Footballer's First World War VC sells for £252,000

THE Victoria Cross earned by the first professional footballer to join up for the First World War has sold for £252,000.

By The Newsroom

Published 25th Nov 2010, 22:41 BST

Updated 25th Nov 2010, 22:41 BST

The Professional Footballers' Association paid the third highest ever auction price for a VC after a fierce bidding battle at specialists auctioneers Spink's in London.

The coveted medal for valour was won by Donald Bell, whose dazzling turn of foot left opposition players in his wake when he turned out for Crystal Palace, Newcastle United and Bradford Park Avenue before the First World War.

And the full-back's pace stood him in good stead when leading from the front during one of the bloodiest battles in history – the desperate and disastrous Somme Offensive of 1916.

The Yorkshireman charged into No Man's Land under murderous fire to take out a German machine gun post and kill 50 of the enemy, but he was killed repeating his heroics just five days later.

The pre-sale estimate was 140, 000 - 160, 000.