ASSOCIATION CODE “ASHES”

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25580, 23 August 1948, Page 3

ASSOCIATION CODE “ASHES”

ORIGIN OF TROPHY

Australian and New Zealand Association football teams play for tangible “Ashes.” a trophy first competed for in 1923, but dating back to the First World War. Before he let with the Australian Imperial Force. Mr W. I Fisher, secretary of the Queensland Football Association was presented with a safety razor case and he had it with him at the landing on Gallipoli. When this Anzac memento was presented to the manager of the New Zealand team which toured Australia in 1923. Mr H. G. Meyer, he conceived the idea of making a container for some actual “ashes” to be preserved in permanent form as a trophy to be competed for in test matches between New Zealand and Australia. The ashes from cigars smoked by George Campbell, captain of the New Zealand team, and Aiex Gibb, captain of the Australian side, at two banquets arranged by the Australians were collected and retained for placing in the container. The razor case was restored to new condition and the lid surmounted by a silver soccer ball. A box was made of Australian and New Zealand timbers by Mr J S. Kean. The front panel bears a silver kangaroo in the centre with a silver fernleaf on each side. Inside the lid is a silver plate inscribed: “This safety razor case was at the landing of the Australian and New Zealand forces at Gallipoli and contains the ashes of cigars smoked by G. Campbell, the New Zealand captain, and A. Gibb, the Australian captain, at banquets held in Brisbane, June 6, 1923, and in Sydney, June 16, The container is mounted on silver feet. On the front of the base is a silver plate inscribed: “New Zealand and Australian Soccer Ashes. This casket is made of New Zealand and Australian woods and was presented by H. G. Meyer, manager of the New Zealand team touring Australia. 1923 season. The Ashes are contained in the canister inside this casket.” On the back of the base a slightly larger plate bears the record of games to date, as follows: 1922 — New Zealand, two wins, one draw. 1923 — New Zealand two wins, one loss. 1933—Australia three wins. 1936—Australia, three wins. Thirteen test matches have been played since 1923. Australia has won eight and New Zealand four, with one drawn.