The engraving on the back of a silver medal may hold the key for a young man trying to discover information about his great-grandfather.

Jake Wade, a civil engineer, told thisisgrimsby.co.uk that he is trying to find out more about his ancestor Richard Edgar Todd via the prize. It features three boars' heads and a precision engraving reading: "Rur. Hosp. Cup Finalists 1928-29."

The animal heads could be the crest of Great Grimsby Borough Council but he is not sure about the text. The 27-year-old, who plays for Market Rasen Town, believes Mr Todd was either a semi-professional or professional footballer too - which may indicate how the medal was won.

Mr Wade added: "I remember my great-granddad from when I was much younger, but he died about 10 years ago. My mum gave me the medal when I was a teenager and I used to wear it around my neck until it broke. I completely forgot about it until I came to move house recently and found it again."

The engraving of medals is a tradition that has continued to this day and the impending London 2012 Olympic Games has meant a large number of highly-prized new medals are being made.

However, it is not just athletics prizes that are being created as a result of the competition, according to independent.co.uk reporter Kate Youde. She explained that the nature of the event means that commemorative coins have also been produced.