After vanishing 69 years ago an Australian sporting treasure has been discovered in mint condition in a suburban garage.
The small wooden trophy – housing a silver-plated razor case carried at Gallipoli – was contested by the Socceroos and New Zealand’s All Whites until it mysteriously disappeared in 1954. Inside it are ashes of cigars smoked by the Socceroos captain Alex Gibb and the All Whites skipper George Campbell after the first trans-Tasman match on Australian soil in June 1923.
The Soccer 'Ashes' Trophy
Image: Football Australia
The razor case belonged to Private William Fisher, who later became the Secretary of the Queensland Football Association. The trophy was discovered when family members were sorting through the belongings of the late Sydney Storey, who was involved as an administrator in Australian Soccer at a national level from 1922 until 1966.The trophy, made of New Zealand Honeysuckle and Australian Maple, is in perfect condition.
This good news story gives hope that other important and interesting items that vanished years ago may one day be rediscovered.
ReferencesANZAC Soccer Ashes Trophy recovered. Football Australia, 24 April, 2023, read.
Anzac ‘Soccer Ashes’ trophy found after vanishing for 69 years. The Guardian, 25 April 2023, read.
Anzac ‘Soccer Ashes’ trophy found after vanishing for 69 years. The Guardian, 25 April 2023, read.
‘Soccer’s Ashes’: How a suburban garage clean-out solved a 69-year Anzac mystery by Vince Rugari. The Age, April 25, 2023, read. (may be behind a pay-wall)
ANZAC Soccer Ashes trophy rediscovered in suburban garage after almost 70 years by Samantha Lewis. ABC News 25 April, 2023, read
