As any reader of this column knows, I am a lifelong Derby County fan, so nothing gives me greater pleasure than combining my two passions of auctioneering and football.
Such will be the case next month <April 2> when the collection of The Rams’ defender George Collin, who played for the team from 1927-1936, goes under the hammer.
While Derby’s peak undoubtedly came in the 1970s under Brian Clough, the 1930s team was the club’s first real golden generation.
These were the men who transformed Derby from a mid-table side into consistent title challengers.
With Collin they finished First Division runners-up in 1935–1936 – losing to Sunderland – and regularly nudged the top of the table in the mid-1930s.
As a reliable left back, County Durham-born Collin made more than 300 appearances over his nine seasons with the club, playing to thousands of eager fans at the old Baseball Ground.
Born in County Durham, he played for the Sunderland-based junior club West Stanley, before moving to London in 1924 for a trial with West Ham.
But instead of joining the Hammers, he signed with Arsenal, before moving to Derby County in 1927, with this paper describing him then as a “class full-back… cool and discriminate”.
The collection was consigned for sale by Collin’s grandson – also called George – who remembers him as a very funny and kind man.
He said: “Grandad never lost his northeast accent and always called me Geordie – never George. He was the one who taught me how to throw and catch a cricket ball. He also told me how tough it was playing football in those early days and how heavy a rain soaked leather ball was.
“I remember him telling me if ever it came towards you, you would never want to head it where the stitches were because it would cut your head open.”
Now the 59-year-old who lives in Spondon wants the archive to go to a collector or local museum.
He said: “It was at the bottom of a cupboard for years and now we are downsizing it’s only right it finds a good home, ideally with someone who will keep it on display.”
Highlights include a 9ct gold pocket watch, with a Derbyshire Challenge Cup winners’ medal dated 1929-1930 and inscribed G. Collin, which is expected to make £3,000-£3,200.
Grandson George said: “Grandad always wanted me to have the watch for my 21st birthday, it’s a lovely piece but I’m not sure we ever got it to work.”
Among numerous photos from a long career is one of Derby goalkeeper Jack Kirby who famously refused to take the Nazi salute on a post-season tour of Germany in 1935.
George said: “I remember grandad saying none of the players wanted to do it. I think he was team captain at the time and told the various dignitaries and ambassadors that they wouldn’t do it.
“But in the end to keep the peace most of the team raised their arms all except Jack Kirby, who kept them by his side.”
The sale includes Collin’s passport form the tour which, with other photos, has an estimate of £150-£200.
Collin also forged a close friendship with Derby County legend Tommy Cooper who arrived from Port Vale in 1926, captaining the side in 1931.
The pair remained close pals even after Cooper, who was known as “Snowy,” because of his flaxen hair, signed for Liverpool in 1934.
Cooper also captained England on several occasions and later became skipper of the Anfield-Road eleven.
But neither man knew the fate awaiting Cooper who, at the start of WWII, enlisted as a motorcycle despatch rider in the Royal Military Police.
In June 1940, Cooper was on a job when he was killed in a head-on collision with a lorry in Suffolk, aged 35.
Collin, along with five other Derby players were pallbearers at his funeral.
It was a close friendship and Cooper’s loss must have devastated Collin.
Even after he went to Merseyside, Derby remained Cooper’s spiritual home and each time he returned to face The Rams he was given an ovation.
The sale includes a signed photograph of Cooper from the late 1920s, as well as snaps of him and his wife Jean.
The sale also includes mementos of Collin’s later career at Sunderland including a his 14ct gold winner’s medal awarded at the 1936 FA Charity Shield final where Sunderland beat Arsenal at Roker Park. The medal, alongside photos from the match, is expected to make £900-£1,000.
What an honour it will be to share this archive, redolent of not only Derby County’s early golden age but one of the team’s most talented players.
Bringing history to life is one of my goals and let’s hope we make some memories at the sale at Etwall on April 2.
Auction Details
Auction: The Spring Fine Art Auction
Auction date: 2nd April 2026 | 10am
Location: Hansons’ Derbyshire Saleroom
Auction contact: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
