Northern Ireland v Slovakia

Words Heidi McAlpin

With (whisper it) Christmas just around the corner, you might be wondering what to buy your beloved for the big day. No self- respecting GAWA guru could pass up the chance to bag a nice bit of footballing history. AND THE WINNING BIDS ARE…

Whether match-worn shirts, signed programmes or collectible figurines, an entire industry has sprung up dedicated to the buying and selling of football memorabilia. I have been wondering about the most valuable and treasured footballing memorabilia ever to go under the hammer. And where does Northern Ireland rank in international demand? Back in the summer Northern Ireland legend Norman Whiteside auctioned a wealth of prized possessions from his playing career in a bid to bolster his pension plans. Norman’s shrewd move amassed a jaw-dropping £195,000, with many of the items vastly outperforming their estimates. His Platini shirt, swapped when Juventus played Manchester United, went for a whopping £7500. And eight Northern Ireland international season caps from 1981-82 to 1989-90 added a none too shabby £7300 to the total. But it was Whiteside’s shirt from the Spain ’82 Yugoslavia match that really hit the big time. This historic sporting event saw Norman beat Pelé’s record to become the youngest ever World Cup player at 17 years and 41 days, a record he holds to this day. And his shirt duly sold for an eye-watering £18,000, which was £10k above the estimate. The story behind the souvenir will often increase its value, and when it comes to big names virtually anything they have touched will have massive appeal. Four years ago Pelé’s personal collection of 2000 items of footballing memorabilia was auctioned off for a whopping £3.6m. A replica Jules Rimet trophy made for Pelé after the 1970 World Cup attracted £320,000, while the 1958 World Cup winner’s medal which marked Pelé's record as the tournament's youngest player - before our Norman knocked him off his perch - fetched a phenomenal £160,000. And, back on home turf, what of the player described by Pelé as the world’s greatest footballer? Anything connected with George Best always comes with a certain cachet… and equally star-studded price tag.

His 1968 European Cup winner’s medal fromMan Utd's 4-1 win over Benfica sold at auction for £156,000. One of 68 iconic Faberge Eggs made to commemorate Best was bought for £25,200. And his Northern Ireland match shirt from the 1970 1-0 defeat against Scotland earned an outstanding £22,000. But if all of that is outside your price range an affordable piece of George Best memorabilia could be closer than you think. A recent auction of around 1000 items spanning Best’s career was pulled for failing to reach its £350,000 minimum asking price. However, its anonymous owner has decided to put everything back up for auction in separate lots, giving fans a chance to own a little bit of their hero’s life. Organiser Dave Alexander of football memorabilia specialists Football Wanted has helped to catalogue the extensive inventory. He explains: “When the collection originally went up, as one big lot, it was beyond the reach of most George Best fans. Now with so many individual items up for auction it’s a great opportunity to bid across all budgets. I’m delighted local fans will have a chance to bring some items home.” Scrolling through the catalogue’s mammoth 1000 pages unearths an eclectic mix of Bestie treasures. Many photos, programmes, books and prints bear George’s famous autograph, with several co-signed by fellow footballing luminaries and personal friends such as Denis Law, Rodney Marsh and Pelé. There’s also a match-worn Northern Ireland top from the 1972 game against Spain signed by George and given to captain Terry Neill. For all those fans in search of some George Best sparkle the auction is running online until 29 November, sold by www.staceyauction.com through www.the- saleroom.com. Good luck if you’re going in with a bid. Meanwhile, to get into the zone, I’ll leave you with the most expensive piece of football memorabilia ever auctioned… a handwritten 1857 Sheffield FC football rulebook that sold in 2011 for a staggering £881,250. Time to check those collections for a hidden football gem!

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www.irishfa.com