1966 World Cup winner scores in sale

Alan Ball’s 1966 World Cup winner’s medal, World Cup final shirt and World Cup squad cap sold for a combined hammer price of £445,000 in North Yorkshire’s Tennants Auctioneers’ recent Toys & Models, Sporting and Fishing Sale.

The 1966 FIFA World Cup Winner’s medal sold for £200,000 hammer, the No.7 shirt sold for £130,000 hammer, and the 1966 World Cup cap sold for £115,000 hammer.

Lancashire-born mid-fielder Alan Ball was the youngest and least experienced member of the legendary 1966 World Cup winning team at just 21 years old; however, he received widespread acclaim for his energetic and passionate performance that was fundamental to the team’s victory. In addition to playing as a midfielder for the likes of Blackpool and Everton and winning 72 caps for England, Ball went on to manage several clubs including Manchester City and Southampton.

Ball sold his medal and cap at auction in 2005, when they were purchased by the owner of Bolton Wanderer’s, 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 hammer.

Tennants Auctioneers’ Sporting Specialist Kegan Harrison said of the sale: “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.”