UNIQUE Blackburn Rovers memorabilia is going up at auction today and an original winner's medal from the 1800s is expected to fetch £5,000.

The prize piece is defender John Barton's solid gold medal from the 1890 FA Cup Final against Sheffield Wednesday after a 6-1 victory.

It turned up at a valuation day at Ewood Park in February when a Darwen pensioner presented her grandfather's medal for an estimate.

Memorabilia auctioneer Oliver Hambly said: "She was amazed when I told her what it was worth as it had just been lying around the house.

"It is the most expensive item we have handled as it is the oldest FA Cup final medal to come onto the market in the last ten years.

"There will only have been 11 medals made for the victors and although football in the 19th century was less popular than now, it is a real privilege to find such a unique item."

Also on auction is a souvenir brochure from a match between Blackburn Rovers and Burnley on January 1 1914.

The brochure marks the record 49,000 crowd and £1,685 total takings from the game with a collection of special photos and articles. The booklet is expected to raise £300.

An original Blackburn Rovers number 11 home shirt, worn by Howard Kendal in 1983 on his last day with the team, is expected to fetch £300.

More than 600 items were being auctioned at Coventry City's ground.

The next valuation day at Ewood Park will be in June.