Ryhope Hi-Friers, Sunderland chip shop side who won Copenhagen Cup, beating Norway 3-0 en route | OneFootball

A Sunderland chip shop team, the Ryhope Hi-Friers, lifted the Copenhagen Cup in Denmark in 1982. As reported by Sunderland Echo, the side sprang from a Ryhope fish and chip shop.

On their way to the final they beat Hafslund of Norway 3-0 and edged a tight semi-final on penalties. Gary Jones believes the final was against a Finnish side they had already met in the group. He struck the decisive goal in the showpiece.

Jones says friends tell him he conceded an early penalty in the final, something he cannot recall.

The shop owner formed the team and sent them to Denmark to test themselves. Officially called the Copenhagen Cup, the event drew more than 80 teams over four days from Canada, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Greenland, Germany, France and Belgium.

The squad still keep in touch, and their WhatsApp group is called the Hi Friers. The official programme expressed hope for a good and successful meeting, a wish the Wearside players duly fulfilled.

Source: Sunderland Echo