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Introduction
The 1966 FIFA World Cup was memorable for many things – first and so far the only title in England’s history, a referee’s mistake in the final, or even a dog nicknamed Pickles finding a stolen World Cup trophy. However, it was the North Korean national team that was able to surprise not only with their performance but also with a unique occasion of friendship between the squad and Middlesbrough fans, which went far beyond the tense relations between the British and North Korean governments.
Preparation for the World Cup
In 1966, the attitude of the world community towards the small nation was already as cautious as possible. The totalitarian regime of Kim Il-Sung did not fit well with Western values. Initially, there was doubt as to whether the team would be allowed to enter the country and play under their flag in the first place.
The UK motivated its actions by claiming that it did not want to recognise North Korea in such a way. After a while, the British authorities agreed to a compromise, pointing out that allowing the DPRK team to play in their country did not necessarily mean recognition of North Korea anyway. All issues were resolved and the DPRK became the only team cantoned in Middlesbrough.
Initially, before the start of the competition, the North Korean team was looked upon as a mysterious curiosity. However, spectators who visited their opening training session were soon amazed by the team’s style of play, as well as the players’ incredible humility and friendly interactions with the locals. On top of that, the Koreans played in red – the same colour as Middlesbrough – so the locals felt sympathy for them.
The great underdogs
The first game against the USSR ended badly for North Korea, losing 3-0. The miracles came later. They drew with Chile in the second game, and one of the greatest surprises in World Cup history came in the third match – the Koreans had beaten one of the favourites of the tournament, Italy (1-0).
The victory sent North Korea into the quarter-finals. The achievement was the most far-reaching among Asian countries in World Cup tournaments – a record that was only broken by South Korea in 2002. The Korean players were so well-liked by the Middlesbrough natives that a crowd of 3,000 travelled to Liverpool to cheer on their new-found favourites at Goodison Park arena for the match against their next opponents, Portugal. The positive attitude of the Middlesbrough fans was reflected outside the football field as the Korean players were cheered on every time they were seen on the streets of the town.
The Koreans almost pulled off another sensation with a three-goal lead, but lost 3-5 to Portugal and were eliminated in the quarter-finals. Having shocked the world at the tournament, a national team player returned home.
Breaking 30 years of silence
Since then, nothing has been heard of the DPRK players for more than 30 years. But memories of their exploits remained in Middlesbrough so in the late 1990s film director Daniel Gordon offered to make a BBC documentary about such story. Gordon and Bonner were the first to bring a Western camera crew to North Korea to make a film about the legendary football players back in 2001. The North Korean government gave the former players unprecedented access to interviews. The released film, Game of Life, was broadcast unedited on North Korean television.
Following this, in a wave of euphoria, North Korean heroes returned to Middlesbrough in 2002 for the first time since 1966, and Middlesbrough Speaker Ken Hall hosted a civic reception for the returning Koreans, as Mayor Boothby had done some 36 years earlier. The return of the North Koreans attracted support from a number of communities, including Middlesbrough Council and Middlesbrough Football Club. Unprecedented excitement reigned in the town.
The footballers were welcomed solemnly and taken on a tour to places of fame. The Koreans were delighted with the reception, and eagerly shared their stories. In particular, the players noted that the enthusiastic voices of Middlesbrough citizens are still fresh in their minds. Middlesbrough’s football club chairman Steve Gibson, on the other hand, noted that the players are still warmly remembered.
New contacts, same reasons
After the North Koreans returned home for the second time, further efforts were made in Middlesbrough to mark international links and future interactions.
In 2003, the players returned to the UK and visited the already beloved town of Middlesbrough, where they were again greeted with a standing ovation at Middlesbrough Football Club – the DPRK flag was even flown from the town hall. That same year, Teesside soprano Susannah Clarke became the first British opera singer to perform in North Korea. Not coincidentally, it was she who had sung in Korean 12 months earlier, hailing the return of the North Korean national team to England.
In 2010, to mark the tenth anniversary of the British Embassy’s opening in Pyongyang, a pair of friendly matches were organised for the Middlesbrough women’s team in Pyongyang – marking the first time a British football team had ever visited North Korea. The decision was taken because the sides concluded that football was the best way to celebrate the anniversary, as it represented a passion that had long been shared by both sides.
Conclusion
These events demonstrate sport’s ability to transcend cultural barriers. There is no single explanation for the phenomenon of the friendship between North Korean footballers and citizens of a small town. But one thing is certain: the warm welcome and friendliness of the two sides, coupled with North Korea’s incredible performance at the World Cup, formed a rich and beautifully nostalgic memory that everyone involved strives to relive. This, with the confrontation between the two countries, is unlikely to lead to change on a global scale, but remains quite a good way of football diplomacy building ties at the grassroots level.
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About the author
Nikita Bokserov is SDSN Youth Sustainable Development Goals Coordinator and a sport for peace and development researcher.