Medal won by Leicester City player who died after catching bug on pitch set to fetch large fee

[davieG]

 

Quote

 

https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/sport/football/medal-won-by-leicester-city-player-who-died-after-catching-bug-on-pitch-set-to-fetch-large-fee/13/08/

 

Harry Thorpe was presented with the medal when Leicester City were promoted for the first time in their history
Nathan Pynn by Nathan Pynn August 13, 2019in Football

 

Medal won by Leicester City player who died after catching bug on pitch set to fetch large fee
A extremely rare gold medal awarded to a tragic footballer who died after catching flu during a match in 1908 is tipped to fetch up to £5,000 at auction.

 

Harry Thorpe, 28, helped Leicester Fosse – which later became Leicester City – win promotion to Division 1 for the first time in their history.

But during the triumphant season the defender contracted influenza during a match against local rivals Glossop in March 1908.

He never played again and he died six months later in September – shortly after collecting his league runners-up medal with his teammates.

The gold medal is going under the hammer with an expected price tag of between £3,000 and £5,000 on August 22.

Alistair Lofley, sports valuer at Hansons Auctioneers, said: “This medal is extremely rare and an important part of Leicester City’s heritage.

“The club was founded in 1884 as Leicester Fosse because they played on a field by the Fosse Road. They moved to Filbert Street in 1891.

 
“In 1908, the club finished as Second Division runners-up and reached the First Division.

“Thorpe played a key role in that promotion season but sadly never got to celebrate with his team mates.

“It makes you wonder what the conditions must have been like and how cold it was when he played that match against Glossop in March 1908.

“He was a fit young man but antibiotics weren’t available back then to save his life.”

Thorpe was born in 1880 in the Derbyshire village of Barrow Hill, near Chesterfield.

He made his Football League debut in the 1900-01 season with Chesterfield and made
64 league appearances for them over the next few seasons.

He later moved to Woolwich Arsenal and played for Fulham in the Southern League before returning to the Football League in 1907 with Leicester Fosse.

He took part in their giant-killing FA Cup victory over Blackburn Rovers on January 11, 1908.

Leicester’s directors’ minutes book reveal that all players wore black armbands when Fosse played Preston on September 19, 1908 – three days after Harry’s death.

The owner of the medal, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The medal was given to Harry’s brother, Reginald, after his passing in 1908.

“It was then handed down through generations of my family.

“I’m proud to think one of my ancestors was a talented footballer.

“I’d like to think Leicester City or a Leicester fan will buy this medal to honour Harry Thorpe’s contribution to the club’s history.”

 

Let's hope the club buy it.

[norwichfox]

20 minutes ago, davieG said:

 

Let's hope the club buy it.

amen to that....

[AKCJ]

What a headline.

[Vacamion]

 

I agree that the headline is stonking.

 

Sorry to be "that dude" , but Glossop isn't that local to Leicester, so how are they described as "local rivals" .

 

Also, people don't contract diseases from cold conditions, but from contact with others who are infected, so the poor fellah probably contracted the fatal illness anywhere other than on the pitch. 

 

Other than that, perfect article. 

[stripeyfox]

He caught a bug? Nuge caught* a squirrel so I look forward to his medal for that!

 

 

*yeah yeah I know he didn't catch it as such but it was close enough....

 

[Paninistickers]

5 hours ago, Vacamion said:

 

I agree that the headline is stonking.

 

Sorry to be "that dude" , but Glossop isn't that local to Leicester, so how are they described as "local rivals" .

 

Also, people don't contract diseases from cold conditions, but from contact with others who are infected, so the poor fellah probably contracted the fatal illness anywhere other than on the pitch. 

 

Other than that, perfect article. 

As an aside, I'm not entirely convinced antibiotics would combat viral influenza - either then or now. 

 

Unless, of course, they are prescribed to tackle a secondary infection.

 

But as you say, but for the multiple errors, a perfect article 

[ozleicester]

I dont know how i survived my playing days... cold, wet, ....pitches that were cow paddocks.

 

hmm maybe explains the mad cow?

[davieG]

Gold medal awarded to former Chesterfield footballer who died after picking up 'bug' sells at auction for thousands of pounds

 
LIAM NORCLIFFE
Email
Published: 11:12

A gold medal awarded to a former Chesterfield footballer who lost his life a century ago after picking up a bug playing the game he loved has sold for thousands at auction.

The medal, awarded to Harry Thorpe in 1908, commemorated Leicester Fosse’s (Leicester City) promotion to Division 1 for the first time in their history.

The medal was presented to Harry Thorpe to commemorate Leicesters promotion to Division 1 in 1908.
The medal was presented to Harry Thorpe to commemorate Leicesters promotion to Division 1 in 1908.

But Thorpe never lived to celebrate the success with his team mates after going down with flu following a match against Glossop.

Illegal driver legs it from police in Chesterfield then falls down an embankment- and loses her shoes
Full-back Thorpe was taken ill after the game in March 1908. He never recovered and died six months later in September, aged 28.

The medal – and its story – sparked strong interest at Hansons Auctioneers’ Football in Focus Auction and a private UK bidder paid £4,000 to secure the object.

Thorpe was born in 1880 in Barrow Hill, near Chesterfield. He made his Football League debut in the 1900-01 season with Chesterfield and made 64 league appearances for them over the next few seasons.

He later moved to Woolwich Arsenal and played for Fulham in the Southern League before returning to the Football League in 1907 with Leicester Fosse.

The owner of the medal, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The medal was given to Harry’s brother, Reginald, after his passing in 1908. It was then handed down through family descent. I’m proud to think that someone connected to my family was a talented footballer.”

Leicester City was founded in 1884 as Leicester Fosse because they played on a field by the Fosse Road. They moved to Filbert Street in 1891. In 1908, the club finished as Second Division runners-up and reached the First Division.

Mr Lofley said: “Thorpe played a key role in that promotion season but sadly never got to celebrate with his team mates. It makes you wonder what the conditions must have been like and how cold it was when he played that match against Glossop in 1908. He was a fit young man but antibiotics weren’t available back then to save his life.”

Leicester’s directors’ minutes book reveal that all players wore black armbands when Fosse played Preston on September 19, 1908 - three days after Harry’s death.

Alistair Lofley, sports valuer at Hansons, said: “It was a great result for an important piece of Leicester City history.”

 

https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/people/gold-medal-awarded-to-former-chesterfield-footballer-who-died-after-picking-up-bug-sells-at-auction-for-thousands-of-pounds-1-9960520