A L E X F I N N E Y
Born in 1901 Finney was signed by Bolton from New Brighton and made his League debut in September 1922. He quickly formed a formidable partnership with Bob Haworth, the Bolton right-back, and these two were key players in the defence that kept West Ham at bay in the 1923 Cup Final. Finney, at 22, was the youngest member of the Cup-Winning side. A cartilage operation kept him out of the 1926 side. However, he was back for the F.A. Cup victory three years later when the Wanderers defeated Portsmouth 2-0. Finney played his last game for Bolton on New Year's Day, 1937, the last-surviving member of the 20's Cup-Winning sides still at the club. He then joined Darwen F.C. staying there for two seasons before becoming assistant manager at New Brighton. Finney died in 1982 having made 530 appearances for the club, scoring just two goals.
The following two lots were awarded to
ALEX FINNEY
A 15ct gold medal, the obverse inscribed, 1923, the reverse inscribed, Bolton Wanderers, 1st F.A. Cup Winners at Wembley, A.Finney, with ring suspension
Details
A 15ct gold medal, the obverse inscribed, 1923, the reverse inscribed, Bolton Wanderers, 1st F.A. Cup Winners at Wembley, A.Finney, with ring suspension
Further details
Known as the "White Horse" final, the 1923 F.A.Cup Final will always be remembered for the crowd scenes prior to the start of the match. P.C.Scorey and his white horse Billy along with several of his colleagues tried in vain to clear the pitch after an estimated crowd of two hundred thousand turned up to see the first Final to be played at the newly opened Empire Stadium.
After the match finally got under way, some forty minutes late, Bolton Wanderers ran out fairly comfortable winners 2-0 against a West Ham United team who failed to rise to the occasion. Bolton's goals were scored by David Jack and Jack Smith.
An identical medal awarded to Finney's team-mate Bob Haworth was sold in these rooms, lot 102, 9th October 1991
After the match finally got under way, some forty minutes late, Bolton Wanderers ran out fairly comfortable winners 2-0 against a West Ham United team who failed to rise to the occasion. Bolton's goals were scored by David Jack and Jack Smith.
An identical medal awarded to Finney's team-mate Bob Haworth was sold in these rooms, lot 102, 9th October 1991