Football shirts worn by two of Derby County’s 1970s sporting legends sold for thousands at auction today (May 23) – and one man had his heart set on them both.
Lifelong Rams fan Paul Tattershaw fought off competition from phone and internet bidders to buy a shirt worn by 1970s DCFC legend Ron Webster for £1,600 at Hansons’ Football in Focus and Sports Memorabilia Auction.
Webster wore the shirt during Derby’s famous 1971-72 League Division One Championship-winning season. It sold for double its low estimate of £800.
Mr Tattershaw, 49, a maintenance engineer from Hilton, said: “I’m a massive Rams fan, a season ticket holder for 30 years and collector of memorabilia. I’ve got 200 Derby shirts at home and really wanted this one because it was worn when they became League Champions for the first time.
“Everything about the shirt was right. I bought a Kevin Hector shirt in Hansons’ last sports sale. I wanted the Alan Hinton shirt in that auction too but the price went too high.”
Hinton and Hector are 1970s Rams legends. Hinton’s 1971-2 season shirt sold for £2,600 and Hector’s later shirt fetched £800 in Hansons’ previous sports auction.
Mr Tattershaw, who will be at Derby County’s play-off final match on Monday (May 27) and predicts a 3-1 win for the Rams, stores his precious DCFC shirts in a quadruple wardrobe – and says he’s got an understanding girlfriend.
He confessed he wanted a 1970s Roy McFarland England shirt which was also in today’s sale – but feared he’d already smashed his budget. McFarland’s shirt went on to sell to a private buyer for £700, which matched its estimate.
Hansons’ sports valuer Alistair Lofley said: “As a Rams fan myself, I’m delighted to see both shirts do well. We’re not sure which England game Roy Mac wore the shirt in but dated it to between 1974 and 1976.
“That style of England shirt was worn from 1974 to 1980 and he earned 28 England caps between 1971 and 1976. Rams fans were very proud of the fact that McFarland and fellow Rams player Colin Todd were at the heart of England’s defence.
“McFarland and Webster were great players and huge fans favourites so we expected strong interest but the Webster shirt really excelled. Webster is Derbyshire born and bred as well as being a Rams legend.”
Now 75, Webster was born in Belper in 1943 and spent nearly all of his playing career at Derby County. In 2009 he was voted the greatest right back in Rams history.
McFarland helped Derby win promotion to the First Division in 1969 followed by two league titles in 1972 and 1975. He made 434 appearances for the Rams between 1967 and 1981 and returned to the club as manager from 1993-95.
Mr Lofley said: “The romance of the 1970s glory years, when Derby were the best team in the land, make shirts worn by the men who played their part highly sought after. I hope Derby are about to enjoy some more glory years, starting with a play off final win against Villa on Monday.” (May 27)
The May 23 Football in Focus and Sports Memorabilia Action was held at Hansons, Heage Lane, Etwall. Entries are now invited for Hansons’ August 22 Football in Focus and Sports Memorabilia Auction. To arrange a valuation, email [email protected].
