Egri Erbstein
Tournament 2019
WINNERS: CORINTHIAN-CASUALS, ENGLAND
15-16 June,
budapest.
The inaugural Egri Erbstein Tournament was held in Budapest on the weekend of 15-16 June 2019. It was hosted by BAK, with the support of the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) and held at the characterful Szőnyi úti Stadion.
In the opening game, BAK took on Corinthian-Casuals, the highest-ranked amateur club in English football, who were visiting Hungary for the first time in 115 years. To mark the occasion, the Londoners brought the tournament trophy with them, announcing their intention that the Corinthian Cup be awarded to all future winners of the Egri Erbstein Tournament.
Corinthian-Casuals ran out 3-0 winners in the first match, while two more historic Budapest amateur clubs – BEAC and Testvériség – played out the other semi-final later the same day, with the latter earning a convincing 8-0 victory.
BAK won the third-place playoff the following day, before Corinthian-Casuals and Testvériség contested a hard-fought final. In the end, Harry Ottaway struck in the last minute of the game, ensuring that Corinthian-Casuals became the first-ever tournament winners.
BAK president, Bertlan Molnar, was joined at the medal ceremony by our guests of honour for the final: Erno Egri Erbstein’s daughters, Susanna Egri and Marta De Bosio, his grandson, Stefano De Bosio, the British ambassador to Hungary, Iain Lindsay, and the sporting director of Torino FC, Antonio Comi.
the venue
The inaugural Egri Erbstein Tournament was held at the atmospheric Szőnyi úti Stadion in the Zugló district of Budapest.
With a capacity of 12,000, the ground is home to Budapesti Vasutas Sport Club.
unforgettable experience
“To see Emile take on his player, cross it into Harry, to then score the goal, it was just amazing.
I won’t forget that day. I was just filled with joy.”
Corinthian-Casuals player Kevant Serbony discusses his experience of the 2019 Egri Erbstein Tournament in Budapest. The centre-midfielder played every minute as the famous London club defeated BAK and Testveriseg to win the competition and lift the Corinthian Cup.
the teams
The inaugural tournament saw four teams compete over two days in a knockout format: co-founders BAK and Corinthian-Casuals, along with BEAC and Testvériség.
the officials
The final of the 2019 Egri Erbstein Tournament was officiated by high-profile Hungarian referee, Viktor Kassai, who previously participated in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and refereed the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final.
“We are a very, very small lower-league amateur team, but we have a very bright and memorable past… this was like a dream for us. All of our players have just played in the lower levels of the Hungarian leagues, or most of them, so there is no similar experience for them and this event was maybe the pinnacle of their sporting life, I can tell you.”
Bertalan Molnar, BAK President and tournament co-founder
blind football
The weekend of the 2019 Egri Erbstein Tournament began with a blind football championship match between BAK and LÁSS, the first two blind football teams in Hungary. The first-ever Hungarian Blind Football Final for the Értéksziget Trophy took place on Friday 14 June 2019, and LÁSS took the title.
