Tom Wilson 9ct gold Division 1 League Championship Winners medal the obverse inscribed THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE, CHAMPIONS DIVISION 1, the reverse inscrib

Tom Wilson 9ct gold Division 1 League Championship Winners medal the obverse inscribed THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE, CHAMPIONS DIVISION 1, the reverse inscribed HUDDERSFIELD TOWN F.C., WINNERS, 1923-24, T. WILSON, with ring suspension in original fitted case, 26grms Huddersfield Town won their first-ever Division 1 League Championship this season and the first of their history making three in-a-row League wins with 57 points, Cardiff City being runners-up also on 57 points. In the last league matches of the season The Terriers defeated Nottingham Forest 3-0 whilst Cardiff their title rivals could only draw with 0-0 with Birmingham City failing to convert a penalty, thus making the 1923-24 season the closest finish in the competition's history, both clubs finishing on the same points tally but Huddersfield Town winning the title by just 0.024 on goal average. The following lots 902 to 943 relate to the career of Huddersfield Town Legend and England International Tom Wilson. PROVENANCE: Tom Wilson thence by family descent Tom Wilson Huddersfield Town 1919-31 Few players outrank Tom Wilson in the Huddersfield Town hall of fame. As a key player in three times Division 1 Championship winning teams, as well as during numerous FA Cup campaigns, Tom’s consistency at the heart of Town’s defence during the glory years of the 1920’s was exceptional and indispensable and established him as more than just a favourite on the Leeds Road terraces. A centre-half of exceptional skill he was an automatic first team choice during his 12 years at Huddersfield. Known as the ‘Gentleman of Football’, his reliability gave him over 500 appearances for Town, missing only a handful of games throughout his stay. Tom's is a true ‘rags to riches’ story. Born and raised in Seaham, County Durham he first played for Seaham Boys before going to Seaham Colliery to work down the pit. He played for Seaham Colliery before being joining Sunderland in 1914. The First World War intervened in his career before he had the chance to establish himself in Sunderland’s first team. He joined up and received the Military medal for Bravery in the Field before coming home from the war. He played one more game for Sunderland before being released by them (he had put on weight whilst in service). Fortunately, he was spotted playing for Sunderland by a scout from Huddersfield and was approached by them. He joined Town in 1919 when they were at their lowest point, struggling in Division 2 with huge debts. They were on the brink of collapse, indeed an arrangement to amalgamate the club with Leeds United had been made! Tragedy was averted however, and this became the springboard for success for the next decade. At the end of the 1920 season Huddersfield were promoted from Division 2, finishing runners-up. Over the next 5 years Huddersfield Town became the most successful club in England. Herbert Chapman became Manager in 1920/21 and masterminded an FA Cup win, 2 FA Cup final defeats and three consecutive Division 1 Titles as well as 2 Runners-up places, an amazing achievement. Tom Wilson captained Huddersfield throughout most of this period and made 52 successive FA Cup appearances, a club record. He captained Huddersfield to their only FA Cup triumph, beating Preston North End 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in 1922. Tom Wilson established himself as one of the best defenders in England though he only represented his country once, in 1928 against Scotland. He did however earn Football League honours. Tom Wilson is beyond doubt one of the greatest players ever to pull on a Town shirt and is in a select number of Huddersfield Town players who can truly be called ‘greats’. In 1931, Tom joined Blackpool for one season, helping them to avoid relegation. He also coached Barnsley before his death in 1948 at the age of 51.