West Ham co-owner David Gold will attempt to sell the oldest surviving FA Cup on Tuesday, prompting fears it could be picked up by an overseas buyer and disappear out of the UK.
Gold bought the trophy in 2005 at auction for £478,000 while chairman of Birmingham City, claiming at the time he was doing the nation a favour.
‘This is surely one of the country’s most important items of sporting heritage and seemingly no one was prepared to do anything about keeping the cup in the country,’ he said.
But the 84-year-old could find himself in profit today when the trophy comes up for auction at a Bonhams sale— it is expected to fetch up to £900,000.