Record breaking footballer’s medal sells at auction
A MEDAL awarded to a footballer who was sold for a record transfer fee has been sold at auction.
A medal awarded to a footballer who was sold for a record transfer fee has been sold at auction
In 1904, William "Billy" Bannister signed a record breaking transfer fee when he moved from Woolwich Arsenal to Leicester Fosse FC for £300.
He had made 18 appearances for the Arsenal but went on to play 149 times for the Fosse.
Centre back Bannister, from Burnley, made his international career debut in 6-0 win over Wales in 1901.
An auction in Exeter, Devon, sold a group of three 9ct football medals for £720, one of them inscribed English League versus Scottish League and
another when he played in 1901 for the Football League against the Scottish League.
An auction in Exeter, Devon, sold a group of three 9ct football medals for £720
The medals were sold at a sporting auction at Bearnes, Hampton and Littlewood.
Bannister also played at international level, earning two caps (against Wales and Ireland) for England in 1901 and 1902.
But an international football medal awarded to Alex Bennett who became the first footballer to play for both Celtic and Rangers, failed to sell.