PICKLES AND MULTIPLEX

In 2000, at this time, the Australian company, Multiplex signed the contract to build the new Wembley Stadium for a maximum price of £326.5 million. The project was "dogged" by problems and delays, eventually finished four years late, at a cost of nearly £800,000,000.

At the same time, in 1895, the FA Cup trophy, known as the "Little Tin Idol" was stolen from a sports' shop in Newton Road, Birmingham, where it was on display following Aston Villa's victory in the FA Cup. A substantial reward of £10 was offered by the FA for its recovery, but it was never recovered, so Villa had to pay £25 for a replacement. Sixty three years later, a petty ciminal, Harry Burge, claimed he had stolen the trophy and melted it down to make counter-feit half-crown coins. Lost for ever.

The shop owner, a Mr Shillcock, had persuaded the club to let him display the trophy in his shop window, with the idea of attracting customers. He paid the club £200 for the privilege, but of course he hoped to benefit from extra trade. Local miscreants used to a manufacturing background perfected the skills of making counterfeit silver coins with available lead. The dud cloins were disposed of at the local race course at Castle Brompton, pocketing genuine coins from any winnings. Shillcock, claiming to be a "ruined man" offered £10 as a reward for any news that would recover the trophy, alas this did not work!

Aston Villa received compensation from their insurance company and bought the replacement. but were also fined by the FA for the same amount. In 1958, Harry Burge, aged 83, claimed to have stolen the trophy at the tender age of seventeen. He also claimed to have melted the cup down, pouring it into moulds to make fake half crown coins. Apparently, Harry was not the only person to admit to the crime.

The oldest surviving FA Cup trophy, now on display at the National Football Museum, Preston. The trophy was used between 1896 and 1910, being an exact replica of the original trophy, which was stolen and never recovered.