Sporting Memorabilia & Equipment

This sector of the art and antiques market often generates big headlines in the general media – not least when an auction record for 1966 World Cup is set for example. But the market is extremely wide and varied. Here there really is something for everyone at every price level, whether a buyer focuses on football programmes, historic golf clubs or fishing tackle.

Ferenc Puskás shirt worn in last European game tops sale at 10 times estimate

23 May 2025

A Real Madrid shirt worn by Ferenc Puskás against Kilmarnock in the 1965-66 European Cup made 10 times its estimate at Graham Budd’s Scottish sporting memorabilia auction at Trades Hall of Glasgow on May 21.

Right on cue: billiards and snooker books in demand

19 May 2025

By the time H Turner’s book on billiards came out in 1849 (Northampton, printed for the author by JT Burgess) the game was hundreds of years old – with roots back to the 15th century.

Manchester United bench makes 33 times estimate

13 May 2025

An Old Trafford supporters’ bench removed during Old Trafford’s 1992 renovations made 33 times its estimate at Graham Budd's latest auction.

‘Featherie’ golf balls: ideal to score a birdie?

05 May 2025

An early leather-bound feather golf ball consigned for sale from a house move in Old Woking in Surrey comes for sale at John Nicholson’s in Haslemere on May 14.

Two-goal hero’s FA Cup shirt doubles estimate at Essex auction

02 May 2025

Alan Taylor’s West Ham United shirt from the 1975 FA Cup final draws interest at Stacey’s in Chelmsford

Get hooked on angling with the help of this specialist vintage tackle event

28 April 2025

More people than ever are getting hooked on angling, says the Angling Trust which reported that in 2023-24 as a result of participation events more than 43,000 people tried fishing for the first time.

Alan Taylor’s shirt and winners medal from remarkable FA Cup run to appear at auction

24 April 2025

Alan Taylor’s West Ham United shirt, winners’ medal and other items from the 1975 FA Cup final will appear at Stacey’s on April 28.

Third tranche of Bill Terry archery collection goes under the hammer

16 April 2025

More than 150 lots of archery memorabilia from the final tranche of the Bill Terry collection appeared at Olympia Auctions on April 16.

Rogers Jones JPR Williams Barbarians Shirt

JPR Williams’ Barbarians jersey sells at Rogers Jones

11 April 2025

The Barbarians jersey worn by JPR Williams (1949-2024) in one of rugby union’s most famous matches sold at Rogers Jones for £27,500 (plus 22% buyer’s premium) on April 10.

The bold man and the sea: Hemingway fishing rod sells

07 April 2025

One lucky bidder landed a top-of-the-line big game fishing rod made expressly for Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961).

Britains toy golfer swings into the saleroom

07 April 2025

Britains is best known as a producer of toy soldiers, but some of its ‘civilian’ figures required a different sort of bunker.

Rare 1875 Wisden hits £27,000 result despite missing original wrappers

31 March 2025

A copy of what is regarded as probably the rarest edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack came up at Knights Sporting Auctions (20% buyer’s premium) on March 21-23.

Rarest edition of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack hits £27,000 hammer price at specialist sport auction house

27 March 2025

A copy of what is regarded as probably the rarest edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack came up for sale at Knights Sporting Auctions (20% buyer’s premium) on March 21-23.

Football programme recalls friendly match called off amid febrile atmosphere

24 March 2025

Underlining once again the desirability of football match programmes for games that were actually postponed or cancelled, an Arsenal example offered on March 3 hammered at £7500 via thesaleroom.com.

JPR Williams’ rugby shirt collection offered at Rogers Jones

18 March 2025

A memento from one of the most famous rugby union matches of all time: the Barbarians versus New Zealand in 1973 will go under the hammer at Rogers Jones on April 10.

2683NEDI NIB RWB David Coleman Typewriter Cropped

David Coleman’s commentary collection sells at RWB Auctions

04 March 2025

The personal collection of notes, research, transcripts and photographs belonging to former BBC sports commentator David Coleman (1926-2013) appeared at a recent sale held by RWB Auctions in Royal Wootton Bassett.

Postponed Hammers v Hatters match programme turns out to be a ‘grail’ purchase for collectors

24 February 2025

When bad weather made the Upton Park pitch unfit for play on Saturday, January 17, 1959, it must have seemed fairly unremarkable.

Smart idea to portray golf courses not just the players