On 8 May 1898 Genoa won the final of the first national championship in Turin. The beginning of the legend for the first, great Italian team to proselytize and hoard titles. The awarded cup, the “Challenge Cup”, is kept in the Museum of the History of Genoa in the Porto Antico. It is the oldest official trophy of our football. The players received a plaque as a reward.
Champions – Well yes. The “Challenge Cup”, the first attributed cup which was on display in Adolf Jourdan’s shop, in Piazza Vittorio in Turin, the work of the goldsmith Cravero and a gift from the Duke of Abruzzi, flew placidly into our hands. Two years later the definitive award was made, after winning the third championship. The Genoa Cricket and Athletic Club, holder of the oldest document certifying its foundation, the first to adopt the rules of the International Football Association Board, won the final against the Turin International. A day marked as special on the calendar.
Football heroes – The final was decided by a Leaver goal in extra time, after Spensley’s goal and the 1-1 with which regulation ended. Stories of men who made history. At the Velodromo Umberto I° in Turin the cost of the ticket was 0.25 lire for the qualifying rounds; for the whole day a place on the stage cost a lira. Genoa prevailed despite a player out of action. These are the eleven who signed the undertaking: Baird, De Galleani, Ghigliotti, Passadoro, Pasteur, Ghiglione, Leaver, Bocciardo, Dapples, Bertollo, Le Pelley. First to be born. First to win.
