THE tale of how amateur side West Auckland FC won the first World Cup, or to be correct the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy, in 1909, remains strangely underrepeated.

Of course, anyone driving through the village is greeted by road signs proclaiming “Home of the first World Cup”

and TV fans will remember the 1981 production A Captain’s Tale, with Dennis Waterman.

But the astounding story persists in being an only halfrecalled fact, such as Pluto is no longer a planet.

Fitting, then, that on the 100th anniversary of the stunning success, the story be immortalised in script.

Alf Ramsey Knew My Grandfather is the latest play from Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood, writers of Dirty Dusting, Waiting for Gateaux and Maggie’s End. It takes a hilarious modern slant on the tale. One wonders whether 1909 pitmen-turned-amateurfootballers really swore as much as their stage interpretations and whether they actually hugged, kissed and jumped on top of each other to celebrate a goal.

But these contemporary additions – along with a cameo appearance by Hartlepool’s own Jeff Stelling, of Soccer Saturday fame – bring the theatre to a young, male audience who might otherwise be out of reach.

The show offers a great night’s entertainment and made this County Durham lad once more proud to call God’s own country, as West Auckland manager Sydney Barron put it, home.

■ Alf Ramsey Knew My Grandfather runs until next Saturday. Tickets are £10 to £13, on 0191-332-4041.