A parliamentary football team led by Bradford MP Gerry Sutcliffe was taking to the field in Hungary today, looking to avenge one of English soccer's most embarrassing defeats.
The match marks the 45th anniversary of Hungary's crushing 6-3 victory over England - regarded as one of the greatest performances by a visiting team at Wembley.
Today's game, against a Hungarian Parliamentary Ele-ven, generated so much interest it was being held at the national stadium in Budapest and broadcast live on television.
As captain and goalkeeper, Bradford South Labour MP Gerry Sutcliffe said he hoped his team would continue its unbeaten run and reverse the score of 1953.
The former Bradford Council leader said: "We haven't lost for 18 months, so I'm hoping that run will continue. It's a bit of revenge for the 1953 result and also a good way to build relations between parliaments."
The Hungarian star player is the country's 36-year-old prime minister Viktor Orban, who was elected to office in May. The British team is made up of nine Labour MPs, one Liberal Democrat and Tory Euro-sceptic Nigel Evans.
Mr Sutcliffe said: "We've only got one Conservative so we thought we'd better stick him out on the right wing!"
The idea for the match came from Hungarian football star Ferenc Puskas - who played in the 1953 Wembley mauling and subsequent 7-1 thrashing of England in Budapest six months later.
George Robb, who played for England that day, has also made the trip for a reunion with Puskas and other surviving members of the Hungarian team.
Although the two sets of MPs were lining up as rivals their whistle-stop tour to Budapest will end with a meeting involving Hungary's sports minister.
Mr Sutcliffe said: "We will be meeting to discuss England's bid for the 2006 World Cup - which has received great backing from Hungary. And I will be presenting the prime minister with a Bradford City clock."
The trip was being sponsored by the Hungarian government and electricity operator Powergen.
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