World Cup hero auctions winner's medal

27 October 2010 - 15:53 By Sapa-AFP
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England’s 1966 World Cup hero Nobby Stiles was auctioning his winner’s medal Wednesday, saying he could not divide his memorabilia between his three sons.

The small, golden medal was expected to fetch 150,000 pounds (240,000 dollars, 170,000 euros) at the sale in Edinburgh.

Also being auctioned was the cap he earned from the final, when hosts England beat West Germany 4-2 after extra time.

The 68-year-old former Manchester United midfielder was also selling some of his club memorabilia, including his 1968 European Cup winner’s medal, plus the blue shirt he wore during the 4-1 extra time win over Portuguese side Benfica.

“It was always my intention to leave the entire collection to my children,” Stiles told the BBC.

“But I have three sons — how do you fairly divide up this sort of collection between them?

“They have each selected some pieces they would like to keep for themselves.”

The tough-tackling Stiles played 28 times for England between 1965 and 1970, scoring once.

The wider sale, handled by Convery Auctions, includes the shirt worn by fellow midfielder Alan Ball in the 1966 World Cup final. It is expected to fetch 30,000 pounds.

Ball’s own 1966 World Cup medal was auctioned for nearly 165,000 in 2005 — a record for an England player’s World Cup medal.

The auction house’s director David Convery said it had received interest in the sale from Australia, Chile and the Far East.

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