Sunderland’s world-beaters

OK, Lee Cattermole’s unlikely to lead the Black Cats to global glory, but the Wearsiders were one of the teams crowned world champs long before 1930

QUEEN’S PARK 1875

Scottish pioneers Queen’s Park reached the semi-finals of the inaugural English FA Cup in 1872, holding Wanderers to a 0-0 draw, but were then eliminated because they couldn’t afford to travel south a second time for a replay – it’s a long way to London from Scotland, you know. The much-anticipated 1875 rematch north of the border was billed as an “international championship match”, with Queen’s Park crowned international kings after a 5-0 victory.

HIBERNIAN 1887

The “Association Football Championship of the World” match was a wonderfully overhyped fixture between the titans of Hibernian and Preston North End. Hibs were reigning Scottish Cup champions, but Preston had lost to West Bromwich Albion in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, so it wasn’t really a clash of respective national champs. The Hibees won 2-1.

RENTON 1888

Where even is Renton, we hear you ask? The West Dunbartonshire club haven’t even existed since 1922, but they triumphed in what was labelled as the ‘Great Football Match for the Championship of the World!’ Despite the Hampden Park showdown being interrupted by thunder and lightning that caused all the players to run for cover, the Scots thrashed West Brom 4-1. Presumably Alan Pardew was in charge of the Baggies...

SUNDERLAND 1895

Yes, it’s hard to believe right now, but Sunderland (and keeper Teddy Doig, right) were champions of the world once. The Wearsiders have endured a torrid time in recent seasons, but in 1895 they’d won three of the last four English league titles, then beat Hearts 5-3 at Tynecastle. “The Championship of the World is now settled,” said the Sunderland Echo, “and Sunderland are the champions.” Enjoy it while it lasts, lads…

UPTON PARK 1900

West Ham regarded Upton Park as the home of the world champions in 1966, after Messrs Moore, Hurst and Peters led England to World Cup glory. But 66 years earlier, it really was the home of the champions. For reasons that must have made sense to someone at the time, East London side Upton Park FC were one of only three teams to take part in the inaugural Olympic football tournament. They beat a French FA XI 4-0 to claim the title in Paris.

HEARTS 1902

Seven years after losing to Sunderland, Scottish Cup holders Hearts got another opportunity to compete for the “world championship”, this time against English FA Cup holders Tottenham Hotspur. It was marketing-savvy Spurs who billed it as a world championship, presumably in anticipation of imminent glory. They promptly drew 0-0 at White Hart Lane in the first leg, before losing the second 3-1 at Tynecastle. Oops.

GALT FC 1904

Canada don’t have an illustrious World Cup history, losing all three games in their only finals appearance in 1986 without scoring a goal. But they did once boast the greatest team in the world, sort of. Following Upton Park’s win in 1900, the 1904 Olympics in St Louis featured three more random teams. Ontario’s Galt beat American duo St Rose Parish and the Christian Brothers College to clinch top spot.

SERVETTE 1908

The Torneo Internazionale, organised by Italian sports magazine La Stampa Sportiva, is said to be one of the first international football events outside the Olympics, though it was contested by only five sides from four countries. Staged in Turin, it featured Juventus, Torino, French outfit US Parisienne, German champions Freiburger and Swiss side Servette, who defeated Torino 3-1 in the final.

WEST AUCKLAND 1909 & 1911

Why an amateur club from a County Durham village ended up representing England in the Thomas Lipton Trophy is unclear, but the team of miners beat Swiss champions Winterthur in 1909, then pulverised Juventus 6-1 in 1911 to secure ‘the first World Cup’ twice. The silverware was stolen from West Auckland Working Men’s Club in 1994 and never found. If only Pickles was still around, eh?