West Auckland FC fan snaps up rare cup medal for £4,000

A RARE West Auckland Town FC World Cup winner’s medal has been bought at auction by a football fan who was born in the village. 

Gary Hudson made the successful bid of £4,000 for Alf “Tot” Gubbins’ 1909 medal when it was put up for sale at the Anderson and Garland saleroom, in Newcastle.

Mr Gubbins was part of the team that won the very first World Cup when West famously represented the country against teams from Italy, Switzerland and Germany in Torino.

He later emigrated to New Zealand, becoming a railway signalman before his death, aged 50, in 1934.

Although Mr Gubbins was one of 12 to receive a medal, there are only four known to be in existence – two at the football club, one at FIFA and the one sold at auction by his grandson.

After his successful bid, Mr Hudson, 61, who now lives near Northallerton, went along to West Auckland Town FC’s ground to show off the medal to club officials.

“To me, it is a representation of that period and it was important that it did not disappear somewhere else,” said Mr Hudson.

“It was an obvious thing to go and bid for.”

Mr Hudson attended the auction, where bidding opened at £2,000 and quickly reached £4,000 before the gavel fell.

“There was nobody else bidding in the room, but on the telephone and internet. The tension was unbelievable, but I was elated. The relief on getting it was fantastic.

“Everybody now knows who has got the medal.”

He said it was a combination of his childhood days in the village and a family connection to the club that prompted his bid for the medal.

His great uncle, Syd Douthwaite, was for many years secretary of the club as well as being landlord of the nearby Eden Arms.

Mr Douthwaite was instrumental in retrieving the historic 1909 World Cup trophy, which had been given away to cover club debts.

“He got it back for £100. It was put behind the bar of the Eden Arms. If you came from West, you always knew about it,” said Mr Hudson, who as a young goalkeeper signed schoolboy forms with Preston North End before going on to play in the Northern League for the likes of Whitby and Ferryhill.

“When Syd retired, it was moved to the workingmen’s club.”

Unfortunately, the original trophy was stolen from the club and has never been found. But the club had a replica made which continues to be on display at West Auckland Workingmen’s Club.

Mr Hudson said he was willing to let football historians and fans have a look at the medal if they wished.

He can be contacted through West Auckland Town FC.