The 1924 Olympics in Paris marked a high point in the history of Swiss Football.
In 19 years of international football the Swiss had played 53 matches, recording 15 wins, 9 draws and 29 defeats.
At the tournament they began by smashing Lithuania 9-0. Paul Sturzenegger (FC Zurich) scored 4 and Max 'Xam' Abegglen (Grasshopper) 3.
In the next round they drew 1-1 with Czechoslovakia, winning the replay 1-0.
The following match saw Sturzenegger and Abegglen score as Vittorio Pozzo's Italy were beaten 2-1.
Abegglen added another 2 goals to his tally as Switzerland beat Sweden 2-1. This game took place on the 5th June, which was also the expiry date for the Swiss party's rail tickets! They considered withdrawing in order to avoid incurring additional costs but a newspaper appeal raised the funds needed to prolong their stay in Paris. This victory over the Swedes, the surprise package of the games, set up a final against Uruguay.
The Swiss were easily beaten 3-0 in front of a crowd of 60,000. Abegglen finished top scorer with 6 goals (second only to Petrone, on 8) and Sturzenegger scored 5. Xam Abegglen scored 34 goals in 68 appearances for Switzerland , a record that was unequaled until 2001.
The Swiss national team was run by a three man committee known as the Technical Commission. Each area of the country was represented by a coach. The Swiss favoured this arrangement up until the 1934 World Cup. In this case the trio was Jimmy Hogan (England-Young Boys), Dori Kürschner (Hungary- Grasshopper) and Teddy Duckworth (England- Servette). Hogan, of course, was one of the most influential figures in the development of continental football. Kürschner had enjoyed success in Hungary, Germany and with Grasshopper- but it was his influence on Brazilian coaching and tactics that later made his name. The triumvirate was headed by Teddy Duckworth.
Duckworth was the man who actually took the team to Paris, and it was he who was awarded a silver medal.
Duckworth (whose first names were Thomas Crook- Teddy being a nickname) was born in Blackpool, Lancashire. He made his debut for Blackpool FC in 1902. He played at outside right.
He played 9 games in the 1902-03 season before moving to West Ham United of the Southern League. He then joined First Division Blackburn Rovers. His only 1st team appearance in 2 seasons at Rovers came on 1st October 1904, a 1-0 defeat at home to The Wednesday. Duckworth rejoined Blackpool in 1905-06, making a further 21 appearances for the club.
Duckworth's coaching career appears to have begun in 1919 when he joined Servette. Under his leadership
Servette won Swiss Série A in 1922,1925, 1926 and 1930. They won the Swiss Cup in 1928.
Duckworth led the Switzerland selection to the Olympics in 1928, but they went out in the first round, beaten 4-0 by Germany.
