A COMMEMORATIVE pocket watch awarded to a Marine player over a century ago has been sensationally returned to the club – from the USA!
After receiving worldwide exposure from their memorable FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur earlier this year, the Crosby based club were contacted by a Californian resident to say he had a pocket watch presented to former player Walter Quayle in 1909 that he wanted to return.
Forward Quayle made his debut for the club in 1900 and played at Marine's previous football ground behind St Mary's Church in Waterloo and then at College Road from 1903 until he retired in 1909. He was presented with the watch as a mark of his retirement.
It is believed Walter Quayle emigrated to the United States sometime after his near nine seasons at Marine.
In the book “The Mighty Mariners”, written and published by David Wotherspoon in 1997, it was reported that the pocket watch had surfaced in California in 1997 with the inscription: “Presented to Walter E Quayle as a token of esteem by the Marine Assoc. Football Club, Liverpool. Jan 26 1909.”
After the Tottenham game back in January, Mike Isaacson of Irvine, California contacted Barry Lenton, author of “Marine Football Club 125 Years” to say he had the watch which had been given to him to a neighbour some years ago and that he would like to return it back to Marine.
Isaacson said: “In 1982 or 1983 a neighbour gave the watch to me but unfortunately he died a short time later. I don't remember why he gave it to me or if he told me anything about it as I was in my twenties and had other interests. For several years it sat in a safe and I tried to contact the football club.”
Marine chairman Paul Leary said: “This is an amazing story. To have the watch found and returned after 112 years is incredible.”
