Links With The Past: Hospital Cup Mementoes

In the 1920s and 1920s, Leicester City played in several benefit matches to raise money for hospitals in Northampton, Stoke, Hull, Grimsby, Blackpool and Leicester. The Club’s heritage collection contains some mementoes from these matches. 

The medal without a box dates from either April 1926 or May 1927. On both occasions, Leicester City defeated Norwich City to win the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital Cup. This splendid cup was nearly three feet high.

Each year, from 1904 to 1960, clubs were invited to play against Norwich City for this cup, in order to raise money for the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. The Leicester games raised over £700 (about £44,000 in today’s values).

Everton, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur also won this cup. The games were played at the Nest, which was Norwich City’s home ground. Built in a disused chalk pit, it was the most cramped, eccentric and unsafe ground in the Football League.

A fire at Carrow Road destroyed the cup in October 1985, but this medal reminds us of this impressive trophy’s existence. 

On 6 May, 1929, only two days after Leicester City had finished in runners-up spot to Sheffield Wednesday in the old First Division, each City player received one of these small individual cups to commemorate the team’s 2-1 victory over Grimsby Town, after extra time, to win the Grimsby Hospital Cup. Both of Leicester City’s goals were scored by England international forward, Ernie Hine. 

The medal in the box dates from either April 1930 or May 1931. On both occasions, Leicester defeated Blackpool 3-2 to win the Blackpool Hospital Cup, with each City player receiving one of these medals.