The long-lost Anzac Soccer Trophy has finally been found in Australia, 68 years after its disappearance.
After the first-ever match between New Zealand and Australia, cigar ashes smoked by opposing captains were put into a casket, made by Kiwi Harry Mayer in 1923.
Part of the trophy was carried by an Australian soldier at the landing of Gallipoli in 1915, and used as a powerful symbol to underpin the strong trans-Tasman bond and rivalry.
It was contested until 1954, but was considered lost until family of former Australian Soccer Football Association chairman Sydney Storey uncovered it.
NZ Football chief executive Andrew Prangell hails the discovery as a huge moment for trans-Tasman football.
"It is brilliant news that the Ashes have been found, so I want to thank Football Australia and the Storey family for everything they have done to recover a significant and storied piece of trans-Tasman sporting history," he said.
"This is a legendary trophy in Australian and New Zealand football history, but also potentially our future. We know how much the trans-Tasman rivalry means to football fans in both countries, so we would love to bring the Ashes back into circulation at some point.
"With the co-hosted FIFA Women's World Cup this year, and All Whites and Ford Football Ferns games against Australia last year, there has never been a better time for us to collaborate with Football Australia.
"We are stronger when we work together, football continues to grow at pace on both sides of the ditch and we look forward to the next 100 years of trans-Tasman football."
