Both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United fans turned out in force to bring a ‘plethora of riches’ to a free sporting memorabilia and antiques valuation day in the city.
Sports memorabilia valuer Alistair Lofley, who owns 100,000 football programmes and has been a keen collector and dealer for decades, said he was delighted so many people had made the effort to see him at his first-ever valuation event in Sheffield on behalf of Hansons Auctioneers, which hosts regular Football and Sporting Memorabilia Auctions.
Among the treasures bought to him at The Abbeydale Picture House, 387 Abbeydale Road, this month (May 8) was a Bramall Lane cast iron street sign – Bramall Lane being the home of Sheffield United.
“I was amazed when I saw it,” said Mr Lofley. “It’s a little worse for wear but what a fantastic item to own if you are a die-hard Sheffield United fan.
The sign currently belongs to Michael Ebbs, 46, of Heeley Green, Sheffield. He said: “The sign used to be on the wall of a business in Bramall Lane back in the 1960s.
Mr Ebbs, who’s involved in shop refurbishment and maintenance, said the council put up a new, modern sign and and the owner of the business wanted the old sign removing from the wall of his property. It was gifted to Mr Ebbs who now plans to sell it for charity. It will go to help children with cancer.
The sign, which has an estimate of £80-£100, will go under the hammer at Hansons’ Sporting Memorabilia Auction on May 23 (lot 5236).
Mr Lofley said: “It’s a modest estimate and, bearing in mind the money raised from the sale will help children with cancer, I very much hope it will make much more.”
Also found at the Sheffield valuation day was a rare bound volume of 30 Sheffield Wednesday programmes from 1912/1913 season, including first team and reserve matches. It has an estimate of £2,000-£2,500 (lot 5204) and will also be auctioned on May 23.
Another fascinating item due under the hammer that day is a Football League (War) Cup Final programme to mark a match played in Sheffield on May 8, 1943 – during the Second World War – between Sheffield Wednesday and Blackpool. It has an estimate of £400-£500 (lot 5224).
You can browse the May Sporting Auction catalogue online at www.hansonsauctioneers.co.uk or register to bid live during the auction with www.the-saleroom.com. You can also place a bid in advance by emailing [email protected].
Alistair added: “We found a plethora of riches in Sheffield. There are several items in Wednesday’s (May 23) auction relating to Sheffield clubs and I’d love to hear from other football supporters in the city with items that could be value.”
Hansons will be back at The Abbeydale Picture House, 387 Abbeydale Road, Sheffield, S7 1FS, on Tuesday, June 12, 10am-2pm, and this time vintage costume and clothing expert Notty Hornblower will be doing free valuations alongside general valuers. Notty owns Hope House Museum, in Alstonefield, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, and is an expert in her field.
Valuations are free but donations are welcome for St Luke’s Sheffield Hospice. Items can be entered for sale at Hansons Auctioneers, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire.For a full list of Sheffield valuation dates, or to find out more, call Hendrika Stephens on 07939 565587 or visit www.hansonsauctioneers.co.uk. To contact Alistair Lofley regarding valuations of sporting memorabilia, call 07863 203377.
