Despite the disappointment of losing the semi-final of the A.F.A. Amateur Senior Cup to Moor Green, Boldmere had their eye on another competition being played in Belgium during Easter 1939. During that decade English clubs like Moor Green and then Boldmere St. Michaels began a series of European tours competing for the `Verviers Trophy` This competition in Belgium and sponsored by `Le Jour` newspaper in Belguim was a forerunner to the European Cup, in which professional sides from Germany, France, Belgium and Holland faced amateur teams from England.
Boldmere embarked on its first continental tour, winning the `Verviers Trophy in Belgium.
Footnote. Moor Green (who merged with Solihull Borough at the start of the 2007-2008 season) began a series of European tours themselves. Their highlight was winning the Verviers Trophy in both the 1932/1933 and the 1936/1937 seasons. This was a forerunner of the European Cup, in which professional sides from Europe faced amateur teams from England. It appears that the Football Assocation of that time banned professional clubs from playing?
On the first occasion Moor Green surprised everyone by reaching the final and beating the mighty Eindhoven to bring the trophy back to Birmingham.
In the 1938 competition Moors attracted their biggest ever crowd when over 15,000 watched them lose to Ajax in Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium. (Source the Solihull Moors History page and to Henry Allard of Kings Heath, Birmingham who wrote into the `Sunday Mercury` on 20th July)
For more on the Boldmere and Moor Green teams who played in the 1930`s read my book `A History of Boldmere St Michaels FC` which is available now.
The first british winners of an international trophy (the Lipton Cup) were West Auckland Town in 1909. They beat FC Winterthur 2-0. In 1911 they won it again beating Juventus FBC 6-1 (thanks to Joel Butler of Olton, Solihull who wrote into the Sunday Mercury on 20th July)
Supporter and former player of the 1950-1951 season Ken Robinson (84 years) remembers watching Bert Crossthwaites playing in goal for the `Mikes` team in the 1930`s. Ken said in June 2008, “Bert was `deaf and dumb` but he was a great keeper. I once saw him make this save when he dived to his right and caught the ball in his right hand and at the same time while in the air he brought the ball into his chest.”
