General Harington Cup
Encyclopedia
General Harington Cup is the most important cup for Turkish
multisport club Fenerbahçe SK
in Fenerbahçe Museum
.
At the end of World War I
, the Ottoman Empire
were considered defeated and its lands have been invaded by Italian
, French
, Greek
and British
troops. On 13 November 1918 British troops entered Istanbul
and invasion was official.
During the course of invasion British troops arranged football matches with local teams. It still is a policy conducted by troops in foreign lands, considered as a P.R. thing. Fenerbahçe took place in many games and won 41 of 50 games played and lost only 4 games ended with a draw.
Fenerbahçe SK
was secretly moving guns to the Anatolia
meanwhile from its club building near Kurbağalıdere (can be translated as Froggy Creek) by small boats. Also the club's players were going to fronts, fighting against the invading troops, returning to Istanbul
to play games and moving more guns and ammo.
The British forces realized this as well so they raided the club building but club members got early information about the raid so the guns and ammo were moved and hidden in club members' houses or warehouses. The invasion forces were not able to find anything but they stayed in the club building for days to prevent further action.
The head commander of British troops was General Charles Harrington
and he was quite upset with this progress. He was looking for victory on the pitch as well as the war itself, while Turkish people were fighting with incredible manner all over the country.
It so happened that the Turk's resistance was finally paying off, invasion forces was strongly pushed back, victories in many fronts by sacrifices of Turkish people were taking place.
As it happens, the invasion started to fade, at the same time te Treaty of Lausanne
was on the horizon, and the Brits were getting ready to leave Istanbul
. Then came the ultimate final game, initiated by General Harrington
.
General Harrington wanted to leave the Turks with a memory of a heavy defeat whilst the British left, so he called in the best players of the Irish Guards
, Grenadier Guards
and Coldstream Guards
along with 4 professional players called in from the homelands. The team was collected under the name of the Coldstream Guards
and the British General issued an announcement in the newspapers. The announcement read like this:
(English: Guards Joint is challenging the Turkish clubs. The Turkish clubs can gather any reinforcements to their clubs for this game whose winner will be awarded a trophy which will be named after the Head Commander.)
Fenerbahçe replied briefly, with another announcement which was printed in the newspapers the following days:
(English: Fenerbahçe Club accepts this proposal with only its own squad, unconditionally.)
The game took place in the Taksim Stadium
on 23 June, 1923. The Governor of Malta
, Lord Plummer took his seat in the VIP
along with General Harrington
.
Fenerbahçe's line-up was like this:
Şekip Kulaksızoğlu - Hasan Kamil Sporel
(C), Cafer Çağatay - Kadri Göktulga, İsmet Uluğ, Fahir Yeniçay - Sabih Arca, Alaattin Baydar, Zeki Rıza Sporel
, Ömer Tanyeri, Bedri Gürsoy.
took control of the game in the second half, Zeki Rıza
's equaliser came on the 61st minute.
Zeki Rıza
scored the winner in the 74th minute and Fenerbahçe SK
continued to push forward in the remaining time but was unable to score another goal. 2-1 was enough to secure the win and the huge trophy.
The information of the victory was given to the Turkish generals discussing treaty conditions in Lausanne, İsmet İnönü
(who is the second president of Republic of Turkey, after Atatürk) replied with a telegram saying:
(English: On behalf of our committee I congratulate all of you with joy and kiss your eyes.)
won in its 104 years of history. It is made of silver and is 1 meter tall (approximately 3 feet, 4 inches).
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
multisport club Fenerbahçe SK
Fenerbahçe SK
Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü is a professional sports club based in Kadıköy, Istanbul, Turkey. The club derives its name from the Fenerbahçe neighbourhood of Istanbul. Fenerbahçe is one of the biggest and the best supported clubs in Turkey. They are nicknamed Sarı Kanaryalar )...
in Fenerbahçe Museum
Fenerbahçe Museum
Fenerbahçe Museum is a museum in Kadıköy, Istanbul founded in 1908 by Ali Rıza Bey. Museum located in Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium.-Football championships:...
.
At the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
were considered defeated and its lands have been invaded by Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
troops. On 13 November 1918 British troops entered Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
and invasion was official.
During the course of invasion British troops arranged football matches with local teams. It still is a policy conducted by troops in foreign lands, considered as a P.R. thing. Fenerbahçe took place in many games and won 41 of 50 games played and lost only 4 games ended with a draw.
Fenerbahçe SK
Fenerbahçe SK
Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü is a professional sports club based in Kadıköy, Istanbul, Turkey. The club derives its name from the Fenerbahçe neighbourhood of Istanbul. Fenerbahçe is one of the biggest and the best supported clubs in Turkey. They are nicknamed Sarı Kanaryalar )...
was secretly moving guns to the Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
meanwhile from its club building near Kurbağalıdere (can be translated as Froggy Creek) by small boats. Also the club's players were going to fronts, fighting against the invading troops, returning to Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
to play games and moving more guns and ammo.
The British forces realized this as well so they raided the club building but club members got early information about the raid so the guns and ammo were moved and hidden in club members' houses or warehouses. The invasion forces were not able to find anything but they stayed in the club building for days to prevent further action.
The head commander of British troops was General Charles Harrington
Charles Harington Harington
General Sir Charles Harington Harington GCB, GBE, DSO, DCL , was a British Army officer most noted for his service during the First World War and Chanak crisis...
and he was quite upset with this progress. He was looking for victory on the pitch as well as the war itself, while Turkish people were fighting with incredible manner all over the country.
It so happened that the Turk's resistance was finally paying off, invasion forces was strongly pushed back, victories in many fronts by sacrifices of Turkish people were taking place.
As it happens, the invasion started to fade, at the same time te Treaty of Lausanne
Treaty of Lausanne
The Treaty of Lausanne was a peace treaty signed in Lausanne, Switzerland on 24 July 1923, that settled the Anatolian and East Thracian parts of the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire. The treaty of Lausanne was ratified by the Greek government on 11 February 1924, by the Turkish government on 31...
was on the horizon, and the Brits were getting ready to leave Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. Then came the ultimate final game, initiated by General Harrington
Charles Harington Harington
General Sir Charles Harington Harington GCB, GBE, DSO, DCL , was a British Army officer most noted for his service during the First World War and Chanak crisis...
.
General Harrington wanted to leave the Turks with a memory of a heavy defeat whilst the British left, so he called in the best players of the Irish Guards
Irish Guards
The Irish Guards , part of the Guards Division, is a Foot Guards regiment of the British Army.Along with the Royal Irish Regiment, it is one of the two Irish regiments remaining in the British Army. The Irish Guards recruit in Northern Ireland and the Irish neighbourhoods of major British cities...
, Grenadier Guards
Grenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
and Coldstream Guards
Coldstream Guards
Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
along with 4 professional players called in from the homelands. The team was collected under the name of the Coldstream Guards
Coldstream Guards
Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
and the British General issued an announcement in the newspapers. The announcement read like this:
(English: Guards Joint is challenging the Turkish clubs. The Turkish clubs can gather any reinforcements to their clubs for this game whose winner will be awarded a trophy which will be named after the Head Commander.)
Fenerbahçe replied briefly, with another announcement which was printed in the newspapers the following days:
(English: Fenerbahçe Club accepts this proposal with only its own squad, unconditionally.)
The game took place in the Taksim Stadium
Taksim Stadium
Taksim Stadium was the first football stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. Originally the 19th century Taksim Artillery Barracks it was transformed into a stadium in 1921 and was located in the center of the city, on Taksim Square. The ground was the home of all major football clubs in Istanbul,...
on 23 June, 1923. The Governor of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, Lord Plummer took his seat in the VIP
VIP
VIP and V.I.P. is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:-In general:* Vacuum insulated panel* Values, Influence, and Peers, an anti-crime campaign in Ontario elementary schools* Variable Information Printing, a form of on-demand printing...
along with General Harrington
Charles Harington Harington
General Sir Charles Harington Harington GCB, GBE, DSO, DCL , was a British Army officer most noted for his service during the First World War and Chanak crisis...
.
Fenerbahçe's line-up was like this:
Şekip Kulaksızoğlu - Hasan Kamil Sporel
Hasan Kamil Sporel
Hasan Kamil Sporel was a famous Turkish football player. He plied his trade at the defender position for Fenerbahçe S.K. and the Turkey national football team. His started his professionel career with Fenerbahçe S.K. in 1911. Hasan spent his entire career with the club, setting numerous records....
(C), Cafer Çağatay - Kadri Göktulga, İsmet Uluğ, Fahir Yeniçay - Sabih Arca, Alaattin Baydar, Zeki Rıza Sporel
Zeki Riza Sporel
Zeki Rıza Sporel was a Turkish football player. He plied his trade at the striker position for Fenerbahçe and the Turkey national football team. His career started in the Fenerbahçe youth teams until he was promoted to the senior team. Zeki spent his entire career with the club, setting numerous...
, Ömer Tanyeri, Bedri Gürsoy.
Match Performance
The game was quite a close encounter in which the Guards Joint took the lead in the first half. Fenerbahçe SKFenerbahçe SK
Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü is a professional sports club based in Kadıköy, Istanbul, Turkey. The club derives its name from the Fenerbahçe neighbourhood of Istanbul. Fenerbahçe is one of the biggest and the best supported clubs in Turkey. They are nicknamed Sarı Kanaryalar )...
took control of the game in the second half, Zeki Rıza
Zeki Riza Sporel
Zeki Rıza Sporel was a Turkish football player. He plied his trade at the striker position for Fenerbahçe and the Turkey national football team. His career started in the Fenerbahçe youth teams until he was promoted to the senior team. Zeki spent his entire career with the club, setting numerous...
's equaliser came on the 61st minute.
Zeki Rıza
Zeki Riza Sporel
Zeki Rıza Sporel was a Turkish football player. He plied his trade at the striker position for Fenerbahçe and the Turkey national football team. His career started in the Fenerbahçe youth teams until he was promoted to the senior team. Zeki spent his entire career with the club, setting numerous...
scored the winner in the 74th minute and Fenerbahçe SK
Fenerbahçe SK
Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü is a professional sports club based in Kadıköy, Istanbul, Turkey. The club derives its name from the Fenerbahçe neighbourhood of Istanbul. Fenerbahçe is one of the biggest and the best supported clubs in Turkey. They are nicknamed Sarı Kanaryalar )...
continued to push forward in the remaining time but was unable to score another goal. 2-1 was enough to secure the win and the huge trophy.
The information of the victory was given to the Turkish generals discussing treaty conditions in Lausanne, İsmet İnönü
Ismet Inönü
Mustafa İsmet İnönü was a Turkish Army General, Prime Minister and the second President of Turkey. In 1938, the Republican People's Party gave him the title of "Milli Şef" .-Family and early life:...
(who is the second president of Republic of Turkey, after Atatürk) replied with a telegram saying:
(English: On behalf of our committee I congratulate all of you with joy and kiss your eyes.)
The Cup
This huge trophy is considered as the most important trophy that Fenerbahçe SKFenerbahçe SK
Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü is a professional sports club based in Kadıköy, Istanbul, Turkey. The club derives its name from the Fenerbahçe neighbourhood of Istanbul. Fenerbahçe is one of the biggest and the best supported clubs in Turkey. They are nicknamed Sarı Kanaryalar )...
won in its 104 years of history. It is made of silver and is 1 meter tall (approximately 3 feet, 4 inches).