Stoke City Football Club and Richard Winterton Auctioneers team up for valuation event supporting Stoke City Foundation

Join us on Saturday 28th March

STOKE City Football Club has teamed up with Richard Winterton Auctioneers for a special valuation event on Saturday, March 28, in support of Stoke City Foundation.

People are invited to the Tony Waddington Suite at the bet365 Stadium, Stanley Matthews Way, between 8.30am and 1.30pm to have their treasures appraised by a team of specialists from Richard Winterton Auctioneers.

Items valued for free include jewellery, watches, gold, silver, sporting memorabilia and all types of antiques and collectables.

Plus, enjoy a stadium visit, have your picture taken in the dugout and you may even bump into Pottermus!

There is no need to book, just drop in.

Auctioneer Richard Winterton said: “As a lifelong Potters fan, it’s a personal goal to be able to combine two of my biggest passions in one event – antiques and Stoke City Football Club.

“We are looking forward to hearing the stories behind people’s heirlooms, curiosities and keepsakes and uncovering their real-life hidden treasure.”

Stoke City Foundation is the official charitable arm of Stoke City Football Club and has the vision of active communities and healthier lives, united by football.

The foundation aims to positively impact physical health and mental wellbeing, create spaces and opportunities for communities in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire to come together, and to educate on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

A spokesperson for Stoke City FC said: “We are looking forward to welcoming Richard Winterton and his team to the stadium and invite everyone to come along for a free valuation supporting the charitable work of Stoke City Foundation.”

The Winterton family name has been synonymous with auctioneering in Staffordshire for seven generations since 1864 – the year after Stoke City FC was founded.

Recent highlights at The Lichfield Auction Centre have included a vintage Bulgari Parentesi cuff bracelet set with 240 round brilliant cut diamonds, which came to light at a valuation event and subsequently went under the hammer for £9,600.

Last month saw bidders go after a Rolex GMT-Master II 116710, which sold at £6,600, and a splendid single-owner collection of jewellery, watches and silver which totalled £79,560.

Highlights from the collection included an 18ct gold textured hollow curb link bracelet selling at £4,400, an 18ct gold Italian mariner chain necklace selling at £4,000 and an 18ct white gold Baume & Mercier diamond-set wristwatch, also sold at £4,000.

Richard Winterton added: “A few years ago we had the pleasure of selling original contracts signed by legendary England goalkeeper Gordon Banks, two of which were during his time at Stoke City.

“The contracts for 1970 and 1971 covered the period around his famous 1970 World Cup save and made £3,300 at auction.

“Another popular lot connected to the beautiful game was a rare replica of the FA Cup.

“The 66cm tall shining silver lustred likeness was in fact crafted from ceramic with a platinum glaze and came in three parts – the cup itself, the lid and base – just like the real thing.

“The internal glaze was even coloured bronze to resemble Champagne stains left by decades of victories!

“This uncanny replica was a goal for any football fan – especially those of us whose teams have been cruelly denied the chance to lift the real trophy – and sold to a telephone bidder for £3,300.”

Portmeirion Pottery invested 100s hours of modelling to reproduce the trophy commemorating the 1980 FA Cup Final but high production costs proved prohibitive and the replica never went into full commercial production.

“The replica we sold was numbered 19 of 500 but it’s estimated that fewer than 200 were produced and no-one can be really sure how many still exist,” said Richard.

He added: “As to what else might come in, well – we will be at the home of the Potters, so I wonder if we’ll see any Harry Potter first editions?

“Interest in the boy wizard remains strong and we have sold both hardback and soft cover first editions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for suitably magical prices at auction.”

The drop-in valuation day in the Tony Waddington Suite at Stoke City Football Club takes place between 8.30am and 1.30pm on Saturday, March 28.

For general auction information and advice, house clearances and large collections, contact The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley Park, by email to office@richardwinterton.co.uk or telephone 01543 251081.

Pictured top of page: Auctioneer and lifelong Potters fan Richard Winterton at Stoke City Football Club.