A 9ct gold medal, the obverse inscribed 1957, the reverse inscribed The Football Association Challenge Cup, Winners, S. Lynn, Aston Villa F.C., with ring suspension, in original case

STAN LYNN Stan Lynn was born in Bolton Lancashire on 18th June 1828. His footballing career started as a right-winger with Whitecroft Road Secondary Modern School before playing a few games for one of Bill Whitworth's Bolton Boys Federation teams, where after the failure of a right-back to turn up Lynn was drafted into defence and into a position that he played for the rest of his career. Soon after, Accrington Stanley signed him and then at the age of 22, George Martin, the Villa manager, on the recommendation of the legendary Villa and Scotland full back George Cumming, signed Lynn for Aston Villa. Lynn made his debut for Villa in season 1950-51. However, it was not until the mid-1950's that Lynn became a first team regular. The 1956-57 Cup Winning season was an unforgettable season for Lynn, and the following season Stan Lynn entered the record books. In a League match against Sunderland (which Villa eventually won 5-2) Lynn became the first full-back to score a hat-trick in Division I. Lynn scored a total of nine goals that season and missed only two games. By all accounts Lynn had an incredible right-foot shot and was a natural penalty taker. Indeed, it is noted that on more than one occasion he drove his penalty kick to hard that both goalkeeper and ball ended-up in the back of the net! In season 1958-59 Villa were relegated after they could only manage a draw in their final League game at The Hawthorns. The next season Villa immediately bounced back, and Lynn remembers this season with great affection. After a fairly indifferent start to the season Villa were 4-0 down to Liverpool on March 30th 1960. Then, in an incredible 19 minute period McParland, Thompson (2) and Lynn from a penalty scored the four goals which got them the draw which inspired them to go on and win the Division 2 championship. The following season Lynn made only 14 Division I appearances and he even missed a penatly in the first leg of the first-ever League Cup Final at Rotherham where Villa lost 2-0. In October 1961, at the age of 33, Lynn was transferred to rivals Birmingham City for the (10,000 that Villa had originally bought him for. He enjoyed his time at City and made 148 appearances for them scoring 30 goals and winning a League Cup tankard when the Blues defeated his old club Aston Villa in the 1967 final. At the age of 38 Lynn left Birmingham City and joined non-League Stourbridge. Stan Lynn made 281 League appearances for Villa (36 goals); 36 F.A. Cup (1 goal); and 6 F.L. Cup (1 goal) in his ten year service with the club. The following nine lots were awarded to STAN LYNN (See also lots 81-83 and 283-285)

Details

A 9ct gold medal, the obverse inscribed 1957, the reverse inscribed The Football Association Challenge Cup, Winners, S. Lynn, Aston Villa F.C., with ring suspension, in original case

Lot Essay

Aston Villa defeated Manchester United 2-1 in the F.A.Cup final this year before a crowd of 100,000 at Wembley.
The 1957 Cup final is amongst the most contraversial matches to have graced the hallowed Wembley turf. The match was only 6 minutes old when the Villa Winger Peter McParland clashed with United goalkeeper Ray Wood. McParland recovered quickly from their clash of heads, however Wood remained supine on the pitch with a shattered cheekbone. With no substitutes available Jackie Blanchflower took over in goal with Wood being stretchered-off for treatment to his injury. Wood returned to the pitch shortly before the interval, however, he was unable to resume in goal and was virtually a passenger on the right wing. At half-time the score remained 0-0, however during the second period Villa gradually wore down their opponents and began to dominate the match. In the 65th minute McParland scored the opening goal and soon after followed this up with his second. The match seemed beyond United but Byrne, the United Captain, urged his side to give one last effort. United pushed men forward and in the 83rd minute Tommy Taylor pulled a goal back. This was the signal for one last gamble, the disorientated Wood returning to his goal to free Blanchflower to support a do-or-die blitz on Villa's goal. United forced a succession of corners and Whelan netted only to be judged unarguably off-side.
On their way to their 7th and so far last F.A.Cup win, Villa defeated Luton Town 2-0, after a 2-2 draw; Middlesborough 3-2; Bristol City 2-1; Burnley 2-0 after a 1-1 draw; and in the semi-final West Bromwich Albion 1-0 after a 2-2 draw.

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