 goals without reply since that date.
REDCAR ATHLETIC 4-0 WEST AUCKLAND TOWN
Redcar Athletic continued a stellar start to the season with a second successive four-goal thrashing, this time over West Auckland Town.
FAMILIAR FACES
Anthony Bell
Leaving the Steelmen as a free agent in the summer, Anthony Bell donned the captains armband across nearly a half century of appearances, now returning to Green Lane for a second time in the black and amber.
Layton Watts
Alongside him, Layton Watts, a crowd-favourite at Green Lane, with a creative spark and knack for goal.
His ability is sure to create problems for the Steelmen this afternoon.
FINDING GREEN LANE
Joining us at Green Lane this afternoon? You can find us at the end of a road of the same name, just off the coast road, at TS10 3RW.
REDCAR ATHLETIC 3-1 WEST AUCKLAND
Adam Boyes, Dale Hopson and Layton Watts found the net as Redcar Athletic stopped West Auckland’s quest to steal top spot.
PRE-MATCH MEDIA
Former West Auckland man Oscar Fletcher discusses the Isuzu FA Vase and his old colleagues.
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