ONE of the most important collections of sporting memorabilia to appear at auction in a generation was offered by Graham Budd Auctions, based in Northamptonshire, on September 3 and 4. 

The collection comprises sporting memorabilia across cricket, golf, rugby, tennis, olympic games and football.

The football highlights include the Joe Kirkup collection, from the legendary 60’s footballer who played for West Ham United, Chelsea and Southampton in the 1960s and 70s.

The Joe Kirkup collection includes 24 lots, made up of  match worn shirts, medals, caps, programmes and personal effects accumulated over his football career:
•    Claret and blue No.2 West Ham United v Munich Shirt, 1965 - worn by Joe in the European Cup Winners’ Cup Final, where West Ham beat Munich 2 - 0 to take the trophy. Estimated between £8,000 - £10,000.
•    Continental 18ct gold and enamel European Cup-Winner’s medal, 1965 - estimated between £9,000 - 12,000.
•    Omega yellow metal case wrist watch and leather strap in original presentation box - estimated between £900 – £1,200.

England shirt (Image: Contributed)

David Convery, head of sporting memorabilia at Graham Budd Auctions, said: “Joe’s footballing legacy is significant, particularly for West Ham fans, where he was part of the winning European Cup Winners’ Cup team.

“It’s always a genuine pleasure when these items come direct from the player, and there is, of course, no better provenance, and that means everything in the auction world. We're expecting a lot of interest in these historic items.”

Also up for sale is an extremely rare gilt-metal and enamel 1964 Tokyo Olympic lapel badge these were prepared for the Emperor and the Imperial Family with Rising Sun design, surrounded by the Olympic colours on three sides inscribed TOKYO 1964, with blank gold bar representing the Emperor’s and the Imperial Family’s badge, with long white ribbon, in original case. Awarded to the Tokyo royal family, it features a one-off design with their crest on it. Estimated price £10,000 - £15,000 – a similar example selling at auction recently for $130,000. 

Mr Convery added: “We believe this is the world’s most expensive non-competitive sporting medal. It was specially designed for the Japanese Royal Family in Tokyo, and it really is a beautiful thing. To see one at all is extremely rare, so the fact that this is the second one to be up for sale this year is remarkable.”