When Newcastle United lifted the FA Cup for the first time in 1910, the city exploded in celebration.
The club, incredibly, had already lifted the league title three times in the previous five seasons, but this was the big one everybody wanted. Long before the Premier League and, for a select few clubs, the Champions’ League became pre-eminent, the FA Cup was the domestic game’s holy grail.
Now, a rare winners' medal from the Magpies' historic triumph 112 years ago is going up for auction. The 18ct gold medal was owned by Newcastle United director Robert Oliver. It was created by the firm Vaughton & Sons of Birmingham and is engraved 'English Cup won by N.U.F.C, R. Oliver Director' along with the date of 1910.
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The medals were awarded to the club's players, management and directors after the team won the 1910 final against Barnsley. The item will be going under the hammer at Ryedale Auctioneers, based at Kirkbymoorside near York. The auction takes place on Thursday, June 23, and live online bidding will be available.
Back in the first decade of the last century, United’s brilliant Edwardian team had, somewhat surprisingly, lost three quick-fire FA Cup finals - in 1905, 1906 and 1909 at the “unlucky” Crystal Palace stadium - but 1910 would be the year the dream was finally realised.
Yet again, Crystal Palace initially proved not quite to Newcastle's liking, and 76,980 watched a 1-1 draw against Barnsley, with Jackie Rutherford netting for United. Five days later, on a Thursday afternoon - April 28 - in the replay at Everton’s Goodison Park, the FA Cup bogey was laid to rest at last.
More than 60,000 fans saw two goals from United centre-forward Albert Shepherd put Barnsley to the sword, in a rain-lashed, bad-tempered game on Merseyside. Chronicle reporter, ‘Mr John Cameron’, after the game wrote: “The United may now rest content. They have won everything they have entered for, but the Cup has been a great struggle for them.” The day after the final, thousands of fans descended on Newcastle Central Station to welcome home the returning Cup Final heroes.
Also included in the sale by the same vendor is a Newcastle United souvenir photographic album titled ‘Season 1905-6, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11.' It is believed these albums were presented to the players and management during the 1910-1911 period. The album and medal were passed to the current owners by descent.
Both Newcastle United lots feature in Ryedale Auctioneers' upcoming Country House Sale, which will take place on Thursday, June 23 - with viewing on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 21 and 22, 10am-4pm. Live online bidding is available via easyliveauction.com and the-saleroom.com
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