Region’s football history
SCORES OF ITEMS FROM THE NORTH EAST’S SPORTING PAST FOR SALE
Heritage Reporter A GOLD medal from the last time Newcastle United won a major domestic trophy is to be sold in London today.
But the identity of the United player who won the 1955 FA Cup final winner’s medal is a mystery.
Newcastle defeated Manchester City 3-1 in the final, with Jackie Milburn scoring the then fastest goal at Wembley after 45 seconds.
But the mystery medal is not Jackie’s. His winner’s medals from the 1951, 1952 and 1955 FA Cup finals are on display at St James’ Park.
The 1955 medal will be sold by Graham Budd Auctions and is valued at £3,000-£5,000.
“It would be fascinating to find out which player the medal belonged to,” said Mr Budd.
A Football League Division One 1935-36 champions medal awarded to an unnamed Sunderland player will also be auctioned at £2,000-£3,000. But also on offer is a Durham Football Association senior professional cup winners’ medal, estimated at £300-£500, awarded to Sunderland player Len Duns in the same year. This suggest the First Division medal may also have belonged to Duns. The medals are from the deceased estate of a North East collector.
Mr Budd said: “It is a massive collection. He collected from the FA Cup to the Football League to Sunday amateur football, and everything in between. Many of the medals relate to football in the North East.”
Another medal was awarded in 1928-29 to Derby County player Bobby Barclay, who was born in Scotswood in Newcastle and was signed from amateur football by Derby manager and former Newcastle United player George Jobey. The medal is estimated at £200£250.
Also for sale from the collection is the whistle used by County Durham referee Harry Nattrass in the 1936 Arsenal v Sheffield United FA Cup final. The Acme Thunderer whistle is priced at £500-£700.
Nattrass was also the referee in the Scotland v Germany game at Ibrox in Glasgow in 1936, when there were fears the match could be halted by political demonstrations.