THE medal on today’s front cover is the only known survivor from Sunderland Football Club’s first ever trophy victory, which the club secured in the most controversial circumstances against Darlington.

The 131-year-old medal has just been acquired by Peter Jefferies in Durham City. Peter is a Sunderland fan, and he describes the discovery as “like finding the holy grail”.

It was awarded to a member of the Sunderland team who, in 1884, lifted the inaugural Durham FA Challenge Cup.

The final was first played on April 5 at Monkwearmouth Old Cricket Ground, Newcastle Road, Sunderland, which was then the home of the Black Cats – although in those early days, they wore blue shirts.

In front of 2,500 spectators, “a most unpleasant match was awarded to Sunderland by four goals to three," reported The Northern Echo. The Durham Advertiser, though, said the result was “four goals to two and a disputed one”.

The Quakers protested. The Durham FA met in the Three Tuns Hotel a couple of days later, and heard the Darlington contingent complain about “the interference of the spectators in the game, and the threats of open violence offered to the visiting team as well as to the referee and umpires”.

The referee was called. He was Mr A Grundy, of Whitburn, who was also the honorary secretary of the Durham FA. “In the course of his remarks, he stated that during the game, he was threatened by three of the Sunderland team, and he characterised the match as the most disgraceful he had ever taken part in. He also said that the fourth goal claimed by Sunderland was not given by him.”

Despite Sunderland’s protests, the final was eventually declared null and void, and a replay was ordered.

It was held at Birtley on May 3. This is believed to be one of the first football matches for which special excursion trains were laid on for the supporters.

“The disputes which arose at the last match, and the Association Committee’s request for the match to be played over on neutral ground, had created a large amount of keen interest in the contest,” said the Echo.

The national FA sent up Major Francis Marindin to ensure fair play. As a player, “The Major” had appeared in the first FA Cup finals, and as a referee, he was regarded as the finest of his day.

But, said the Echo, the match “was played under very unfavourable conditions, the field being of a very inferior description, and a strong wind blowing down it, rendering good and effective kicking impracticable”.

The Quakers played with the wind in the first 45-minute half, but they “kicked too strong, almost rashly”. Said the Echo: "Again and again the ball was kicked and dribbled down into close proximity to Sunderland's goal, but no score was obtained.”

Having changed end, the Skernesiders were up against it, but they had their founder Charles Craven, who had successfully led their protests after the first game, in goal. He “caught and fisted out in his usual style” until “the Sunderland men rushed down, and, in the midst of a scrimmage in front of the goal, Macmillan headed the ball through, scoring the first goal”.

The Quakers bravely rallied, and despite the hurricane, hit the Sunderland post. This only spurred Sunderland on, and they scored a second and had a third disallowed for handball.

“The Darlington men played well up the field, but they could not avert their defeat before the call of time. The smart passing and unselfish play of the Darlington forwards was much commented upon, but they could not evade the Sunderland backs, who kicked down to their forwards, conspicuous among whom were Macdonald and Allen, the former arousing much enthusiasm by his brilliant runs, and the latter by his smart kicking and dodging.”

So this time, Sunderland won fair and square, and picked up the inaugural cup and their first trophy.

Only they didn’t – despite the name of the competition, the Durham FA could not afford a Challenge Cup.

In fact, there wasn’t anything for the victorious players to collect.

The Durham FA minutes show that the committee did agree to purchase winners’ medals which should “not cost more than 10/6 each”, but these were not presented until July 6, by the mayor of Sunderland.

The only known medal to survive is now in the hands of Peter, and we are extremely grateful to him for showing it to us. Do you have anything similar lying somewhere in a drawer?