The Soccer Ashes is a soccer trophy contested by Australia and New Zealand.[1] It was initially held between the 1920s and 1950s before the trophy was lost.[2][3] The trophy was found in 2023, and a renewal was held in London in October.[1]
The concept of awarding a trophy made of ashes was inspired by the Ashes urn awarded to the winner of series between Australia and England in cricket.
The Soccer Ashes were created in 1923 after New Zealand had defeated Australia in the inaugural series in 1922. The ashes consisted of the remains of cigars smoked by the two captains, Alec Gibb (Australia) and George Campbell (New Zealand), after the first match between the two teams on Australian soil in June 1923. The ashes were encased in a razor case used by an Australian soldier, Andrew Fisher during the Gallipoli campaign during World War I. The case was then set in a box made of wood from both countries.[4][5][6]
The whereabouts of the trophy were not known from the mid-1950s until it was found in 2023 at the estate of former Australian Soccer Football Association chairman Sydney Storey by his grandchildren.[7][6] Upon the recovery of the trophy, the first edition of the match since 1954 was scheduled for October.[1] It was played in London, with Australia winning the series.[8]
While the Soccer Ashes trophy was not masterminded and built until 1923, it was actually played for a year earlier. Australia and New Zealand took to the pitch for their first 'A' Internationals in June 1922 in Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland, before a return tour in Australia in 1923. With a well-organised set-up, boosted by the heroics of their captain George Campbell, New Zealand had the edge throughout these fixtures, winning two and drawing one of the first series.
