A 9CT GOLD 1953 F.A.CUP WINNERS MEDAL

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STAN MORTENSEN Born in South Shields on 26th May 1921, Stan Mortensen played for St. Mary's School and represented South Shields Boy's team before leaving school at the age of 14 to work in a timber yard. His football career carried on with South Shields ex-schoolboy F.C. and after a match against Blackpool's junior side in 1938 he was asked to sign for Blackpool F.C. Over the next couple of seasons Stan played for the junior side and in 1941 he volunteered for the R.A.F. During training he was involved in a plane crash which resulted in serious head injuries. This ended Mortensen's participation in the war and at the time it was feared that his football career was also over. Happily, this proved not to be the case and during this period he 'guested' for many clubs including Aberdeen and made 76 wartime appearances forBlackpool scoring over 40 goals. During September 1943 Mortensen was picked as a Reserve for England against Wales. However, due to an injury to Ivor Powell (and because the Welsh had no substitutes) he was asked to play for Wales against England! In the following two seasons Morty appeared in three Wartime Internationals for England, scoring three goals. When peace finally broke-out Mortensen at last made his first full International appearance in May 1947 against Portugal. At this point Mortensen's club and International career took off and between 1947 and 1953 he appeared in three F.A. Cup finals; made five Football League appearances scoring six goals; and gained 25 full International Caps scoring a phenomenal 24 goals. In November 1955 Stan joined Hull City for £2000. There were then periods with Southport in 1957 and Bath City in 1958 before retiring in May 1959. He came out of retirement to join Lancaster City in November 1960, finally retiring from playing in 1962. In February 1967 Morty made a well publicised return to Blackpool, this time as manager. Unfortunately, this was to last only until April 1969. In a distinguished career, he made 317 appearances for Blackpool, scoring 197 goals; 42 for Hull City scoring 18 goals; and 36 for Southport, scoring 10 goals. THE FOLLOWING FOUR LOTS (53-56) RELATE TO THE CAREER OF STAN MORTENSEN

Details

A 9CT GOLD 1953 F.A.CUP WINNERS MEDAL
the obverse inscribed 1953, the reverse inscribed The Football Association Challenge Cup, Winners, Stan Mortensen, with ring suspension, in original case

Provenance

Christie's Glasgow, Football Memorabilia Auction, including The Stan Mortensen Collection, 14th October, 1992, Lot 21

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The 1953 F.A. Cup Final is without doubt the most dramatic to have graced the twin towers of Wembley. Blackpool, in their third Cup Final in the space of six years, trailed Bolton Wanderers 1-3 with twenty minutes remaining, Mortensen having scored his side's first goal. He then scored two further goals in quick succession, the second of which was a tremendous shot from a direct free-kick outside the box to complete the first and (so far) only Cup Final hat-trick at Wembley. With a few seconds remaining Stanley Matthews crossed to Perry who despatched the ball into the net to make the scoreline 4-3 and to give Blackpool the trophy. Usually known as the "Matthews Final", the Club's famous winger was always quick to point out it was Mortensen's match just as much as his.
There have only been three F.A.Cup Final hat-tricks so far in the history of the tournament. Apart from Mortensen, this feat was also achieved by Billy Townley (Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield Wednesday, 1890) and Jimmy Logan (Notts County v Bolton Wanderers, 1894).

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