A Blackburn Rovers fan is trying to piece together an FA Cup mystery after finding a medallion from the ill-fated 1960 final.

Steve Johnson, of Kirkstone Avenue, Blackburn, made the surprise find after the death of his mother.

The tiny silver medallion from 1960 turned up in a box while he was searching for a will. The runners-up medal is silver, with the name 'F Wood' engraved on the back. But there was no player with that name and, although Steve has been told it may have been the name of a former director, nobody at Blackburn Rovers now can shed light on the find.

How the item made it to the Langdale Road family home is a mystery, and dad-of-five Steve is hoping to find some clues to its origin.

He said: "It was in the bottom of a tin, what she would call her strong box. I just thought it was a medal from a garage or something. But then I felt it was a bit heavier than that. I checked it properly and it was silver."

The 1960 Wembley final ended in defeat for Rovers. They lost 3-0 against Wolves during a match marred by problems.

Centre forward Derek Dougan handed in a transfer request on the way to the match, and full-back David Whelan - later to establish sports shop chain JJB - broke his leg minutes before half-time.

Blackburn were 1-0 behind, but substitutes were not allowed, and the team played the rest of the match with just 10 men.

Steve, 47, a coach builder with Wigan-based Transbus, said: "Where my mum and dad lived there were quite a few players. Mike England, Billy Wilson, they all lived around Langdale Road. But how my mum and dad came to have the medal I don't know."

A Rovers spokesman said: "A find like this is very interesting from a fan's point of view. Its value might not be that great, as it's a piece of modern history, but it's great to have something like this turn up."

David Convery, an expert in sporting memorabilia for auctioneers Christies, said: "They presented 11 gold medals in those days and the losers were also given similar gold medals. A runners-up medal is worth between £1,200 and £1,800.

"The clubs themselves would have some medals made for the directors and backroom staff and I think this it what that find is. Such a commemorative medal would be worth £40 to £50."