F.A. International medal awarded to Arsenal's Cliff Bastin for the England v Wales match played at St James' Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 15th November

F.A. International medal awarded to Arsenal's Cliff Bastin for the England v Wales match played at St James' Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 15th November 1933, hallmarked 14ct. gold, Birmingham 1934, by Vaughton & Sons, of circular form with suspension ring, obverse with crest shield and THE FOOTBALL ASSOICATION, reverse bears entwined FA letters, INTERNATIONAL banner and engraved TO ARCH FROM CLIFF, rim engraved E. V. W. 1933-34 C.S. BASTIN, , diameter 31mm, weight 29gr., in good condition, no box with this medal Wales defeated England 2-1 in this Home International Championship fixture. Traditionally the F.A. International medal is presented on international debut, as was the case with Cliff Bastin in 1931. That medal is being offered as lot 555 in this auction. It would appear that two years later Bastin commissioned a second F.A. International medal as a gift with the engraving TO ARCH FROM CLIFF. This is almost certainly Arch Matthews, relying on a report of Cliff Bastin's wedding published in the Devon and Exeter Gazette 30th June 1939: "The ceremony was attended, in addition to members of the family, by Mr. George Yeoman, the bridegroom's old schoolmaster at Ladysmith Road, Exeter, and Mr. Arch Matthews, of St Thomas [a district of Exeter]." Perhaps Matthews was Bastin's Best Man, but quite clearly a close friend from the Arsenal man's formative years in Exeter. It may be a coincidence, but perhaps the choice of match for the gift is that this International was played at Newcastle United's St James' Park, a name of football ground that is shared with Exeter City.  Evidently Bastin re-acquired the medal from Matthews during or perhaps after his lifetime.