Soccer Ashes

Soccer Ashes
Founded1923 (1923)
Teams2
Current champions Australia
Most championships Australia
(6 series wins)

The Soccer Ashes is an association football trophy contested by Australia and New Zealand.[1] It was initially held between the 1920s and 1950s before the trophy was lost.[2][3] The trophy was found in 2023, and a renewal was held in London in October.[1]

History

The concept of awarding a trophy made of ashes was inspired by the Ashes urn awarded to the winner of series between Australia and England in cricket.

The Soccer Ashes were created in 1923 after New Zealand had defeated Australia in the inaugural series in 1922. The ashes consisted of the remains of cigars smoked by the two captains, Alec Gibb (Australia) and George Campbell (New Zealand), after the first match between the two teams on Australian soil in June 1923. The ashes were encased in a razor case used by Australian soldier, William Fisher during the Gallipoli campaign during World War I. Fisher was also the secretary of the Queensland Football Association.[4] The case was then set in a box made of wood from both countries.[5][6][7]

The whereabouts of the trophy were not known from the mid-1950s until it was found in 2023 at the estate of former Australian Soccer Football Association chairman Sydney Storey by his grandchildren.[8][7] Upon the recovery of the trophy, the first edition of the match since 1954 was scheduled for October.[1] It was played in London, with Australia winning the series.[9][10][11]

The All Whites and Socceroos played a two-match series in September 2025. Australia won the first match 1–0 in Canberra and the second match 3–1 in Auckland, thereby securing the Soccer Ashes trophy.[12]

List of Soccer Ashes series

Editions

1922

17 June New Zealand  3–1  Australia Dunedin, New Zealand
 Report
Stadium: Carisbrook
Attendance: 10,000~
Referee: M. Thornley (New Zealand)
24 June New Zealand  1–1  Australia Wellington, New Zealand
 Report
Stadium: Athletic Park
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: R.S. Lithgrow (New Zealand)
8 July New Zealand  3–1  Australia Auckland, New Zealand
 Report
Stadium: Carlaw Park
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: L.C.H. Dawson (New Zealand)

New Zealand won 2−1–0 on series.

1923

9 June Australia  2–1  New Zealand Brisbane, Australia
 Report
Stadium: Brisbane Cricket Ground
Attendance: 7,000[13]
Referee: M. Thornley (New Zealand)
16 June Australia  2–3  New Zealand Sydney, Australia
 Report
Stadium: Sydney Cricket Ground
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: A. Jackson (Australia)
30 June Australia  1–4  New Zealand Newcastle, Australia
 Report
Stadium: Newcastle Showground
Attendance: 14,000
Referee: LB Tamlyn (Australia)

New Zealand won 2−0–1 on series.

1933

5 June Australia  4–2  New Zealand Brisbane, Australia
  • Smith 20' (?)
  • Gorring (?), 80'
 Report
Stadium: Brisbane Exhibition Ground
Attendance: 5,000[14]
Referee: Z. Korotcoff (Australia)
17 June Australia  6–4  New Zealand Sydney, Australia
 Report Stadium: Sydney Cricket Ground
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: D. Quinn (Australia)
24 June Australia  4–2  New Zealand Sydney, Australia
 Report
Stadium: Sydney Cricket Ground
Referee: D. Quinn (Australia)

Australia won 3−0–0 on series.

1936

4 July New Zealand  1–7  Australia Dunedin, New Zealand
 Report
Stadium: Logan Park
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: W.P. Smith (New Zealand)
11 July New Zealand  0–10  Australia Wellington, New Zealand
Report
  • Smith 32' (?), 53' (?)
  • Price 9' (?)
  • Cameron 28', 48'
  • Donaldson (?)
 Stadium: Basin Reserve
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: G. Jackson (New Zealand)
18 July New Zealand  1–4  Australia Auckland, New Zealand
  • Haggett (?)
 Report
Stadium: Blandford Park
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: A. Firth (New Zealand)

Australia won 3−0–0 on series.

1948

14 August New Zealand  0–6  Australia Wellington, New Zealand
Report
  • Parsons (?)
  • Hughes (?)
  • Cunningham (?)
 Stadium: Basin Reserve
Attendance: [15]
Referee: V. Wheeler (New Zealand)
28 August New Zealand  0–7  Australia Christchurch, New Zealand
Report
Stadium: Lancaster Park
Referee: T. Gottermeyer (New Zealand)
4 September New Zealand  0–4  Australia Wellington, New Zealand
Report
Stadium: Basin Reserve
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: J. Sanderson (New Zealand)

Australia won 3−0–0 on series.

1954

14 August Australia  1–2  New Zealand Melbourne, Australia
14:45 UTC+10
  • Robertson 75'
 Report
Stadium: Melbourne Showgrounds
Referee: George Gatt (Australia)
28 August Australia  4–1  New Zealand Brisbane, Australia
15:15
Report
Stadium: Brisbane Cricket Ground
Attendance: 6,400
Referee: V. Robertson (Australia)
4 September Australia  4–1  New Zealand Sydney, Australia
15:00
Report
Stadium: Sydney Sports Ground
Attendance: 5,798
Referee: Dick Thorpe (Australia)

Australia won 2−0–1 on series.

2023

Australia 2–0 New Zealand
 Report
Attendance: 5,761
Australia[16]
New Zealand[16]
GK1Mathew Ryan (c)
RB17Lewis Millerdownward-facing red arrow 46'
CB19Harry Souttar
CB23Alessandro Circati
LB5Jordan Bosdownward-facing red arrow 66'
DM20Keanu Baccus
RM6Martin Boyledownward-facing red arrow 82'
CM21Massimo Luongodownward-facing red arrow 66'
CM8Connor Metcalfedownward-facing red arrow 81'
LM16Aziz Behich
CF15Mitchell Dukedownward-facing red arrow 66'
Substitutions:
DF13Ryan Strainupward-facing green arrow 46'
FW9Brandon Borrelloupward-facing green arrow 66'
FW10Craig Goodwinupward-facing green arrow 66'
MF22Jackson Irvineupward-facing green arrow 66'
MF14Aiden O'Neillupward-facing green arrow 81'
FW7Samuel Silveraupward-facing green arrow 82'
Manager:
Graham Arnold
GK22Michael Woud
CB5Michael Boxalldownward-facing red arrow 81'
CB6Bill Tuilomadownward-facing red arrow 73'
CB4Nando Pijnaker
RM20Callum McCowatt
CM7Matthew Garbett
CM8Marko Stamenić
LM13Liberato Cacace
RF16Elijah Justdownward-facing red arrow 73'
CF9Chris Wood (c)downward-facing red arrow 81'
LF17Alex Greivedownward-facing red arrow 67'
Substitutions:
FW14Joe Champnessupward-facing green arrow 67'
FW19Ben Waineupward-facing green arrow 73'
DF2Niko Kirwanupward-facing green arrow 73'
FW21Max Mataupward-facing green arrow 81'
DF18Tyler Bindonupward-facing green arrow 81'
Manager:
England Darren Bazeley

Assistant referees:
Simon Bennett (England)
Lee Betts (England)
Fourth official:
Darren England (England)

2025

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Australia 4–1 New Zealand1–03–1
5 September Australia  1–0  New Zealand Canberra, Australia
19:45 UTC+10
Source Stadium: GIO Stadium
Attendance: 19,115
Referee: Donald Robertson (Scotland)
9 September New Zealand  1–3  Australia Auckland, New Zealand
19:00 UTC+12
Source
Stadium: Mount Smart Stadium
Attendance: 18,213
Referee: Donald Robertson (Scotland)

Australia won 4–1 on aggregate.

Performances

As of 9 September 2025.

Overall Match Results:
Matches played  Australia wins  New Zealand wins Draws
211551
Overall Series Results:
Series played  Australia wins  New Zealand wins Draws
8620

Statistics

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "All Whites to face Socceroos for historic Soccer Ashes trophy this October in London". www.nzfootball.co.nz. New Zealand Football. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  2. ↑ Rugari, Vince; Bossi, Dominic (11 April 2019). "FFA backing fresh push to find the lost 'Soccer Ashes'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  3. ↑ Bertram, Gavin (22 April 2015). "Anzac Ashes the forgotten sporting battle played between Australia and New Zealand". Stuff. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  4. ↑ Houston, J., (1952) Association football in New Zealand, Wellington: A.H. & A.W. Reed, p. 50.
  5. ↑ "Soccer Ashes". Sun-Herald. 5 September 1954. Retrieved 19 February 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "The Soccer Ashes of Australasia". Hawera & Normanby Star. 3 May 1924. Retrieved 19 February 2014 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  7. 1 2 "ANZAC Soccer Ashes Trophy recovered". Football Australia. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  8. ↑ "Anzac 'Soccer Ashes' trophy found after vanishing for 69 years". Guardian Australia. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  9. ↑ Lynch, Joey (18 October 2023). "Jackson Irvine seals Socceroos win over New Zealand to claim 'Soccer Ashes'". Guardian Australia. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  10. ↑ Curulli, Chris (13 July 2023). "What is the Soccer Ashes Trophy? Find out more about the prize for October's match v New Zealand". socceroos.com.au. Football Australia (FA). While the Soccer Ashes trophy was not masterminded and built until 1923, it was actually played for a year earlier. Australia and New Zealand took to the pitch for their first 'A' Internationals in June 1922 in Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland, before a return tour in Australia in 1923. With a well-organised set-up, boosted by the heroics of their captain George Campbell, New Zealand had the edge throughout these fixtures, winning two and drawing one of the first series.
  11. ↑ Gibson, Tim (18 October 2023). "Socceroos secure Soccer Ashes with comfortable New Zealand win". Socceroos. Football Australia.
  12. ↑ Voerman, Andrew (9 September 2025). "Chris Wood ends trans-Tasman goal drought but All Whites lose to Socceroos again". Stuff. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  13. ↑ "Socceroo Internationals for 1923". ozfootball.net.
  14. ↑ "Socceroo Internationals for 1933". ozfootball.net.
  15. ↑ "Socceroo Internationals for 1948". ozfootball.net.
  16. 1 2 "Tactical Line-ups – Australia v New Zealand". espn.com. ESPN. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
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