A medal awarded to a pioneering Jewish footballer in the 1960s could make £800 at auction in Cornwall this month <feb 24>.
The 9ct gold winners’ medal from the 1960 FA Amateur Cup Final had belonged to Miles Spector – a trailblazing Jewish footballer who played for Chelsea, Millwall and Hendon.
It was spotted by valuer Rob Bolton in a cardboard box of coins brought into Hansons Auctioneers’ Penzance saleroom.
Spector was born in 1934 to a Jewish family in Willesden in north London. His father was a furrier and football fan who encouraged his son’s sporting potential.
In 1952, while still a schoolboy, Spector’s skills on the football pitch were spotted by scouts and he joined Chelsea FC as an 18-year-old amateur.
He made his First Division debut in February 1953, soon breaking barriers and inspiring the next generation of youngsters.
In Jonathan Wilson’s book Kick and Run: Memoir with Soccer Ball, recounting his north London childhood as a young Jewish football fan, he calls Spector a “Jewish soccer god”.
After a brief spell with Millwall in 1956, Miles returned to Hendon, where he truly made his mark with dozens of appearances, including the FA Amateur Cup Final where Spector was a vital member of the Hendon side.
In front of a Wembley crowd of 60,000, his 85th minute assist allowed the game to be tied at 1-1.
A minute later another goal saw Hendon beat Kingstonian, 2-1. The Kingstonian website describes the match as “One of the finest finishes to a match, professional or amateur, ever seen on Wembley’s turf.”
The back of the medal reads ‘Football Association, M.D. Spector, Winners Hendon1960’ with the front inscribed ‘Amateur Cup’.
Hansons Auctioneers’ Charles Hanson said: “In the 1950s career opportunities for Jewish sportspeople were far more limited than they are today.
“Jewish athletes had to navigate a complex mix of social prejudice, cultural expectations and structural barriers. Many aspiring sportspeople felt the need to change their names. But out of this injustice rose some outstanding talents, such as that of Miles Spector.”
Following his playing days, Spector pursued a career teaching aeronautical engineering, balancing professional commitments with his ongoing involvement in amateur football. After early retirement he moved to Cornwall where he died on October 19, 2023 aged 89.
Charles Hanson continued: “On the one hand the medal is just a lump of precious metal, but on the other it is a testimony to one man’s journey from prejudice to sporting success. We are not sure how it found its way into a cardboard box, but we are delighted to share its story and give Miles the credit he deserves.”
The medal has a guide price of £500-£800 when it goes under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers’ Cornwall saleroom in Penzance on February 24.
Auction Details
Auction: Cornwall February Antiques Auction to include Jewellery, Silver & Watches, with Collectors & Asian
Auction date: 24th February 2026 | 10am
Location: Hansons’ Cornwall Saleroom
Auction contact: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
