The
Corinthian Casuals, the famous amateur football club, based at
Tolworth, Surrey, dominated football in its early days. The historic club is due
to visit the great Corinthians Paulista from São Paulo, in Brazil next year. The
Casuals play in the Rymans Isthmians league, eighth tier in the
pyramid, and will play the Brazilian super stars on January 25th.
Money raised from the gate will go towards the tour costs and to help
the Casuals make a documentary about the club's history.
The
Brazilians respect the the historic link between the two clubs and
the match will be played in the 48,000 brand new Arena, originally
built for the World Cup.
The amateurs visited Brazil in 1910 and
inspired local workers to form a football club. The Casuals meet the
World Club Cup champions as part of a tour designed to remember a
second tour made by the Corinthian Casuals as the First World War
broke out in 1914. That tour was abandoned without a ball being
kicked, on hearing that the war had started. On
their return to Europe, some of the greatest names of football at that
time died in battle. They include Thomas Rowlandson, a Charterhouse
old boy and Sunderland goalkeeper who played for England. Max
Woosnam, captained Manchester City scored a century at Lord's won a
Wimbledon doubles title and was known to have scored a maximum 147 in
snooker, also died. He was one of the great all-rounders ever.
The
Centenary tour would have taken place last year, but the World Cup
got in the way.
Chris Watney from the club, interviewed on Talksport today,
appreciates the gap between the two teams, but he revealed that a
vote by the Brazilian supporters gave the English amateurs a 61%
majority over Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea, so it is going to
be a popular event. The Casuals have just lost 4-1 to Folkestone in
their latest league game; the gulf between the two teams will be
immense.
Commemorative
kit from the Corinthian Casuals tour is being sold in the Paulista
club shop and if you want to, you can buy a shirt from the Casuals shop or its website. www.casuals39.com
The
game takes place on the anniversary of the foundation of São Paulo
City and the tour begins on January 19th.
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