Lot 32
Alex Stepney's 1970 F.A. Cup third place tankard, electroplated, inscribed THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION ...
Alex Stepney's 1970 F.A. Cup third place tankard, electroplated, inscribed THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CHALLENGE CUP COMPETITION, THIRD PLACE, SEASON 1969-70, height 12cm., 4 3/4in. At the start of the 1970s it was decided to replace the traditional eve-of-final England v Young England matches by holding a third-place play-off between the losing semi-finalists. The idea was originally quite well supported but was dropped after just five seasons, making these tankard presentations quite rare. Manchester United's Alex Stepney played in the first of these occasions in 1970. The game was played at Highbury with United beating Watford 2-0 in front of 15,000 supporters. Brian Kidd scored both goals.