Sir Stan’s cup medal goes under hammer

Matthews’ 1953 FA Cup winners medal is back up for auction next month after TV presenter Nick Hancock decided to sell the momento he bought 13 years ago.

It is hoped Lot 742, which comes in its original case, could fetch as much as £60,000 when the bidding starts on November 10.

The 1953 final between Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers, now known as the “Matthews Final”, saw the then 38-year-old winger orchestrate a spectacular comeback from 3-1 down to win 4-3 in the dying moments at Wembley.

When sold at auction in 2001, TV presenter Nick Hancock paid £23,500 for the item, though today it is expected to bring in considerably more.

Graham Budd, a specialist sports memorabilia auctioneer and organiser of the sale, said: “I think there is a lot of interest and that Matthews is such a big name in the game means any serious collector would have an interest in it. You would hope that it is something that would stay on their radar.”

The first FA Cup final broadcast on television also holds the honour as the only final to feature a hat trick, by Stan Mortensen.

With such huge interest in the medal, Mr Budd has his own aspirations for the piece. “My hope for it would be that it would remain in the country and possibly remain on display.”

The medal has been on display at Stoke City’s Britannia Stadium, the club where the “wizard of the dribble” spent 19 years of his career.

Asked why Mr Hancock was selling it, Mr Budd said: “Essentially, Nick is a massive Stoke City man but this medal was won at Blackpool rather than Stoke.

“He’s owned it for 13 years and has had it on loan at Stoke City for that time.”

Ray Wilson’s 1966 World Cup winners medal is also set to be auctioned at the same event, and could go for around £100,000. It will be held at Sotheby’s on New Bond Street, London on November 10.