Hero of the football pitch and the skies’ medal collection up for auction
A collection of medals awarded to a 1920s football player for his achievements both on and off the pitch looks set to be the star lot at Staffordshire auction house Cuttlestones’ May 29th Fine Art sale.
Charlie Wilson was born in the Derbyshire town of Atherstone in 1895 and, in addition to making his mark on the football field, was a First World War survivor. After doing his duty on the front line Charlie received the first of many medals when he won a silver medal for bombing at Sailly. He also won a silver medal in 1916 for football whilst still in France. On his return to England Charlie signed for Tottenham Hotspur, scoring a hat-trick on his debut and helping them to Div 2 success before reaching the pinnacle of English football by being an key player in Herbert Chapman’s famous 1920s Huddersfield Town side.
This was the first team ever to win three consecutive league division one titles and Charlie’s 1923 & 1924 winners’ medals, celebrating a season where he scored 31 goals, will be coming under the hammer along with a host of the player’s other awards. Charlie finished his career at Stoke city where he was again successful, this time helping them to the Div 3 northern Title.
During his career Charlie’s goal scoring prowess marked him out at each club he played for – at Tottenham Hotspur he scored 27 goals in 55 league appearances, at Huddersfield Town he notched up 57 goals in 99 games and at Stoke City he netted 110 goals in 156 appearances. When his league playing career came to an end, Charlie settled in Stafford where he ran out for local non-league side Stafford Rangers and then when on to run a local pub.
What makes the collection so special is its rarity, as Cuttlestones’ head auctioneer and managing director Ben Gamble explains:
“There’s no doubt Charlie was a star on and off the pitch – his medals were accrued at a time when football squads numbered only 12 or 14 players, unlike the mammoth squads of today, so every medal is one very few ever presented. While such rare football medals and memorabilia are likely to cause a stir among supporters, we are also anticipating interest from militaria collectors for the WWI memorabilia.”
The collection is set to go under the hammer on Friday, 29th May at Cuttlestones’ Penkridge sales room. The catalogue will be available from Wednesday, 20th May online at www.cuttlestones.co.uk, while for those unable to make the sale itself commission, telephone and live internet bidding are all options.
For further details call Ben Gamble on 01785 714905.
Lots include:
• An S.F.A 1926 silk football cap reading inside ‘C Wilson Doxey Arms’
• A hallmarked silver twin-handled football trophy inscribed: Huddersfield hospital cup 1924-1925, Town 2-1 Hearts – C Wilson
• A silk football league Division 1 team sheet from Chelsea V Spurs match Saturday October 16th 1920 with Wilson as centre
• A Military coloured pendant;
• Three World War I medals – R 823 Pte C Wilson; Two H/M Silver ‘bombing’ medals – Jan 1916 K.R.Rif.C;
• 1921 hallmarked silver Daily Mirror football and golf club – Semi-final
• Tottenham Hotspurs:
1919-1920 Champions Division Two winners medal
1919-1920 London Football Combination winners medal
1920 Professional Charity Fund winners’ medal
1921 Royal Military College winners’ medal
1921-1922 Professional Charity Fund winners’ medal
• Huddersfield Town:
1922-1923 Norfolk and Norwich Cup winners’ medal
1923-1924 Champions Div. 1 winners’ medal & engraved pocket watch
1924-1925 FA Senior Cup winners’ medal
1924-1925 Champions Division One winners’ medal
• Stoke City:
1926-1927 Champions Division Three (Northern) winners’ medal
1928 Norfolk and Norwich cup winners’ medal
1929 Norfolk and Norwich cup winners’ medal
A Gold and Enamelled medal
About Cuttlestones:
Based in the historic Staffordshire market town of Penkridge, Cuttlestones is a progressive firm of Auctioneers and Valuers dedicated to providing first-class customer service, drawing on over 100 years combined industry experience.
Cuttlestones is the latest chapter in the history of the Pinfold Lane sales rooms. Home to agricultural auctions for many years, the business changed direction to specialise in antiques and valuations during the 1990s. Having joined the firm in 1993, Ben Gamble acquired the business in 2007, re-launching under the ‘Cuttlestones’ standard, a move which has seen the business go from strength to strength, winning a number of high profile clients along the way.
Contact: Ben Gamble 01785 714905 email: bengamble@cuttlestones.co.uk
Cuttlestones, Pinfold Lane, Penkridge, ST19 5AP
Phone: 44 0(1785) 714905
Fax: 440(1785) 715918
www.cuttlestones.co.uk
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