A MEDAL won by a member of Hexham’s most famous football team is going up for sale.

Hexham Hearts lifted the Northumberland Senior Cup in 1949, with a 3-0 victory over Blyth Spartans in front of a crowd of 14,000 at St James’s Park.

Their goalkeeper that day was Maurice Edgar, who had previously played for Newcastle United during the war years.

Now the engraved medal he received following the 1949 achievement has been unearthed by North Yorkshire man David Copland.

A football enthusiast, Mr Copland searches for and restores historic memorabilia, and came across Edgar’s medal on eBay.

“It was in a bit of a state,” he said. “It was very black and I don’t think the person selling it really knew what it was or its significance.

“I’ve cleaned it up and it has come out lovely. Due to austerity at the time, all football winners medals were made of silver rather than gold.

“But it’s all about what it represents, and it would be great to see this medal back in the North-East and perhaps even back in Hexham.”

The Northumberland Senior Cup win, sealed after a hat-trick from Stevie Howdon, was the stand-out achievement of Hexham Hearts.

But the near-invincible Hearts side of 1946-47 pipped Newcastle United A to the Northern Alliance Championship.

And they competed in the FA Cup between 1948 and 1956, reaching the fourth qualifying round in 1954.

Mr Copland said he intended to list the medal on eBay, with close-up images and also a description of its history, for a 10-day auction sale.

He added: “All of the money I make from the sale of memorabilia enables me to search for more gems, which are at risk of being lost or forgotten, or ending up in the wrong hands and being melted down.

“Back in 1949, only 11 medals would have been issued to Hexham Hearts. There were no substitutes in those days.

“I wonder where all the other medals from that famous team are today. Hopefully some have been retained within families.”

The Northumberland Senior Cup, a competition for clubs affiliated to the Northumberland Football Association, is still keenly contested every year.

A spokesman for the Northumberland Football Association said he was aware of the medal’s significance, and would make the organisation’s board aware that it was up for sale. To place a bid, visit eBay and search Hexham Hearts medal.