Medal from Wolves' famous Wembley win to fetch £30k at sale
With Wolves fans dreaming of FA Cup glory, a medal from a famous Wembley triumph has been unearthed.
The medal, awarded to club legend Johnny Hancocks after victory in 1949, could sell for as much as £30,000 when it goes up for auction next month.
And Wolves fans will be hoping their side will be lifting the cup again 70 years on after booking their place in the semi-finals.
The medal is among a haul of Wolves memorabilia, including a Billy Wright England cap, which is expected to fetch tens of thousands of pounds.
And sports memorabilia expert Alistair Lofley, from Hansons Auctioneers, believes the find of of the FA Cup medal could be an omen for the class of 2019. He said: “
As I watched Wolves power through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup by beating Manchester United 2-1, I couldn’t help thinking that this was their year – and the medal find was a lucky omen.
“I was hugely impressed with their passion and flair in the match. Is this discovery an indication of a golden moment ahead for Wolves at Wembley?”
Wolves beat Leicester City 3-1 to win their third FA Cup in 1949. Hancocks played in the game and is considered one of the club’s greatest ever players, netting 168 goals in 378 appearances. His medal has an estimate of between £12,000 and £15,000 but experts believe there could be enough interest to take the price towards £30,000.
Also up for grabs is a Billy Wright England cap from a match against Portugal in 1955, estimate £1,800-£2,000, and two Bobby Mason First Division championship medals from 1958 and 1959, each with an estimate of £5,000-£7,000. There is also a 1959 Charity Shield plaque awarded to Bobby Mason, estimate £800-£1,200.
Mr Lofley said: “All three players will be fondly remembered by many Wolves fans, and rightly so.”
The memorabilia will go under the hammer at Hansons in Derbyshire on May 23.
