Darlaston Town hopes to solve medal mystery
A football club tracing the story behind a mysterious medal is appealing for two families’ ancestors to get in contact.
Darlaston Town 1874 FC want to hear from the ‘Corfield’ or ‘Whistance’ families to track down the origins of an heirloom.
Club vice chairman Garry Hale was contacted by Verena Burrows from Stockport, who is the granddaughter of William Corfield, originally from Brownhills, Walsall.
Following William’s death in 1948, Verena was given a box of his items where she found what she thought was a coin.
After having the item cleaned, she realised it was actually a football medal that was presented to her grandfather in 1893 with the inscription Darlaston Football Academy. The front of the medal was inscribed with the name ‘A. Whistance’, who was William’s future wife.
Verena has kept and cherished the medal for 70 years but is now looking to track down its origins. It is believed William was born in the Walsall area and worked in a steel foundry before moving to Dukinfield in Greater Manchester.
Verena remembers her grandmother wearing the medal as a broach before she converted it back into a medal with a chain.
Her grandparents were unable to attend her wedding in 1948 but she did see them at their house so they could see her in her wedding dress. William passed away two days later. Verena has donated the medal to the club but is keen to hear from anyone who knew the family or has any information.
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