‘Brawl’ shirt sure to start sale fight
FOOTBALL shirt believed to be from a legendary 1970s Derby County v Leeds United game featuring ‘the greatest fight in English football’ is up for auction – and could spark a battle of its own.
The yellow jersey belonged to Leeds player Trevor Cherry. He scored in the match that took place on November 1, 1975 which Derby won 3-2. But the result - and the goals - paled into insignificance compared with the on-pitch fisticuffs between Rams’ legend Franny Lee and Leeds defender Norman Hunter.
Their fight, which took centre stage at the Baseball Ground, is remembered to this day despite happening 46 years ago. And you don’t have to be a Rams fan old enough to remember the glory days of the 1970s to know about it.
Such was the boxing-match style action, people all over the world have watched it – and still do.
The punch-up has notched up hundreds of thousands of views on Youtube.
With such fascinating football provenance, the Trevor Cherry shirt could soar past its £700-£1,000 estimate at auction on August 24.
It’s likely to be snapped up by a Leeds fan but they will owe the discovery of this great piece of sports memorabilia to a Rams fanatic who found it during a summer clear-out.
It belongs to lifelong Derby County supporter, clothing museum owner and Hansons vintage costume consultant Notty Hornblower.
She’d completely forgotten she had the shirt but found it when she was clearing out a haberdashery cabinet at her home in Alstonefield, near Ashbourne, where Hope House Costume Museum is based.
She decided to show it to David Wilson-turner, head of Hansons’ sports memorabilia department, thinking it might be worth around £70. He told her she had better sit down. When he revealed its potential value she was flabbergasted.
Notty also found a full Derby County kit from 1987 – shirt, shorts and socks – which will go to auction on August 24 with an estimate of £300£500.
Notty has been following the Rams since 1968. Back in the 70s, she knew all the legendary players, wrote a ladies’ column in the Ram, the club’s matchday programme, and ran Belper Junior Rams.
She recalls winning the shirt in a raffle at a sports club event, possibly a DCFC supporters’ club night. Her theory is that Trevor Cherry may have left it behind at the Baseball Ground because he was furious about losing the game.
Sadly, we can’t ask him because Trevor Cherry died in 2020 at the age of 72.
But football memories live on for ever and like everyone else who was at the 1975 game, Notty would never forget the famous fisticuffs.
Hunter was a man you wouldn’t
choose to mess with, especially if you were smaller than him. And most people were, including Lee.
Norman was known as ‘Bites Yer Legs’ Hunter, a nickname which originated from a banner held up by Leeds fans at the 1972 FA Cup Final against Arsenal.
But that didn’t faze Lee, who was around a foot shorter than Hunter.
There’s always been an intense rivalry between the clubs, stoked up by the legendary Brian Clough who managed both clubs. Back in 1975 Leeds were known as ‘Dirty Leeds’ and Hunter was perceived as one of the worst culprits.
In the white-shirted Rams corner was Lee. A tad portly round the mida
dle, he didn’t have the athletic build of footballers today.
He was a brilliant striker but he was also known for his theatrical diving ability. He holds the English record for the greatest number of penalties scored in a season, a feat which earned him the nickname Lee Won Pen.
The embers began to glow red in the first half. Lee outraged Leeds by tumbling to win a penalty.
Hunter took his revenge in the second half, clattering Lee with a late tackle. Lee retaliated and Hunter swung back with a right hook, cutting Lee’s lip.
Apparently, the cut was so bad Lee could stick his tongue through the gash which later required stitches. Players from both sides dived in to separate the players and the referee sent them both off.
But the fight wasn’t over. It had hardly begun. While the ref was still scribbling names in his pad, a mighty punch-up ensued.
As Lee walked off the pitch he went for Hunter, knocking him to the ground before players and officials jumped in to pull them apart.
The legendary clash has been dubbed ‘The greatest fight in English football’ on the website football7080. com which looks back at the 1970s and 80s, and I have to agree.
Rivalry and fisticuffs aside, both players achieved great things. Hunter, who sadly died in 2020 at the age of 76, was part of the 1966 FIFA World Cup winning squad.
He was the first winner of the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award in 1974 and was included in the Football League 100 Legends.
Lee, 77, played for Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City, Derby County and England. He won League Championship medals with Manchester City and Derby and scored more than 200 goals in his career. In 2010, he was inducted into the English
Football Hall of Fame.
After retiring from football, he ran a successful toilet roll business, F.H. Lee Ltd, which made him a millionaire. In 2016 he was awarded a CBE for services to football and charity.
The Trevor Cherry football and 1976 DCFC kit are due to be sold at Hansons on August 24. To arrange a free sports memorabilia valuation, email dwilsonturner@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk. To book a free valuation of all types of antiques, collectables or jewellery, or to arrange a free home visit, email: service@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk