A MEDAL given to a man from Annbank during his time at Newton Heath, later to be known as Manchester United, is to go on auction.

Thomas Fitzsimmons joined the original structure that is now the worldwide brand of Manchester United in 1892 after leaving Celtic.

Born in Annbank, Fitzsimmons was awarded the Manchester Senior Cup winner’s medal during his first season with the club after they beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 at Hyde

Road on April 15, 1893. Fitzsimmons scored four goals during the tournament and it was also Newton Heath’s first season in the Football League Division One.

In June 1894 Tommy Fitzsimmons returned to Scotland to play for his local team Annbank FC.

Now the medal he was awarded will go on auction with an opening bid of £12,000 and an estimated value of between £20,000 and £25,000.

Graham Budd, who will be auctioning the medal said: “We are very pleased to be selling this important historic medal on behalf of a UK private collector. It is the oldest Manchester United medal that has been offered at auction.

“And there is no knowledge of the whereabouts of any other medal in existence that is older.

“Manchester United were still playing under their original name of Newton Heath. The medal was awarded when the club won the 1893 Manchester Football Association Senior Cup. They beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 at Hyde Road, the original ground of rivals Manchester City, whose original name at this time was Ardwick.

“1892-93 was also the first season that Newton Heath played in the top flight of English Football, League Division One. The medal was awarded to their Scottish player Thomas Fitzsimmons, who played at outside-right.”

The auction will be live between September 7-8. Visit www.grahambuddauctions.co.uk/.