Canada coach John Herdman used to tell his kids the legend of how West Auckland rather than Uruguay were the first winners of the World Cup.
It’s an incredible story that the 47-year-old is likely to revisit when he tries to convince his players that they aren’t going to Qatar just to make up the numbers after being drawn into a group that includes Belgium, Croatia and Morocco.
The Maple Leafs have qualified for football’s biggest tournament since Herdman was an 11-year-old growing up in the town of Consett in County Durham. And Herdman’s belief that they have everything to gain and nothing to lose might prompt him to tell the tale of West Auckland and their odyssey to Turin to play in the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy in 1909.
The tournament was dubbed an unofficial world championship - and West Auckland beat Swiss club FC Winterthur 2-0 in the final. Two years later, they returned to triumph again, this time beating mighty Juventus 6-1 to retain the trophy.
Herdman said: “Whenever I drive back home I always drive down the A68 past Bishop Auckland. I used to tell my kids that there is a club there called West Auckland who won the first World Cup. It’s a cool story.
"I actually once played a game at West Auckland when I was a young player. I think they made a film out of it. The north-east has so many great football stories to tell. We’re hard-working, down-to-earth people who respect where we come from and understand the things that have contributed to our DNA.
“I would like to think that my players have got the kind of spirit that the people from my hometown will recognise. We work hard. In a way, we’re a blue collar team.
“There is nothing but opportunity for Canada at this World Cup. We have to approach it with the desire to prove people wrong. I want us to embrace and enjoy it.”
Canada’s only World Cup adventure saw them lose three games in Mexico in 1986 without scoring a goal. They have already qualified for the tournament in 2026 as co-hosts with the United States and Mexico. And Herdman has plenty of his own heroes to call on for inspiration.
He is proud to hail from the same hot-bed that forged World Cup-winning brothers Sir Bobby and Jackie Charlton as well as Paul Gascoigne and his own personal hero Sir Bobby Robson.
Herdman said: “Bobby Robson is my idol as a manager because he had this ability to get the best out of people. I wish I could have met him because, for me, Italia ‘90 was the best World Cup I have ever experienced.
“Sir Bobby had a lot of lads from the north-east in his England squad - and Paul Gascoigne was my favourite player because of the flair and creativity he showed on the biggest stage of all.
“I met Gazza recently - and it was a massive thrill. Jack Charlton as well when he used to come back to watch Newcastle. “There’s an old saying that you should never meet your heroes - but I am so glad that I have.”
