A LONG-forgotten football trophy cast in memory of a miner who died in a North-East pit disaster has been donated to the Durham Mining Museum.

The Ronald Foster Memorial Trophy was discovered during a recent clear out of offices at the Lucite International works at Billingham.

It was one of several trophies created by the Hetton Division of the St John Ambulance Brigade in memory of nine men who died following an explosion at the Eppleton Colliery, near Hetton le Hole in July 1951.

Keen footballer Ronald Foster, 25, was the youngest of the nine to die and had previously captained the colliery’s junior team in competitions run by the Brigade.

Lucite decided that the trophy deserved to be properly preserved for future generations and duly donated it to the Durham museum.

Lucite's HR administrator, Lynne Scott, said: “It appears from the inscriptions that we were the last winners of the trophy in 1974.

"Why we were competing for the cup, what happened to the competition and why the trophy has lain unloved and gathering dust in a cabinet at the site for many years is a mystery.

"However, we were delighted to have it cleaned up and polished and to donate it to the Museum.”

It has now gone on display in the First Aid section of the museum in Spennymoor along with other St John Ambulance memorabilia.