Collection of football programmes and memorabilia nets £5,000 at auction

Final whistle for timed sale

A HUGE football collection including tens of thousands of programmes has netted £5,000 at auction.

Dating from the 1920s to the early 2000s, the archive featured dozens of teams from the English football leagues and lower divisions; international teams in European competitions and testimonials; World Cup-related items; and England, Scotland and Wales international programmes and souvenirs.

They were included in a special timed online auction run by Richard Winterton Auctioneers which closed at 9am today (Monday, July 14).

Also for sale were collectable sticker albums, cards, souvenirs, scarves, football annuals, autobiographies and related books.

Auction highlights included five lots of 1950s Swansea football programmes totalling £1,150 and a collection of backed Panini stickers with a hammer price of £700.

The collection was accumulated by a late football fan from Dordon, North Warwickshire, who also supported Tamworth FC.

His local football club was represented by an extensive archive of Tamworth FC programmes as the team played in the lower leagues from the 1960s to the 2010s.

Auctioneer Ben Winterton said the collection included 'a programme for every generation of football fan'.

“We were all incredibly impressed by the dedication taken to put together this collection," he said.

"This sale was a tribute to the time, knowledge and enthusiasm of a lifelong football fan and we're delighted it scored a well-deserved total hammer price by the final whistle."

Catalogued across more than 120 lots, the sale featured football programmes from teams including Aldershot, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bristol Rovers, Bristol City, Blackpool, Birmingham City, Bradford City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Bury, Burnley, Cambridge, Cardiff City, Crewe Alexandra, Crystal Palace, Derby, Everton, Exeter, Fulham, Huddersfield, Ipswich, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesborough, Millwall, Nottingham Forest, Port Vale, Preston, Sheffield United, Swansea, Tottenham Hotspur, Walsall, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Free valuations at The Tamworth Auction Rooms in Church Street can be arranged by calling 01827 217746 or emailing tamworth@richardwinterton.co.uk.

Home visits for large collections and house clearances are also available.