Buy it like Beckham... and fill your boots at footy auction
FOOTBALL memorabilia from three of the game’s greatest legends – David Beckham, Pelé and George Best – could score a hat-trick of successes at auction.
Items worn by the legendary stars are due to go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers on Tuesday and could sell for a combined total of more than £40,000.
They include a pair of boots worn by Beckham in the 1999 FA Cup final when he played for Manchester United.
The Red Devils beat Newcastle United 2-0 to lift the trophy and claim the club’s 10th FA Cup win. That memorable 1989-99 season saw Manchester United clinch the Treble of League, Cup and Champions League.
Beckham’s size 8¾ boots were created to his unique specification. They have elastic straps across the front and bottom of the boot, aluminium studs to suit pitch conditions and are embroidered with “Beckham 7”.
Guide price is £10,000-£15,000. A signed, red Manchester United shirt worn by Beckham in a UEFA Champions League group stage match against Greek side Panathinaikos on November 21, 2000, is also for auction.
The framed shirt, signed “Best wishes, David Beckham 7”, has a guide price of £4,000-£6,000.
Football memorabilia collectors can also bid on a green Northern Ireland shirt worn by George Best in a match against England in 1964.
The Home International Championship match took place at Windsor Park, Belfast, in front of a 58,000 crowd.
England won 4-3 – but Northern Ireland made an impressive fight back after going 4-0 down.
It was Best’s first game against England and third appearance for his country. He was capped 37 times. The shirt has a guide price of £9,000£12,000.
More magical memorabilia comes to the fore courtesy of a shirt worn by legendary Brazilian Pelé.
The white, round-neck shirt was worn by him in the 1970s, match unknown. It’s signed across the front “Para Msgr. Louis F. Meyer, your friend, Edson Pelé”. It’s one of the last jerseys worn by Pelé as a player for Brazil’s Santos Futebol Clube, shortly before he left for New York Cosmos in the NASL. Estimate £6,000-£8,000.
David Wilson-Turner, head of sports memorabilia at Hansons Auctioneers, said: “Football memorabilia doesn’t get much better than this. Beckham, Pelé and Best are among the most highly regarded footballers the world has ever known.
“They all played for club and country and delighted fans across the world over the course of decades.
“These are very special items to own. They have come to auction from a private Shropshire collector, who has decided the time is right to part with them.”
The sports memorabilia items are due to be sold on August 24 in Hansons Auctioneers’ August 19-24 Antiques and Collectors Auction. Catalogue www.hansonslive.co.uk. To find out more, email dwilsonturner@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk