Charles Hanson has teamed up with a fellow lifelong Derby County fan to promote football nostalgia in the city of Derby.
Charles is supporting events led by Colin Beresford, a Derby man who brings DCFC fans together to meet heroes of old.
The first event supported by Charles kicks off at Pride Park Stadium on November 24, An Evening With Dean Saunders and Phil Gee, two Rams legends from the 1980/90s. Together the talented strikers bagged 68 goals for the Rams. Fans can ask them questions and enjoy football and silent auctions to buy and sell sports memorabilia.
Charles, owner of Hansons Auctioneers and a familiar face on TV shows like Bargain Hunt, said: “As a lifelong Derby County supporter I love what Colin is doing. Derby County have a huge fan base and it’s fantastic to see him working so hard to unite supporters in their passion for the club.
“These events give fans the opportunity to meet, greet and chat to players of old, people they loved watching on the the pitch. Inevitably nostalgia will be unleashed.
“Pride Park Stadium provides a perfect backdrop to buy and sell football memorabilia, too. Hansons holds regular Football Auctions. Sports memorabilia is a burgeoning sector thanks to the game’s global appeal.
“I’m proud to support these DCFC-inspired events and help people share their mutual passion for the game.”
Colin Beresford said: “I’m delighted Charles is backing what we do. Like him, I’m Derby County through and through. I’ve been watching them since I was a lad. In fact my parents met at the Baseball Ground, the team’s former home.
“I started organising events due to my passion for Derby County and the fun I’d had at similar fan gatherings. I wanted to create fantastic events for supporters of all ages to enjoy.
“I’m also a keen football memorabilia collector and it made sense to provide a way for fans to buy and sell items. I’d love to see as many people as possible at the Evening With Dean Saunders and Phil Gee. We can host 220 Rams fans at Pride Park and it promises to be a great night.”
Both Saunders and Gee will be familiar to any Rams fan who was a regular at the Baseball Ground in the late 1980s or early 1990s.
Saunders, the current Swansea manager, made 106 appearances for Derby from 1988-1991 and scored 42 goals. He set a new British transfer record of £2.9m when he joined Liverpool from Derby County in 1991.
Following his retirement from playing in 2001, he entered football coaching and then management, firstly with Wrexham. Saunders was one of the Welsh national team’s most prolific goalscorers. He made his international debut in 1986 and scored 22 international goals, putting him fourth on the all time Wales list behind Ian Rush, Ivor Allchurch and Trevor Ford. His DCFC team mate Gee made 124 appearances for the Rams between 1985-1992 and notched up 26 goals.
An Evening With Dean Saunders and Phil Gee will be held on November 24 from 6pm. To buy tickets, priced £35+£1 booking fee, visit: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tranceevents/1005959
An Evening With Tommy Johnson and Paul Williams, Rams legends from the early 1990s, is also planned for January 26, 2024.
Sports memorabilia
Hansons hosts regular Sports Memorabilia sales. To book a free valuation, email David Wilson-Turner: [email protected] or call 01283 733988.
