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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 285

The football awards of C. D. Roberts, Chairman of Tottenham Hotspur F.C. from 1898-1943, a period which saw them twice lift the F.A. Cup

A gold (9ct - 19.7g) Medal, the obverse inscribed 'The Football League, Divn. II, 1919-20, Tottenham Hotspur', the reverse inscribed 'Champions Div II, C.D. Roberts, Chairman'; a gold (15ct - 17.3g) Medal, the obverse inscribed 'Tottenham Hotspur', the reverse inscribed 'Winners Of The F.A. Cup, 1901, C.D. Roberts, Chairman'; and a gold (15ct - 17.7g) Medal, the obverse inscribed 'Tottenham Hotspur', the reverse inscribed 'Winners Of The F.A. Cup, 1921, C.D. Roberts, Chairman', all with ring suspensions, very fine (3)

Provenance:
Christie's, Football Memorabilia, November 1995 (Lot 48).

Charles David Roberts was Chairman of Tottenham Hotspur F.C. from November 1898 until his death in July 1943. The following extract is taken from the Tottenham Hotspur official club programme at the beginning of season 1943-44;

'Since the close of last season the Tottenham Hotspur Club has suffered a grievous loss. I refer to the death of Mr. Charles David Roberts. When the Club was converted into a Company forty-five years ago, Mr. Roberts was the moving spirit, and in the same year he was elected its Chairman. He retained that office until his death, and never was club better served. It is a far cry back to the early days of Mr. Roberts' official connection with the Club. It is not putting it too high to state, that when a serious financial crisis arose threatening the Spurs with extinction he stepped into the breach. He said: 'The Club shall not go under.' It did not. He saved it. "Now that he has joined the great majority it is well that present-day Shareholders and supporters of the Club should be reminded of what they owe him. But the half could not be told. In times of prosperity and in times of adversity the faith of the late Chairman that Tottenham Hotspur had a high destiny in football never wavered. "Only those behind the scenes knew what he was to the Club. He had a fine business brain. In matters of finance he had vision coupled with a spice of adventure. Who that is acuainted with the dismal outlook that confronted the Club in 1908 when it left the Southern League will forget how Mr. Roberts and Mr. Cadman, in conjunction with Mr. Arthur Turner, piloted it safely into the Football League harbour. Much had to be done in a short time, and much was done. The clouds were rolled away, and it was largely due to the initiative and determination of the Chairman and his two coadjutors that a new era in the Club's history was begun. "The Shareholders did honour to themselves as well as to the late Chairman in deciding to place at the entrance to the Old Stand a Tablet expressing appreciation of the unparalleled services he rendered to the Club.'

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Sold for
£4,000

Starting price
£4000