This recently acquired silver cup is in a very tarnished condition and is in dire need of being carefully restored to its former glory.
The cup was awarded to Leicester City full-back Dai Jones for being in the team which was defeated by Grimsby Town in a benefit match for the Grimsby Hospital Cup on 4 May, 1937.
In the 1920s and 1930s, many clubs played benefit matches for hospitals. Leicester City were no exception. They played Grimsby Town for the Grimsby Hospital Cup five times between 1929 and 1938.
Promoted the top flight in 1929 and again in 1934, the Mariners achieved their highest-ever league position, fifth in the old First Division, in 1935. The following year, they reached the FA Cup Semi-Final, losing narrowly to Arsenal.
This 1937 match for the Grimsby Hospital Club was played only four days after Leicester City won the old Second Division title by reaching the top spot on the very last day of the season. This might explain why they lost 5-2. Leicester’s Manager was Frank Womack, who had left Grimsby Town earlier in the season to guide City to the title.
This trophy isn’t the most attractive in the Club’s collection. It is not even a winner’s trophy. However, it is still a piece of evidence of a game that might otherwise have been forgotten.
