Soccer Ashes thread

[SocceroosFan84]

I was just looking through some articles from 1947 and saw this snippet:

View attachment 8177

It looks like we also played the Springboks in 1950 and 1955. Australia is actually the all-time second most faced opponent of South Africa, after Zambia.

As far as I know, the Ashes were/are only against New Zealand. Is this South Africa opponent possibly some history we're missing regarding the "Ashes" term?

Pity Dr Ian Syson isn't on this forum.

 

[Sutherlandbear]

The proper Ashes originated in 1882.

Anything after that is just imitation by other sports, particularly Rugby League.

 

[SocceroosFan84]

The proper Ashes originated in 1882.

Anything after that is just imitation by other sports, particularly Rugby League.

While that may be true it pays to watch the vid put out a couple of years ago when the trophy was found to understand why it was called the Soccer Ashes in the first place.

 

[erogenouszone]

Pity Dr Ian Syson isn't on this forum.

Every Australian football fan should read this book by him as well.

 

[SocceroosFan84]

Every Australian football fan should read this book by him as well.

View attachment 8178

I'll have to see if I can get my hands on that book.

 

[SocceroosFan84]

The South Africa 1947 article has me intrigued as to whether there is a second trophy that is missing.

 

[HonestSpursFan]

I was just looking through some articles from 1947 and saw this snippet:

View attachment 8177

It looks like we also played the Springboks in 1950 and 1955. Australia is actually the all-time second most faced opponent of South Africa, after Zambia.

A lot of countries refused to play South Africa during varying points of Apartheid. Australia fluctuated with it. Often we criticised them for it but we still played against them.

As far as I know, the Ashes were/are only against New Zealand. Is this South Africa opponent possibly some history we're missing regarding the "Ashes" term?

Possibly! That would be quite interesting, and odd that it got lost in time. Maybe we could resurrect this series too (against what I think is a stronger opponent than the All Whites)!

Maybe contact the FA or a museum?

 

[grazorblade]

Pity Dr Ian Syson isn't on this forum.

He is actually and we also did a pod with him

 

[SocceroosFan84]

He is actually and we also did a pod with him

Can that South Africa question be posed to him?

 

[Quicky]

We should do an Ashes tournament with South Africa and New Zealand. Get it recognised by the confederation and FIFA. And cap the fuck out of our dual nationals at it.

 

[grazorblade]

Can that South Africa question be posed to him?

I'll ask

 

[grazorblade]

From Ian

"I think a tri series would be legit. The problem would be as always getting players away from their club teams. An Australia AIF team played a South African team on the way home after being demobilised. "

 

[SocceroosFan84]

From Ian

"I think a tri series would be legit. The problem would be as always getting players away from their club teams. An Australia AIF team played a South African team on the way home after being demobilised. "

Did he say anything about South Africa's involvement with or relation to the Soccer Ashes as per that 1947 article or whether there may a second trophy that's missing? As far as we knew the Soccer Ashes was and is played only between Australia & New Zealand?

 

[SocceroosFan84]

I was just looking through some articles from 1947 and saw this snippet:

View attachment 8177

It looks like we also played the Springboks in 1950 and 1955. Australia is actually the all-time second most faced opponent of South Africa, after Zambia.

As far as I know, the Ashes were/are only against New Zealand. Is this South Africa opponent possibly some history we're missing regarding the "Ashes" term?

Found another 1947 article linking the Soccer Ashes to South Africa.

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHBP19470616.2.8

 

[HappyGuus]

Found another 1947 article linking the Soccer Ashes to South Africa.

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHBP19470616.2.8

So that's another article referring to "Ashes" against South Africa, and our first Ashes loss in 22 years. I think this might be news, unless others know about it but dismissed it?

 

[SocceroosFan84]

So that's another article referring to "Ashes" against South Africa, and our first Ashes loss in 22 years. I think this might be news, unless others know about it but dismissed it?

Yep, that's why I'm curious to find out if Ian Syson & Trevor Thompson know anything about this and if there is another missing trophy out there.

 

[grazorblade]

More from Ian Syson
"Moreover, the series would hark back to a genuine three way culture. The ongoing problem is the FA’s refusal to fund historical/mythological infrastructure. "

 

[HonestSpursFan]

historical/mythological infrastructure

I propose a shrine for Tim Cahill’s boots.

 

[HappyGuus]

harks back to the apartheid-era.

The Ashes with South Africa began pre-apartheid, but still a good point.

Imagine if we brought the Ashes back as a triangular series like the old one-dayers.

 

[HappyGuus]

More from Ian Syson
"Moreover, the series would hark back to a genuine three way culture. The ongoing problem is the FA’s refusal to fund historical/mythological infrastructure. "

Had he actually already heard of "Ashes" series with South Africa? Or is this news to him?