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140-Year-Old Football Medal Surfaces in Lancashire Shop
27 Feb
Summary
- A 140-year-old football medal was found in a Lancashire shop.
- The medal is engraved with 'TMC' and 'won by C. Rhodes, Longridge FC'.
- The shop owner hopes to return the medal to its rightful home.
A significant piece of football history, a sterling silver medal dating back 140 years, has appeared at Longridge Goldsmiths in Lancashire. The medal is inscribed with 'TMC' and states it was 'won by C. Rhodes, Longridge FC, season 1885 -86.' The shop's director, John Birtles, expressed his strong desire to see the medal returned to its rightful home.
Birtles described the find as a piece of "Longridge community history," noting its exceptional rarity due to the identifying inscription. The customer who presented the medal for sale provided no details about its provenance before leaving. This discovery has generated considerable interest, with local speculation suggesting possible links to inter-factory competitions or even to Charles Rhodes, a goalkeeper who played for Preston North End in 1885.
The medal's historical significance is underscored by its age, predating the Football Association itself. Birtles hopes that the public appeal will help uncover its true origins and facilitate its return to a fitting repository.
