Jack Yates's blue England v Ireland international cap 1888-89, with wirework three lions crest and inscribed 1888-89 John 'Jack' Yates was born in Blackburn in 1861. He was an instrumental figure in the formation of Blackburn Olympic, a team of working men including spinners, cotton workers & blacksmiths. Yates was a weaver by trade. By contrast Olympic faced Old Etonians when they battled their way to the 1883 F.A. Cup final at the Kennington Oval. Yates won a winner's medal when the Blackburn team triumphed 2-1 and the reign of the common man in football had begun. Jack Yates went on to play for Accrington before transferring to Burnley in the summer of 1888. While at Turf Moor he was selected for England to play in the Ireland match at Goodison Park on 2nd March 1889. England won 6-1 and Yates scored a hat-trick on his international debut. Incredibly, the left winger was never picked for his country again so the present lot represents Yates's sole international honour. He was reinstated as an amateur in 1890 and stayed with Burnley until 1894 when he became the licensee at the Brickmakers Arms, a pub still going strong, and situated approximately 600 yards from Turf Moor. After a long illness Jack Yates died at his home in Burnley on 1st June 1917 aged 55.
£700 - £1,000
Jack Yates's blue England v Ireland international cap 1888-89, with wirework three lions crest and inscribed 1888-89 John 'Jack' Yates was born in Blackburn in 1861. He was an instrumental figure in the formation of Blackburn Olympic, a team of working men including spinners, cotton workers & blacksmiths. Yates was a weaver by trade. By contrast Olympic faced Old Etonians when they battled their way to the 1883 F.A. Cup final at the Kennington Oval. Yates won a winner's medal when the Blackburn team triumphed 2-1 and the reign of the common man in football had begun. Jack Yates went on to play for Accrington before transferring to Burnley in the summer of 1888. While at Turf Moor he was selected for England to play in the Ireland match at Goodison Park on 2nd March 1889. England won 6-1 and Yates scored a hat-trick on his international debut. Incredibly, the left winger was never picked for his country again so the present lot represents Yates's sole international honour. He was reinstated as an amateur in 1890 and stayed with Burnley until 1894 when he became the licensee at the Brickmakers Arms, a pub still going strong, and situated approximately 600 yards from Turf Moor. After a long illness Jack Yates died at his home in Burnley on 1st June 1917 aged 55.