Pre-season fixtures are viewed by many players, after a summer of excess, as excruciating ordeals. Yet the part-timers of West Auckland Town could not be more excited about their match on August 1. They are playing Juventus in Turin.

It is an unlikely meeting. The Northern League first division strugglers avoided relegation last season only because of the economic downturn and the resignation of the Sunderland Nissan team. Juventus, the former European champions, finished runners-up in Serie A behind Inter Milan.

It is, though, an historical renewal of acquaintenances and one made easier this week by a donation of £10,000 from the Football Association to help towards the Co Durham club's travel costs. They can now follow in the footsteps of their forefathers of 1909, when Sir Thomas Lipton, a millionaire philanthopist, commissioned a trophy for world competition and, alongside sides from Italy, Switzerland and Germany, West Auckland were invited to represent Britain.

Their team, comprising mostly local coalminers, defeated Stuttgart in their opening match and went on to topple Winterthur, of Switzerland, 2-0 in the inaugural final to win the Sir Thomas Lipton trophy. It is widely acknowledged as the forerunner to the Jules Rimet trophy - the former World Cup.

Two years later, West Auckland returned to Italy and retained the trophy. After beating Zurich, they trounced Juventus 6-1 in the final. A repeat scoreline on August 1 is unlikely even if Ciro Ferrara, the Juventus coach, opts to leave out several of his star players, who include Gianluigi Buffon, Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet.

"The FA is delighted to support West Auckland's return to Turin," Lord Triesman, the FA chairman, said. "It's so important they are able to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their famous match with Juventus. This is a wonderful story and it's only right that they will be in Italy to commemorate the remarkable achievement of winning the Sir Thomas Lipton trophy."

West Auckland's pre-season fixture list has a surreal look to it: games against Crook, Willington, Darlington RA, Coxhoe ... and Juventus. With a little help from the FA, their anniversary waltz in Italy will come true. "We're delighted," Allen Bayles, their secretary, said. "This is a dream we had for a very long time becoming a reality."