I had an incredible stroke of luck in 2022 when I acquired two very heavy sterling silver trophy cups at a public auction with both trophies in very poor condition; some might say ready for the melting pot which is where they may have ended up if I had not saved them.

However I regularly use one of the country's top silversmiths based in Sheffield to restore my damaged silver items and the two trophy cups are now in as good condition as they day they were made.

Incredibly the two trophies turned out to be the ACTUAL playoff trophies played for at Wembley for the seasons 1993 - 94, 1994 - 95 & 1995 - 96. One of the trophies was for the Division One Playoffs (tier 2) and the other was for the Division Three Playoffs (tier 4). Sadly the trophy for the Second Division Playoffs was not included. The original trophies had silver lids with the finial in the shape of an owl and also wooden plinths with silver plaques for the trophy winners but both the lids & the plinths were not included with the trophies.

For the start of the 1993 - 94 season, Endsleigh Insurance took over sponsorship of the English Football League on a three year agreement worth £3.5m. For the seasons 1993 - 94, 1994 - 95 & 1995 - 96, the Football League was called the Endsleigh Insurance League. Endsleigh ended their sponsorship relationship after three seasons.

By the mid 1990s the playoffs at Wembley at the end of each season was becoming a huge affair, particularly the Division One playoff where a place in the promised land of the recently-created Premier League was at stake. Endsleigh commissioned three huge silver trophies, one for each Division of the EFL,  which were to be competed for at these playoffs, for the duration that Endsleigh remained sponsor.

For each Division, it was the same silver trophy competed for at Wembley each year; after the game this perpetual trophy was handed back to Endsleigh by the winning team ready for the following year. The winning team did not retain the trophy and were not even given a replica for their trophy cabinet, they received nothing to keep. This has been confirmed to me by the winning clubs.

However the internet is awash with iconic photos of the trophy winners posing on the old Wembley turf & parading the trophy in front of their adoring fans (I have included one for each year of the playoffs in 1994, 1995 & 1996. These 3 photo reprints will be passed on the the trophy buyer). Incredibly Leicester City picked up this actual trophy twice in three years (1994 & 1996) as they got promoted to the Premier League through the playoffs, were immediately relegated and then got promoted through the playoffs for the second time. In between, in 1995, Bolton Wanderers were the Playoff victors. For the three seasons in question the results were as follows:

1993 - 94. Leicester City 2 - 1 Derby County
1994 - 95. Bolton Wanderers 4 - 3 Reading
1995 - 96. Leicester City 2 - 1 Crystal Palace.

To make the trophy of even more importance, particularly relating to Leicester City, this was the first ever trophy the club had won at Wembley! (They won the League Cup in 1963 - 64 but the game against Stoke City was played over 2 legs at the Victoria Ground, Stoke & Filbert Street, Leicester. They also won the Community Shield in 1971 but the game against Liverpool was played at Filbert Street, Leicester).

With regards to Bolton Wanderers this was the first of just 2 Playoff trophies won by the club for as well as winning the 1995 game against Reading they went on to also win the 2001 Final.

The trophy itself is large & very heavy, weighing in at 1.698 kg of sterling silver! It is profusely decorated in repousse style featuring a floral pattern, reeding and a laurel wreath surrounding the central cartouche. This is engraved:

"ENDSLEIGH LEAGUE DIVISION ONE PLAY-OFF WINNERS".

Weight: 1.698 kg. Height (to tip of handle): 350 mm. Height (to rim): 295 mm. Diameter of rim: 170 mm. Diameter of base: 165 mm. Hall Mark: Birmingham 1994. Maker's Mark: Regent Silversmiths (stamped underneath).

Summary: Historic football trophies do not come much more desirable than this! Ideally it should be in the trophy cabinet of either Leicester City or Bolton Wanderers & I sincerely hope that is where it will end up. However, fans from both clubs, many of whom will have attended the playoff games at Wembley, will also have an opportunity to get hold of this rare piece of football silverware. Good luck!

NOTE: If within reasonable travelling distance of my home I will try & deliver the trophy personally free of charge. If this is not possible, due to the weight, I will post using ParcelForce 48. I am happy to post worldwide but I can only do so using the Global Shipping Programme & I cannot post personally. Any queries concerning delivery please get in touch.

NOTE: Please see my other listing of the EFL Division Three Playoff Trophy for the same 3 seasons.