First ever Ipswich Town amateur league medal found and sold on eBay for £850
The league medal for the 1903-04 season - Credit: Archant
Ipswich Town have enjoyed lots of success over the years from the UEFA and FA Cup to the play-off final.
Now silverware from the Blues’ first-ever amateur league title has turned up 110 years later.
The name A E Bailey may not be too memorable for many current Town fans but in the 1903-04 season he was part of the squad, which won the South East Anglia Football League.
But when David Copland, 60, stumbled upon on his league medal in a scrap gold metal shop in Darlington, some 250 miles away from Ipswich in County Durham, he began to piece together clues to form a profile of the man.
Now he has put the nine carat gold medal up for auction with offers starting at £850.
“It is up for £850 but who knows it could be worth more than that or less, it could be the last one in existence or there could be a dozen around if there were 15 issued. I did my research from what was engraved on the medal, which says ‘A.E. Bailey.’ I went on to a website and found a photograph so I could put a face to the name.”
Ralph Morris from Ipswich Town history website Pride of Anglia kindly sent in the black and white photographs.
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Speaking about the team photograph from the 1902 season, he said: “Included in this team photo are Albert Bailey (middle row, fourth left) and Ernest Kent (middle row, first left). Bailey played in excess of 450 games for the club in a career spanning 16 years.
“Kent averaged a goal a game in his 200 games for the club and became the first Town player to receive a testimonial for his services.”
Mr Copland said the medal was made by legendary jewellers Mappin & Webb.
To find the auction on eBay search for “Ipswich Town’s first ever football league championship 1903-04”.