The Medals and Awards to the professional footballer John Jennings, whose career encompassed spells with Cardiff City, Middlesbrough, Preston North End, Bradford City and Northampton Town, and who later helped coach the Great Britain football team at the Olympic Games in 1952, 1956 and 1960: [Liverpool County Football Combination], a gold badge by Fattorini, named (1922-23, Geo. Mahon Cup, Winners, J. Jennings, Right Full Back), 25mm, hallmarked Birmingham 1922, 9ct, 7.88g; The Football Association, England-Canada 1931, a gold award medal by Vaughton, named (J. Jennings), 30mm, hallmarked Birmingham 1931, 15ct, 23.49g; The Football Association, 1931, an enamelled brass badge by Denton & Down, 43 x 30mm; The Football League, England v. Scotland, an oval award medal by Vaughton, named (Ibrox Park, Glasgow, Feb. 10th 1934, Reserve), 27 x 22mm, hallmarked Birmingham 1933, 9ct, 20.18g; Norfolk & Norwich Hospital Cup, a gold and enamel badge by Vaughton for Tilletts, Norwich, back engraved (1935-6), 32mm, hallmarked Birmingham 1935, 9ct, 22.92g; Finland, Olympic Games, Helsinki, 1952, a bronze Participant’s medal by K. Räsänen, 54mm (GV 125.2; cf. DNW 160, 1239); FINLAND, Olympic Games, Helsinki, 1952, an enamelled bronze Participant’s badge, unsigned, 48 x 32mm (GV 129.101b); LUXEMBOURG, Fédération Luxembourgeoise de Football, 50e Anniversaire 1908-1958, an oval plated enamel badge, unsigned, 45 x 35mm; ITALY, Federazione Italiana Civoco Calcio, a silver award medal, unsigned, for Stabilimenti Artistici, Fiorentini, engraved (Italia-Inghilterra Dilettanti, Brescia, 14-v-1960), 50mm; ITALY, Olympic Games, Rome, 1960, a cast bronze Participant’s medal by E. Greco for Bertoni, 55mm (GV 141.2; BM Acq. 1978-82, p.102, 15; cf. DNW 128, 688); ITALY, Olympic Games, Rome, 1960, Great Britain, an enamelled brass badge, 32 x 27mm [11]. Helsinki Participant’s medal very fine, others extremely fine; the majority in cases or holders as issued [two cases damaged] £1,500-£2,000 --- John Jennings (1902-97), b Platt Bridge, Wigan; worked as a railway fireman before commencing his footballing career with Wigan Borough, 1922-5; joined First Division side Cardiff City, making his debut for them on 10 October 1925; appeared 94 times for Cardiff at Ninian Park, featuring in almost every league match played by the team from February 1928 to January 1930, when he was sold to Middlesbrough; captain of Middlesbrough 1930-3 and selected for a FA tour of Canada in 1931; left Middlesbrough in 1936 for a half-season at Preston North End before signing for Bradford City in February 1937, for whom he made 28 appearances and a further three in the FA Cup; joined the coaching team at Northampton Town 1945 and remained with the ‘Cobblers’ for over 20 years, living in the town until his death. Jennings also worked as a coach for the England national amateur football team and the Great Britain Olympic football team, when it was managed by Walter Winterbottom and Charlie Hughes, among others, between 1952 and 1971
