Links With The Past: A ‘Champions Division Two’ Gold Medal

In 1936/37, Leicester City won the Football League Second Division title to regain their place in the top flight two seasons after the Club had been relegated. It was a remarkable achievement because the team had been bottom-but-one in the table as late as October 1936, until their fortunes were restored under the new Manager Frank Womack.

This nine-carat gold medal was awarded to Leicester City’s Wales international full-back Dai Jones, who was the only player to appear in every single game for the City that season. The Club recently acquired the medal as part of a collection of football memorabilia relating to Dai Jones’ club and international career.

The medal was manufactured Vaughton’s of Birmingham. This firm was established in 1819 and had moved to their impressive Livery Street factory in 1903. It started making medals for the Football League in 1911 when the founder’s grandson Howard Vaughton, who had played for Aston Villa and England, began working in the factory.

The firm already had a fine footballing pedigree. They had manufactured the replacement FA Cup in 1896, to replace the original which had been stolen and melted down. They also made the medals for the 1908 London Olympics.

The design on the medal features a football surrounded by laurel leaves together with an inscription which reads: THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE. CHAMPIONS DIVISION 2. This design appeared on all Football League title winners’ medals for many years.