A WOMEN’S football team is returning home after a historic visit to one of the world’s most secretive countries.

A shared love of the beautiful game made possible a “Friendship Football Tour”

by Middlesbrough FC Ladies to North Korea.

The communist state’s men’s team achieved legendary status in Middlesbrough after reaching the last eight of the 1966 World Cup, which was hosted and eventually lifted by England.

When the underdogs beat Italy 1-0 at Middlesbrough’s former Ayresome Park ground, it caused one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.

Seven members of the original team paid a return visit to the Boro in 2002, and a year later, Middlesbrough-born soprano Suzannah Clarke became the first British performer to sing in North Korea.

The women, led by manager Marrie Wieczorek, flew out on Saturday. During their trip the group met the surviving members of the celebrated 1966 World Cup squad and were guests of honour at a reception hosted by British Ambassador to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

On the itinerary for the tightly managed visit was a barbeque with local players, trips to a funfair and a local school to give coaching sessions as well as sightseeing in the capital, Pyongyang.

North Korea’s women’s team is ranked fifth in the world and the sport is as popular as the men’s game.

Local sides April 25 and Kalmaegi showed off their prowess by thrashing Middlesbrough Ladies 6-2 and 5-0 in the two matches played during the trip.

The Teesside team also presented a letter from the chairman of Middlesbrough Football Club, Steve Gibson, expressing the bond forged between the two nations since the memorable visit in 1966.

He wrote: “I am delighted that, thanks to the efforts of many different people in DPRK and England, Middlesbrough’s Ladies’ team led by Marrie Wieczorek have been given the opportunity to visit your country and strengthen our relationship still further.”