A ceremonial axe with a West Ham United link has failed to sell at auction when it was expected to fetch between �5,000 and �8,000.
The axe was presented to Mrs Arnold Hills in 1897, two years after her husband founded Thames Iron Works FC, which, in 1900, became West Ham United.
An engraved inscription on the memento says it was presented by the Thames Ironworks Federated Clubs to mark the opening of the new cycle and athletic grounds in Canning Town.
The sale was at Bonhams, the auctioneers, in Chester yesterday, Wednesday.
Mr Hills (1857-1927) was a successful businessman, philanthropist, footballer (he played in the 1877 FA Cup final) and as the first president of the London Vegetarian Society,
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