23-24 June,
london.

The second edition of the Egri Erbstein Tournament was hosted by the inaugural champions, Corinthian-Casuals, at their home ground, King George’s Arena, in Tolworth, south-west London.

The hosts were joined by co-founders Budapesti Atlétikai Klub, alongside the world’s oldest football club, Sheffield FC, and Somali British Champions League winners, Hilltop FC.

Corinthian-Casuals got the action started with a 2-0 win over fellow Londoners, Hilltop, giving the home crowd – boosted by a sizeable Brazilian contingent – something to cheer about. Sheffield then ran riot in the first half against BAK, running up a 5-0 lead before the break, but the Hungarians rallied in the second half and could feel unlucky to end up on the wrong side of a 7-0 scoreline given some of the patient passing football they played.

BAK turned up for the third-place playoff the following day claiming to have learned much from their first game on English soil, and so it proved as they took the lead against a talented Hilltop side. In the second half, the representatives of the London Somali community pressed for the equaliser and found it, forcing the game to a penalty shoot-out from which they emerged victorious.

The final was another close-fought encounter, not to mention historic. This was the first time Corinthian-Casuals and Sheffield FC had met since 1894, when the former were represented by the pre-merger Casuals. It turned out to be a highly competitive match, played at the tempo of a traditional English cup tie, between two sides with contrasting styles. Although both clubs pushed forward in search of goals, they looked set to cancel each other out until the hosts were reduced to 10 men late in the second half.  

With moments left on the clock, Sheffield striker Connor Cutts rose to meet a perfectly delivered corner from Stephen Brogan – who was named Player of the Tournament – and headed home the only goal of the game.

Corinthian-Casuals relinquished their grip on the trophy, which was presented to Sheffield FC by Stefano De Bosio, the grandson of Erno Egri Erbstein. The silverware went north, but the hosts could reflect proudly on a successful weekend that showcased non-league football and the ‘Corinthian Spirit’ at its very best. It was a perfect example of the kind of wholehearted, competitive football that Erbstein espoused during his glittering managerial career.

the teams

The 2022 tournament saw four teams compete over two days in a knockout format: co-founders BAK and Corinthian-Casuals, along with Sheffield FC and Hilltop.