10 amazing sports auction lots celebrate start of football season

A new football season is set for kick-off promising goals and excitement galore, and we just had to mark the occasion at Hansons Auctioneers.

On August 16 a Football in Focus and Sports Memorabilia sale offers a bonanza of finds and one lot will sweep older Derby County fans back in time to the intense excitement of the club’s Baseball Ground days.

For many, the incredible atmosphere experienced when watching the Rams play at their former home, a ground renowned for its muddy pitch and fortress-like invincibility, well never be forgotten.

It was the home of Derby County from 1895 until 1997 and, thanks to fans’ close proximity to the pitch, delivered a rather intimate match-day experience. If seated at ground level it wasn’t unusual to be splattered by mud from a player’s boot!

Consequently, I was excited to see three original Baseball Ground C Stand top-tier spectator seats,  numbers 19, 20 and 21, in the sale. The original wooden seats were removed from the Baseball Ground in the early 1990s. Though Derby County moved to Pride Park Stadium in 1997 youth sides continued to play there until it was demolished in 2003.

It’s Incredible to think this year mark’s the 20^th anniversary of the Baseball Ground’s demolition. It was a sports stadium for 113 years. That included its initial use hosting Derby Baseball Club from 1890-1898, hence the quirky venue name. Such was the love for the Rams’ former home tiny fragments of mud from the pitch were sold off as souvenirs, so it’s no surprise seats were saved for posterity. An iconic lot, they could achieve £300-£500.

Two names woven into the history of DCFC and the Baseball Ground – Brian Clough and Peter Taylor – are also remembered in the auction. A limited-edition maquette of the famous Clough and Taylor statue which stands outside Pride Park Stadium will be on offer.

The full size statue was unveiled at the stadium in August 2010 and it’s believed this maquette was produced in around 2012. The bronze statue, one of only 22, comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by artist Andrew Edwards, estimate £2,000-£3,000.

Other lots to delight football fans include a Marcus Rashford England shirt worn for an England v Belgium UEFA Nations League Group A2 group stage fixture. The match, played at Wembley on October 11, 2020, was behind closed doors due to Covid. England won 2-1 and Rashford scored a penalty, estimate £1,000-£1,500.

We also have a Manchester United, 1978-79, match worn away shirt. It bears the number 9 and is believed to have been worn by Norman Whiteside, £2,000-£3,000.

Bidders can also battle for a trophy presented to Diego Maradona. The Golden Ball for the Best Player in Europe trophy is inscribed, ‘A Diego Armando Maradona Capitano Dello Scudetto Y Migliore Giocatore di Calcio Dell Europa 1986/87 La Revista France Football’ (To Diego Armando Maradona Captain of Napoli Champion Squad and Best Player of European Football 1986/7 La Revista France Football), £600-£800.

Meanwhile Wolves fans may be interested in a special silver cigarette box. The lid bears the inscription, ‘Presented by The Anglo-American Sporting Club to Billy Wright CBE, Former Captain of England and Wolverhampton Wanderers for his contribution to Soccer, Hotel Piccadilly Manchester, Tuesday 20th August 1968’, estimate £600-£800.

We go back even further in football history thanks to a Manchester City v Bolton Wanderers, April 24, 1926 FA Cup Final programme, £600-£800.

Also set to go under the hammer is an Everton v Manchester City, April 29, 1933, FA Cup Final programme. It is being sold with an Cup Final ticket from the game and Manchester City autographs including Matt Busby, £450-£550.

The most expensive lot in the auction is a large and striking original Paul Oz portrait of legendary racing driver Sir Stirling Moss signed by Sir Moss, £12,000-£15,000. Oz is a renowned F1/sport artist and his work rarely comes to auction.

But perhaps the most unusual lot is a rare, complete, 7ft long Subbuteo Grandstand Liverpool Anfield Stadium replica complete with all accessories, fans, teams, trophies and floodlights, £700-£1,000.

Entries are invited for Hansons’ November Sports Auction. To book a free valuation, email David Wilson-Turner: dwilsonturner@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk or call 01283 733988.

The August 16 Sports Auction catalogue is due live on August 9: www.hansonslive.co.uk or www.the-saleroom.com.