We will probably never know exactly what it was that made 1950 FA Cup final referee, Harry Pearce, tick.

But it is known that he was highly-regarded and when he refereed the Gloucestershire Senior Cup final between Bristol City and Bristol Rovers that same season he was presented with a Swiss-made stopwatch.

Now, nearly 60 years later, that watch is up for sale and it is expected to fetch up to £300 at Bonhams in Chester on October 21.

The watch, which still works, is engraved: "Gloucestershire Senior Cup Final, 1949-1950, Referee H.Pearce."

According to auctioneers Bonhams, Mr Pearce used the watch in that final, which took place in front of a 16,560 crowd on May 13, 1950. Bristol City won the match 2-0 against Bristol Rovers thanks to goals from Bristol-born Sid Williams.

In those days, City were a tough, uncompromising side which did not take any prisoners. Well, apart from one. His name was Alous Eisenstrager, who was a German prisoner of war and liked Bristol so much that he decided to stay on after he was released at the end of World War II.

Affectionately known in Bristol as Alec, he went on to make 229 league appearances for City.

The Bristol City team which won the 1950 Gloucestershire Senior Cup was: Sid Morgan, Ivor Guy, Jack Bailey, Ernie Peacock, Dennis Roberts, Arnie White, Bill Spalding, Alous Eisenstrager, Danny Boxshall, George Lowrie and Sid Williams

On April 29, 1950, just a fortnight before he took charge of the City-Rovers clash, the in-demand Harry Pearce refereed the FA Cup final in front of 100,000 at Wembley between Arsenal and Liverpool

Arsenal won 2-0 and their team included Denis Compton, who also played cricket for England; and Joe Mercer, who later managed Manchester City.