Borne on a wave of footballing nostalgia, English minnows Exeter City lifted silverware in Rio on Sunday following an historic rematch of Brazil’s first ever international encounter.
Before a 900 crowd, including 180 of their own fans enjoying the most unusual of pre-season tours for a lower league outfit, the southwestern side held the under23 team of top flight Fluminense to a goalless draw at a stadium almost twice as old as the Maracana,
The bijou Laranjeiras venue may no longer host league action, but it was where, on July 21, 1914, a Brazil select beat an Exeter side who had been touring Argentina and who accepted a duel in Rio on the way home.
Exeter skipper Scot Bennett lifted the purple-ribboned Marcos Carneiro de Mendonca Cup, named after Brazil’s first goalkeeper, who played for Fluminense.
But it was the symbolism of the occasion which won the day, which for the traveling contingent was like winning the World Cup itself.
“It’s a shame this couldn’t have launched the World Cup,” said City fan Gary Nelson, wearing a Rebel Tour 14 shirt in Exeter red and white.
“I came the long way – via Texas, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Ascuncion and Foz de Iguacu getting to Rio yesterday. An adventure!”
Paul Garnham, 37, had been in Rio on World Cup final day a week earlier – but balked at ticket tout prices.
“One was going for $500 – I know someone paid $1000 -- but it was a fake!”
Steve Conabeer, 48, insisted the Exeter game experience meant more to him than the World Cup itself.
“As soon as it was announced I thought, ‘I’ve got to go or I’ll go to my grave regretting it’. But I do in a way wish we’d played this at the Maracana.”
Standing proudly pitchside before a mid-morning kickoff allowing time for the visitors to attend a Fluminense versus Santos league game outside Rio later Sunday, was 58-year-old Martin McGahey.
“This is where it all began. A century ago, my great-grandfather, Michael John McGahey (then Exeter’s general manager), brought a ball across.”- Links to 1914 -
Touching that selfsame ball, emerging from the club museum in the stadium bowels, McGahey told AFP: “This is the direct link to that game.”
Fluminense official Ricardo Calcado was quick to explain that fears of hooliganism were not the reason for seating the Exeter support in the ‘away’ end.
“We wanted to seat everybody together but we are worried about the security of the old stadium and fire regulations stipulated we can only have so many people on one side,” Calcado told AFP.
“We are proud to welcome back Exeter after 100 years because the history of the Brazil team started here.
Pensioner Marcio Pernambuco proudly said his grandfather Mario had been on that first Brazilian select XI, showing him in a picture of the side that went off to face and beat Argentina weeks later in Buenos Aires.
“I feel great emotion here today – the hairs are rising on my arms and the back of my neck,” Pernambuco told AFP.
“Sadly, my grandfather died early – I barely knew him. He was a defender, a left back.”