Medal gifted anonymously to Bradley Lowery charity

A medal marking Coventry City's 1987 FA Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur has been donated anonymously to the Bradley Lowery Foundation.

The charity said that it came from an unnamed Coventry fan following an incident in which a 14-year-old was bailed by police after allegedly taunting Sunderland fans with an image of Bradley, a young supporter who died aged six from a rare cancer in 2017.

It was sent to Bradley's parents, Gemma and Carl, in a presentation box with a handwritten letter from the supporter.

Peter Kenny Jones, who runs Football Historian said: "One [person] doesn't represent a fan base. I think the way the whole club's come together, is a great example of what football can do."

In a Facebook post, the foundation said: "This unbelievable donation arrived in the post to us this week and it has me truly speechless. To donate something so special purchased by someone so important is so selfless and kind.

It also appealed for the supporter to come forward so that they could be thanked personally.

The letter from the supporter explained that the medal had been bought for the them by their father to mark Coventry's victory, adding that they believed few had been made and they could not find any others for sale online

It suggested the medal could be sold to make money for the foundations, saying: "With it being the 50th anniversary [of Coventry's win] in 2027, [it] could be a nice Christmas present for a Coventry fan.

"Was thinking would it be possible for your foundation for Bradley to do an online raffle to raise funds."

The supporter added: "I know many Coventry fans are disgusted by what happened and would love to help in some way."

Peter Kenny Jones, who runs Football Historian, a podcast and website exploring moments from the sport, said the medal is not one that would have been presented to the players by royalty after the match at Wembley.

He added: "I think it's basically just a collectable medal that I suspect was made after the finals and, you know, it was an option for Coventry fans to buy in it and have a memory of the day."

He said whoever sent the medal to the charity was an example of the best kind of football fan.

Lionel Bird, a historian for the Sky Blue Archive, said he had never seen anything like it.

"I suspect because the three lions shield is so prominent, that it's come from the FA. That's my initial perception, but it could have been something that was commissioned by the football club."

Jones added that there are two different values associated with the item.

"There's a financial and emotional value.

"From what I've been told, [financially] it's not going to be amazing, like £50 to £100.

"But I think in terms of what it meant to that family for them to give it away, what it represents now...the love and hopefully a bond that can now be shared between Sunderland and Coventry as well.

"I think, you know, it's worth a lot more than what it actually is."

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