£1,000 has been donated to Topsham Museum to support a new exhibition about the life of footballer Dick Pym.

The money, from McCarthy Stone will support the staging of an exhibition commemorating Dick Pym - grandfather of Richard Pym CBE, after whom the new McCarthy Stone Retirement Living site in Topsham - Pym Court has been named.

Dick Pym was a Topsham salmon fisherman who became Exeter City’s goalkeeper before playing in the Bolton Wanderers side which won the first-ever Wembley FA Cup Final exactly 100 years ago this month.

After more than 300 league appearances for Bolton, Dick returned to Exeter City as assistant trainer, living until he passed away in 1988 in Topsham, where the Pym family have resided for more than four centuries.

The exhibition will showcase a host of original items from the first-ever Wembley FA Cup final match and Dick’s career, as well as a brief video history of Dick’s life and times, which will be available to view at the exhibition itself.

Gill McLean, trustee and volunteer exhibitions coordinator at Topsham Museum said: “Dick Pym is probably Topsham’s most famous resident, and we are delighted to be able to stage this exhibition celebrating him and his achievements thanks to the support of McCarthy Stone.”

Nicki Beswarick, divisional marketing manager for McCarthy Stone said: “As a business, community is very much at the heart of what we do. Topsham Museum has, for over half a century, provided a taste of what life was like for those working in traditional industries in the local community within this part of Devon.  

“We were especially delighted to assist with this sponsorship given that our local development is named in honour of one of Dick Pym’s descendants, Richard Pym CBE, former Chairman of Exeter City FC.”

Further details on Topsham Museum can be found at: https://topshammuseum.org.uk.