TODAY marks 120 years since an English side took football outside the continent of Europe for the first time.
On June 25, 1897 the great amateur side Corinthian F.C. embarked on the mother of all pre-season tours as they left Millwall Docks to set sail for South Africa and bring the beautiful game overseas.
Over the next 17 years, they would take football all around the world — including Brazil.
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Corinthian were the game’s first truly world class team.
They beat Manchester United 11-3 in a friendly — the Red Devils’ heaviest-ever defeat — and inspired Real Madrid’s great white kit.
While, Brazilian side Corinthians Paulista are named after the legendary English team, and the two are still closely tied to this day.
Corinthian believed overwhelmingly in retaining their amateur status, even if it meant they would not be admitted into the Football League.
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Devoid of competitive football, they decided to find other means and travelled the world.
They arrived in Cape Town on July 17 — three weeks after setting sail — and played 23 matches over two months.
While in South Africa, they would entertain crowds across the country, climb Table Mountain, be granted an audience with President Kruger and even visited Majuba Hill — the scene of the Anglo-Boer War.
The club believed in fair play above all, to the point where they refused to take a penalty on the basis that a gentleman would never intentionally foul an opponent.
To display a “Corinthian spirit” is a direct reference to the one great club.
And they were typical to various modern British values.
Then FA Chairman, NL Jackson, admitted ahead of the trip that, while they would accept free accommodation, he insisted everyone must pay for their own drinks.
He wrote: “We shall be the guests of the South African Association, who will pay the whole of the travelling and hotel expenses.
“But our committee think it will be better for the members to adhere to the Corinthian rules and pay for their own wines and spirits.
“Thus, in fact making the whole of the arrangements the same as for an ordinary Corinthian tour.”
The voyage from London to Cape Town saw them stop off at the island of Madeira, where they indulged in local activities such as tobogganing down a hill and trying the local wine.
Upon arrival in South Africa, Corinthian’s first match took place on July 19 and saw a 4-0 victory over Cape Town Civilians on a pitch which was described as being “under water”.
Weather saw various match postponements.
But Corinthian patiently waited before beating the Military 4-0 and Western Province 5-0.
Next, they had to go 900 miles on a 15mph train and as they travelled to King Williamstown.
Yet, the arduous journey didn’t do them much harm as they beat local sides 6-1 and 8-1.
In Pretoria, they met President Kruger — and he saw them beat the local ‘heroes’ 9-0!
Corinthian would play 23 matches across the country.
The biggest scoreline coming in Bloemfontein — 113 years before England be knocked out of the World Cup after being beaten 4-1 by Germany in the same city — where they beat Griqualand West 10-1.
In all, Corinthian would score 113 goals and concede 15, such was their dominance.
This side would tour all around the world and, in 1914, whilst en route to Brazil, the received word of the outbreak of World War I.
The players swiftly made their return to England, where many of the heroes lost their lives in combat.
Sadly, the arrival of professionalism within the game marked the end of Corinthian, and they soon fell on hard times.
They are now known as Corinthian-Casuals after going out of business and merging with Casuals F.C. in 1939, and ply their trade in Ryman League One.
They came close to earning promotion last season, but agonisingly lost on penalties in the play-off final, but were watched by a Brazilian super fan who made 6,000-mile round trip to watch them in action.
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