..
CORINTH’S GLOBAL LEGACY
.
What have Real Madrid, Corinthians Paulista and the Hungarian and Swedish pre-war National Amateurs Cups got in common? The answer is that they were all influenced by Corinthian FC. The club toured on four continents and visited Brazil, USA, Jamaica, South Africa and numerous European nations. In the early Edwardian era, Corinthian was perhaps the equivalent of Real Madrid today; the club had defeated all the top English teams and had travelled to South Africa. Corinth were described as the ‘Missionaries of Empire’, helping to bring colonies and mother country closer together. The European tours helped to break down continental and insular prejudice.
CORINTH’S GLOBAL LEGACY
.
What have Real Madrid, Corinthians Paulista and the Hungarian and Swedish pre-war National Amateurs Cups got in common? The answer is that they were all influenced by Corinthian FC. The club toured on four continents and visited Brazil, USA, Jamaica, South Africa and numerous European nations. In the early Edwardian era, Corinthian was perhaps the equivalent of Real Madrid today; the club had defeated all the top English teams and had travelled to South Africa. Corinth were described as the ‘Missionaries of Empire’, helping to bring colonies and mother country closer together. The European tours helped to break down continental and insular prejudice.
.
Corinth’s reputation probably reached the continent via the ex-patriots who travelled or moved there and when the Real Madrid were formed in 1902, as the club website records:
.
It was also submitted for discussion to the Board of the referred Madrid Football Club, the colour of the uniform that the team had to wear in the tournament to be played, and it was initially decided without prejudice of any modifications that would be pertinent, that it was to be shorts and shirts in the colour white, socks and cap in blue, and a purple band, with the Real Madrid’s crest.
.
The report goes on to say, ‘it was under the influence of the famous amateurs from London, the Corinthian’s Club, that the example was taken.’
Corinth’s reputation probably reached the continent via the ex-patriots who travelled or moved there and when the Real Madrid were formed in 1902, as the club website records:
.
It was also submitted for discussion to the Board of the referred Madrid Football Club, the colour of the uniform that the team had to wear in the tournament to be played, and it was initially decided without prejudice of any modifications that would be pertinent, that it was to be shorts and shirts in the colour white, socks and cap in blue, and a purple band, with the Real Madrid’s crest.
.
The report goes on to say, ‘it was under the influence of the famous amateurs from London, the Corinthian’s Club, that the example was taken.’
.
The Corinthian Cup was the Hungarian national amateur cup competed for annually from 1907 to 1943. It came about after the Corinthians visited Hungary for a tour in 1904. At the end of the tour they presented a cup as a prize for the winners of a future national amateur competition, which came to fruition three years later. This was also done in Sweden and the Corinthian Bowl came to existence before the First World War.
The Corinthian Cup was the Hungarian national amateur cup competed for annually from 1907 to 1943. It came about after the Corinthians visited Hungary for a tour in 1904. At the end of the tour they presented a cup as a prize for the winners of a future national amateur competition, which came to fruition three years later. This was also done in Sweden and the Corinthian Bowl came to existence before the First World War.
Without doubt the biggest impact the Corinthians had on the world game was in Brazil, following the club’s tour there in 1910. The amateurs travelled to the country at the invitation of the Fluminense Football Club to play matches in Rio, while Charles Miller, the founding father of Brazilian football, arranged games in Sao Paulo. The Corinthians arrived with seven England internationals, Morgan-Owen, the Welsh captain and Brisley, the best centre forward in Europe at the time. The six games all ended as victories for the tourists against the illustrious Fluminense and the famous amateur clubs of Sao Paulo AC and Paulistano. The style of play so impressed the locals that inspired them to form a club after their visitors. In 2000, Corinthians Paulista became FIFA World Champions, and now boast between twenty and thirty million supporters, depending on which source you believe.
The word Corinthians in Brazil still carries overtones of passion, energy and enthusiasm.
.
.
It is perhaps hard to believe that what is now a small club playing in Tolworth in front of 100 people not only helped shaped the modern game, but was once one of the most famous teams in the world. Those days will not return, but it is a heritage of which Corinthian-Casuals are most proud, and the club is deep conscious of its role as custodian of the principles and traditions of its illustrious forebears.
.
.
.
..
.
