Next week, collectors will want to be on the ball as a fantastic variety of sporting memorabilia is coming up for grabs which should impress fans of any game.
The auction is to be held by Graham Budd auctioneers with the assistance of Sotheby's, and offers rare and exceptional pieces from the worlds of football and cricket in particular, with pieces from boxing, billiards, fishing, cycling and American sports such as baseball all going under the hammer.
Recently, a selection of exceptional Nobby Stiles memorabilia went up for sale in Scotland, with the stand out lot being his World Cup medal. That was bought by his old club, a certain Manchester United, but collectors seeking an iconic piece of memorabilia from the 1966 star have another opportunity.
Nobby Stiles`s match-worn red England No 4 jersey from the 1966 World Cup final, long-sleeved with a crew-neck collar and embroidered three lions badge is on offer.
When England achieved its one World Cup win, one of the moments stuck forever in fans' memories was that of Stiles doing celebratory jig on the Wembley pitch, wearing this very shirt, whilst holding the Jules Rimet Trophy aloft in one hand and his false teeth in the other.
 Nobby Stiles's 1966 shirt |
The shirt is estimated at £30,000-50,000, though we believe it to be worth more as an investment.
The other two stand-out lots in the sale are commemorative medals marking great beginnings in the worlds of football and cricket.
Firstly, there is a gold medal presented to the English cricketer Harry Charlwood on the occasion of the first ever official Test Match that commenced on March 15 1877 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between Australia and England, long before anyone had heard of 'the Ashes'.
The obverse is engraved with crossed cricket bats, stumps and a ball, whilst the reverse shows the engraved words for Charlwood: "presented to, H. Charlwood, by, GE0. Browne C.E., architect, M.C.C. grand stand, Melbourne, 1877".
 Charlwood's historic gold cricket medal |
Charlwood only played two test matches himself in a long cricket career in which he was noted for his attacking batting and specialist fielding at cover. The medal is expected to sell for £10,000-20,000.
Dating from within a few years of that decoration is another: a highly important gold winner`s medal from the inaugural Football Association Challenge Cup final of 1872. It was bought by a jeweller as part of a lot of scrap gold, and very nearly consigned to the melting pot.
Fortunately the jeweller was a football fan, and recognised its significance. The medal is expected to fetch £30,000-50,000 in Graham Budd's auction at Sotheby's auction house in London on November 8-9 (the first day being devoted to football). Online bidding is available.
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