Football memorabilia worn by two of the game’s greatest legends – David Beckham and George Best – have sold for thousands of pounds at auction.
Phone and internet bidders from around the globe battled to own items worn by the stars, which included a pair of Beckham’s football boots from an important game.
Two valuable pieces of football memorabilia are now heading to America and Hong Kong but one item is set to remain on home soil – boots worn by Beckham when he played for Manchester United in the 1999 FA Cup final against Newcastle United.
The Red Devils won the game 2-0, their 10th FA Cup win in a memorable 1989-99 Treble season. The size 8 ¾ boots, created to Beckham’s unique specification, sparked intense bidding and eventually sold to a private UK phone bidder for £10,500.
More Beckham memorabilia, a red Manchester United shirt worn in a UEFA Champions League Group Stage match against Greek side Panathinaikos on November 21, 2000 sold to a bidder in Hong Kong for £4,000. The framed shirt was signed ‘Best wishes David Beckham 7’.
There was also intense bidding for a green Northern Ireland shirt worn by George Best in a match against England in 1964 – and it’s now heading to the United States. Best wore the shirt in an Opening Home International Championship match at Windsor Park, Northern Ireland. England won 4-3 in what was Best’s first game against England and third appearance for his country. The shirt sold to a buyer in California for £8,800.
David Wilson-Turner, head of sports memorabilia at Hansons Auctioneers, said: “There was major interest in these items from the start from potential bidders both at home and abroad. The Best and Beckham shirts have been snapped up by international buyers but Beckham’s boots are coming home.
“Football is loved the world over and Beckham and Best are among the most highly regarded players ever known, so it’s no surprise these items were sought after. They came to auction from a private Shropshire collector who decided the time was right to part with them.”
The items were sold on August 24 in Hansons Auctioneers’ August 19-24 Antiques and Collectors Auction. To find out more, email [email protected].
