Rare Magpies medal fetches £8,040

ONE of Nottingham's oldest and rarest football medals has been sold for £8,040 – around £1,000 more than expected - at an auction this afternoon.

Before the auction at Bonhams in Chester, the 18 carat gold 1894 Notts County FA Cup winners medal had been expected to sell for between £6,000 and £7,000.

It was snapped up by a mystery bidder.

The medal was presented to Notts County right back Theo Harper after County won the FA Cup for the first and only time, by beating Bolton Wanderers 4-1 in the 1894 final at Goodison Park.

County made history in that year by becoming the first Second Division club to win the FA Cup.

Harper was particularly impressive in the 1894 FA Cup final and according to newspaper reports: "Harper, the right back, proved an impassable obstacle... Harper frustrated Bolton's efforts by clearing off the line a shot from Tannahill... he again came to the rescue stopping Cassidy when he looked to be through."