The Soccer Ashes

The Socceroos this month retained Football’s lesser-known version, “The Soccer Ashes," beating New Zealand 1-0 in Canberra and 3-1 in Auckland.

The "Soccer Ashes" serve as the prize whenever Australia and New Zealand clash.

The ANZAC Soccer Ashes trophy is more than 100 years old.

It was built to hold the ashes of cigars smoked by Australian captain Alex Gibb and New Zealand captain George Campbell following the first Football game between the two nations in Australia in 1923.

The ashes were sealed in a special silver-plated razor case that was carried at the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli in 1915 by Queensland Football Association Secretary, Private William Fisher, which itself was then contained in a wooden casket built from a combination of New Zealand honeysuckle and Australian maple.

Envisioned in 1923 as a symbol of the bond between the two countries, the Soccer Ashes served as the prize during clashes between the Socceroos and All Whites until 1954, when it mysteriously disappeared.

For 70 years, the whereabouts of the Soccer Ashes was unknown. That was until, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the grandchildren of Football Australia Hall of Fame Member Sydney Storey discovered the trophy in immaculate condition and amongst a trove of other Australian footballing artefacts while clearing out their late grandfather’s garage.

Australia won the first four series the Soccer Ashes were up for grabs prior to their disappearance, and then claimed a 2-0 win in 2023 in the first meeting between the two nations following the trophy's recovery, one century after the cigars of Australia captain Alex Gibb and New Zealand captain George Campbell turned to ash.

The Socceroos medical staff, including Dr Jones, enjoyed a photo with the trophy after the Socceroos recent win.