Incredible West Bromwich Albion 1892 FA Cup final win celebration mug up for auction for £10,000

It’s the tea mug that’s causing a real stir among football fans, particularly West Brom diehards. 

Incredibly rare, this slice of memorabilia is a brew collectors’ item and carries a £10,000 price tag. Made to celebrate the Baggies’ 1892, 3-0 FA Cup final win over Aston Villa, this may be the only one left. 

And it is being put up for sale by Midlands Sports Auctions next month. The mug to mark lifting the cup will be sold by online auction house, the-salesroom. To add to the lot’s appeal, Midlands Sports Auctions are selling it on behalf of the great grandson of West Brom legend Billy Bassett. Outside right Bassett played in the final and would go on to be a director and chairman of the club. 

The seller has asked not to be named. Matt Bytheway, boss of Midlands Sports Auctions, said: “There’s a mystery about the mug. We don’t know how many were made or if they were given to players. 

“I know all the big West Brom collectors and they’ve never had one, I’ve never seen one. It is incredibly rare. The man who owns it – now in his 70s – insists that 50 per cent of what he makes goes to charity. That’s the kind of man he is.” 

West Brom’s famous win over Villa came before FA Cup finals took place at Wembley. The setting for the March 19 clash was Kensington Oval and close to 34,000 saw Alf Geddes, Sam Nicholls and John Reynolds grab the goals. 

Bassett was associated with West Brom for 50 years and holds the dubious distinction of being the club’s first player to be sent off. Billy received his marching orders on April 28, 1894, for “unparliamentary language”. He died in 1937, aged 68, and 100,000 lined the streets to witness the funeral procession.