Sporting Memorabilia & Equipment

This sector of the art and antiques market often generates big headlines in the general media – not least when an auction record for 1966 World Cup is set for example. But the market is extremely wide and varied. Here there really is something for everyone at every price level, whether a buyer focuses on football programmes, historic golf clubs or fishing tackle.


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No Dickens available but a cricket tour at least

27 March 2023

“A very rare and early item of cricketing history” is how Knights Sporting Auctions (20% buyer’s premium) describes the large silk handkerchief shown here.

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Silver meant first place in the first revived Olympics

27 March 2023

Gold has become the standard to aspire to at the Olympics but for the first version of the modern summer Games it was silver.

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Manchester United match programmes ‘could be unique survivors’

20 March 2023

A pair of football programmes proved the pull of early Manchester United memorabilia remains strong among collectors

Middlesbrough FC jersey

‘Earliest’ Football League shirt stars in our pick of five auction highlights

17 March 2023

ATG’s weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes a Middlesbrough FC jersey from 1886-90 thought to be the oldest known Football League shirt.

Gareth Edwards Barbarians shirt vs New Zealand in 1973

Auction record for any rugby shirt as Sir Gareth Edwards’ Barbarians jersey takes £240,000

25 February 2023

The rugby jersey worn by Sir Gareth Edwards when he scored what is generally considered the game’s greatest ever try set an auction record when it was knocked down at £240,000 today.

WEB Budd Programme Benfica

Manchester United match programme for European Cup final replay never even played makes £7500

09 February 2023

High sums can be paid for football programmes that were produced but never issued as with an unneeded example for the Red Devils' 1968 triumph.

Gareth Edwards Barbarians shirt vs New Zealand in 1973

‘What a score’: Gareth Edwards ‘greatest ever try’ Barbarians jersey to be offered at auction

31 January 2023

Welsh auction house Rogers Jones has been instructed to sell the rugby jersey collection of Sir Gareth Edwards.

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Ascot Gold Cups gallop in on same day

19 December 2022

While Ascot Gold Cups are not uncommon, the sight of two heading down the home straight to a rostrum finish on the same day was definitely rare.

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1966 and all that: when England made history

19 December 2022

A hat-trick of six-figure prices was achieved for England 1966 World Cup hero Alan Ball’s (1945-2007) winner’s medal, cup final shirt and World Cup cap.

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Famed E&J Burke baseball and beer poster emerges in Berkshire auction

19 December 2022

The authorities in Qatar may not think so, but beer and sport can perform rather well together.

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He saw the Hand of God

19 December 2022

The soaring demand for sport memorabilia is evident from the result for the shirt of a player who did not even make it on to the pitch for a famous game.

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Panini Mexico 70 stickers are the pick of the bunch

19 December 2022

The Panini company, founded by two brothers in Modena in 1961, began life producing football cards of Serie A teams.

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Unusual golf clubs chip in at regional firms

19 December 2022

The Higgs Deliverer ‘rake iron’ club was an attempt to solve a tricky golf problem: how to hit the ball out of sand, high grass or similar terrain.

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Scottish football shirt bought by a Texas Ranger

19 December 2022

A happy football fan in Texas – quite possibly with Caledonian roots – is now the proud owner of the first jersey to come to auction from Rangers’ 1972 European Cup Winners’ Cup triumph over Dynamo Moscow.

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Olympic swimmer Rose set a gold standard

19 December 2022

Murray Rose (1939-2012) became the youngest Olympian to win three gold medals during one Games, aged just 17 in 1956.

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Olympic Games collection comes up in Cardiff saleroom

19 December 2022

Anthemion (20% buyer’s premium) in Cardiff offered an extensive selection of Olympic Games memorabilia at auction.

Steve Bloomer card

Super-rare cigarette card of legendary football star Steve Bloomer fuels five-figure bid

05 December 2022

A rare cigarette card featuring one of England’s top goal-scorers sold for a spectacular £25,900.

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Splash out on a boating trophy

14 November 2022

The sale of maritime antiques at Charles Miller (24% buyer’s premium) in London on November 1 included a number of silver boating trophies from the Royal Naval Club & Royal Albert Yacht Club, Portsmouth – most of them well received by the collecting audience.

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News in Brief – including Alan Ball’s 1966 World Cup winner's medal up at auction

14 November 2022

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including the 1966 World Cup winner’s medal won by England’s Alan Ball being offered next month.

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The Swede sell of success at fishing tackle fair

07 November 2022

A dealer who acquired a long-closed angling shop is bringing a Swedish touch via Suffolk to the annual National Vintage Fishing Tackle Fair.

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