Leicester City Legend’s Memorabilia Sells For Over £5,000

A collection of football memorabilia amassed by a legendary Leicester City player has sold at auction in Market Harborough today for over £5,000.

Dating back almost half a century, it belonged to full-back David ‘Dai’ Owen Jones and included a gold champions medal.

‘Dai’ Jones

Known as the ‘smiling footballer’, the Welsh international’s collection went under the hammer at Gildings Auctioneers yesterday and also included silver-plated Welsh Dragon table lighter and a silver-plated trophy following his nations’ wins in the 1933-34 and 1936-37 British Home Championship.

Jones, who was born in Cardiff in 1910 and died in Oadby in 1971, signed to Leicester City from Clapton Orient (the former name for Leyton Orient), in May 1933 for a fee of £250, which led to the press naming him as Leicester City’s best ever bargain signing.

He made Leicester his home and during his 14-year stint with the Foxes and played in every game of the 1936/37 season, which saw the club win the Division Two title, securing promotion to what was then the highest league in England – Division One.

An anonymous bidder who was at the sale yesterday bought the collection for £5,456, inclusive of charge.

Gilding’s Director Will Gilding said: “We’re delighted to see this collection commemorating this popular player’s success at Leicester City and internationally, find a home with a new owner who will look after it for posterity.

“We’re seeing strong interest in football and sporting memorabilia generally at the moment, so now is a great time to sell medals, trophies, kit and other items from our sporting past from Leicester and beyond.”