England 1966 World Cup memorabilia sells for £445,000 at North Yorkshire auction

A North Yorkshire auctioneers with offices in Harrogate sold a 1966 World Cup winner’s medal, shirt and squad cap today for a combined hammer price of £445,000.

The items originally belonged to Alan Ball, who at just 21 years old was the youngest and least experienced member of the legendary 1966 World Cup winning England team.  

His medal sold for £200,000 hammer, his red number 7 shirt fetched £130,000 and his cap sold for £115,000 at Tennants Auctioneers’ toys and models, sporting and fishing sale in Leyburn. 

Lancashire-born midfielder Alan Ball played for Blackpool, Everton, Arsenal and Southampton, and won 72 caps for England. He went on to manage several clubs, including Manchester City and Southampton.  He died in 2007.

Alan Ball's 1966 World Cup winner's medal sold at auction for £200,000.

Alan Ball’s 1966 World Cup winner’s medal.

Alan Ball's 1966 World Cup Final England shirt sold at auction for £130,000.

Alan Ball’s shirt sold for £130,000

Alan Ball's 1966 World Cup Final squad cap sold at auction for £115,000.

His cap fetched £115,000

Ball sold his medal and cap at auction in 2005, when they were purchased by the owner of Bolton Wanderers, businessman and philanthropist Edwin ‘Eddie’ Davies (1946-2018). 

From the same estate came a Pele match-worn Brazil shirt, worn during the first half of the famous Brazil v England 1970 World Cup match, which sold for £33,000.

Tennants Auctioneers’ sporting specialist, Kegan Harrison, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to have achieved such fantastic results for the vendor, who has had a long-standing relationship with Tennants.  

“The 1966 World Cup victory will always be a golden moment in English sporting history, and we have been honoured to have handled the sale of these extraordinary items. It has been 56 years since that incredible match, but it is still very close to the hearts of all football fans.” 

Tennants Auctioneers is based at Leyburn, North Yorkshire and has an office on Montpellier Road in Harrogate, as well as in London.