Rare football finds prove a real feather in the cap
THEY are two incredibly rare slices of football memorabilia that any selfrespecting West Midlands fan would give his right arm to own.
And the items, chronicling landmark moments in Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion’s history, are being sold at the saleroom.com auction.
One of the rarest items is an England cap earned by Baggies legend, full back Billy Williams, during the 1897-98 season. Such early caps are incredibly sought-after – and the lot has a reserve price of £4,000.
Highly collectable programmes are more within the budget of regular fans. One is from Blues’ May
1961 International Soccer League clash with Third Lanark at New York Polo Grounds. Third Lanark won the game – effectively a friendly – 2-1.
Because it is very scarce, the programme is expected to realise more than £130. Third Lanark memorabilia is highly collectable.
Oldbury collector Tim Beddows, who owns the slice of sporting memorabilia, says: “The interesting thing is that Glasgow’s Third Lanark no longer exists.
“They went out of business in 1967, just six years before they finished third in the league.”
There is huge excitement over Billy Williams’ England cap, which was acquired by West Bromwich collector Matthew Bytheway.
“For a cap to surface from that era is very, very rare,” he says. “At the time, England only played three internationals a season – against Wales, Ireland and Scotland – and players only received one cap a season. Williams played six times for England, but only got three caps.
“Over 25 years ago, I was offered all three of his caps. Back then, the person wanted £100 for each of them and I was earning £360 a month. I just couldn’t afford it.
“Williams’ career was ended by a cartilage injury. Back then, that spelled the end for a footballer.”
The Smethwick-born star made his league debut for West Bromwich Albion, joining the Baggies for the princely sum of £20 in 1894.
He featured for Albion in the 1895
FA Cup Final, which was won 1-0 by arch-rivals Aston Villa, the goal coming in the first 30 seconds.
Williams made his England debut in the 1896-97 season in a British Home Championship match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham – the home nation trounced Ireland 6-0.
He continued to be an ever-present in the West Bromwich team until 1901, when the injury forced him to quit the game. In retirement, he became a coach and scout for his beloved Baggies and also kept pubs.
Williams died on January 22 in 1929, aged 52.