A fine autographed Football Association 75th anniversary banquet menu 1863-1938, formerly from the personal collection of Joe Smith the Bolton Wandere
£1,500 - £2,000
A fine autographed Football Association 75th anniversary banquet menu 1863-1938, formerly from the personal collection of Joe Smith the Bolton Wanderers captain in the first Wembley Cup final of 1923, and then later associated with the most famous F.A. Cup final of all in 1953 when he managed the Blackpool team in the so-called 'Matthews Final', Smith obtained the signatures of 33 fellow guests at the 1938 F.A. banquet including 27 former England internationals which number no fewer than 11 England captains amongst them, and many of whose playing days were in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, 1885 being the earliest cap-winning date, as well as other autographic rarities, notable autographs including Joseph Smith, William Wedlock, Robert Crompton, Jesse Pennington, John Goodall, Arthur Grimsdell, Sam Wadsworth, Andrew Ducat, 'Patsy' Hendren, Dr Tinsley Lindley, C.B. Fry, George Brann, Dennis Hodgetts, Edgar Kail, Kenneth R.G. Hunt, Ernest H Coleman, Frederick H Ewer, Arthur Egerton Knight, Vivian J Woodward, Rupert R Sandilands, C.J. Burnup, Fred R Pelly, F.N.S. Creek, Frank Hartley, Maxwell Woosnam, Ralph T Squire, Arthur M Walters and others including the respected journalist Ivan Sharpe, the menu bound in deluxe blue suede with gilt titling