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.


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.

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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.

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Smart idea to portray golf courses not just the players

24 February 2025

John Smart (1838-99) was one of the first artists to focus on golf courses themselves rather than the actual players.

1936 Olympic Gold Medal

1936 Olympic gold medal set to star at Graham Budd Auctions

19 February 2025

A 1936 Olympic gold medal, a 1931-32 Football League Division 1 winner’s medal and a Ferenc Puskas Real Madrid shirt are among some of the sporting memorabilia items on sale at Graham Budd Auctions on March 3-6.

West Ham v Wolves programme

What a result: West Ham v Luton football programme for postponed match takes 440 times top estimate

06 February 2025

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

Credit Hansons Pele’S Actual 1000Th Goal Match Shirt

Hansons World Football to host auction at Wembley

05 February 2025

Footballing memorabilia belonging to South American greats will be offered at the national stadium in April

Gold medal from 1904 Olympics

Olympic gold medal from 1904 races to record price

31 January 2025

A gold medal from the 1904 Olympics set its own first when it fetched $436,297 (£351,000) plus 25% premium at RR Auction's timed sale in the US – a record for any 1904 medal.

Pele And Brazilian Team

Early Pelé card bid to nine times estimate at auction in Sweden

17 January 2025

An early card collectable of Pelé recently emerged at auction in Sweden – the country where he won the World Cup for the first time.

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Early football memorabilia hits the spot

13 January 2025

A cornerstone in any early football library is 'Association Football & The Men Who Made It', the history of the modern game in its first half-a-century as written by Alfred Gibson and William Pickford and published by Caxton in 1905.

Ruby Slippers

Heritage Auctions records highest-ever total for 2024

08 January 2025

Landmark entertainment, sports and comics auctions contributed to a fourth consecutive record-setting year for the US auction house

Trade card for golfer Harry Vardon

Pick of the Week: Vardon into the swing of things

30 December 2024

Unless you are a golfer, the name Harry Vardon is probably not a familiar one.

Bobby Moore Shirt

Bobby Moore World Cup shirt and Arthur Ashe racket lead sale in Paris

19 December 2024

A red England Bobby Moore shirt from the 1970 World Cup quarter final against West Germany and Arthur Ashe’s tennis racket featured at Agutte’s Memories of Legends sale in Paris.

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McQueen’s shirt swap was a final one-off

09 December 2024

Graham Budd’s (24% buyer’s premium) On the Road to Manchester & The Kits of Legends Auction on October 1-2 included memorabilia from former Red Devils Gordon McQueen (1952-2023), David McCreery (b.1957) and Viv Anderson (b.1956).

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1966 World Cup masterplan revealed in a simple suitcase

09 December 2024

A suitcase given by a famous football manager to his next-door neighbours contained a winning formula

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Liverpool FC player McLean could be the first footballer to make a debut on a cigarette card

09 December 2024

When Liverpool FC played their first-ever Football League fixture in the second division in September 1893 the left-back was a Scot called Duncan McLean (1868-1941).

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Cheltenham Gold Cup in high demand even in replica form

09 December 2024

A replica Cheltenham Gold Cup awarded to Frank Vickerman, the owner of 1948 winner Cottage Rake, fetched £26,000 at Graham Budd (24% buyer’s premium) on November 13.

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Baggies glory days recalled by John Kaye memorabilia

09 December 2024

The late 1960s was a glorious time to be a Baggies fan.

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Bradman’s ‘baggy green’ cap scores six-figure result

09 December 2024

A ‘baggy green’ Australian Test cricket cap belonging to cricketing royalty appeared at Bonhams Sydney on December 3.

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Sale offers collection of million-pound pioneer footballer Trevor Francis

09 December 2024

A football collection of shirts, medals and international caps belonging to Britain’s first million-pound player, Trevor Francis, was on offer at Piers Motley (18% buyer’s premium) in Exmouth, Devon, on October 17.

George Best boots

When he had the world at his feet: George Best’s youth team football boots sold at auction

05 December 2024

The pair of boots, marked with a tally of goals, were given to Best when he was playing for his youth team in Belfast

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