It’s extraordinary what artefacts from the past survive and just how they turn up to be appreciated again by the mainstream audience. Take today’s objet d’art, part of a collection belonging to the mighty Alan Cleverley.
Small and perfectly formed – the object, not Alan - this little matchbox cover came into his possession when he was offered it at an Albion home game. We should all be that lucky, because it’s a fascinating piece of work.
The construction itself is sturdy enough, probably lacquered cardboard as an outer casing to keep your matches dry in the rain, the poor man’s version of the full-on smoker’s compendium from back in the day.
Of course, it’s not the use that we’re interested in, but the design, for this isn’t any old matchbox cover, but a commemorative one that followed on from Albion’s anointment as the Champions of England in 1920, put together by some enterprising types down London way, Glossoids of EC2.
Proclaiming us as the champions on the spine, and decorating the little box in blue and white stripes, that alone makes it a lovely object of Albion desire on its own, but it’s on the front of the cover that this piece really shines.
For there, in all their glory are the champions, Jesse Pennington up front with the trophy in front of him, the great and the good from the Albion board, including chairman Billy Bassett and secretary / manager Fred Everiss. So far, so standard.
But look again. Behind them is the Halfords Lane stand, the photograph therefore presumably taken before the season’s final game against Chelsea on May 1st 1920, the title long since won. That makes this, as far as we know, the only example of that photograph because the consensus is that this is a hitherto unseen image of the team and their winnings, the best known – perhaps only – other photo doing the rounds being one staged a little later with all the squad and officials in attendance.
Sadly, of course, the size of the item means that the photo isn’t done full justice, but nonetheless, this is a pretty juicy bit of Albion history, all of which could fit inside the palm of your hand.
