Football from 1892 FA Cup Final sells for £15k at auction

A football used in the 1892 FA Cup final has been sold for £15,000 at auction in Shropshire.

The leather ball was used in the game between Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion at the Kennington Oval, which is now the Oval Cricket Ground.

More than 30,000 fans watched Albion beat Villa by three goals to nil.

"Any FA Cup memorabilia is much sought after and items pre-1900s are like hen's teeth," John Mullock, from Mullock's auctioneers, said.

Auctioneers had estimated that the football would sell for between £12,000 and £20,000.

The leather ball is gilded, painted and has the inscription: "This ball was used in the final for the English Cup when the Albion defeated the Aston Villa 3 goals to nil at the Oval London on March 19th 1892 C Perry captain."

Mr Mullock said the football had been presented to an alderman by West Brom officials after the final.

It was then passed on to a local man, Mr W.Richards, whose link to the club was not known.

The ball was passed down through generations of his family.