Sir Bobby Charlton’s No 9 jersey & oldest Man Utd football medal go to auction

Manchester United fans are expected to be among those bidding for items in an extensive football memorabilia auction which includes Sir Bobby Charlton’s signed red Manchester United No 9 home jersey.

The shirt, dating from around 1965, is expected to sell for between £3,000 and £5,000, when it goes under the hammer after enthusiast Bryan Horsnell, 82, decided to sell his items to move to a smaller house.

Being sold separately in the auction is the earliest Manchester United football medal ever to have been offered for sale.

The Manchester Senior Cup winner’s medal was awarded to Newton Heath’s Thomas Fitzsimmons in 1893 could fetch £25,000.

Newton Heath, who became Manchester United in 1902, beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 in the final, which marked the end of the club’s first season in division one.

Where will they be auctioned?

They will be on offer at sporting memorabilia specialist Graham Budd Auctions on September 7 and 8.

Auctioneer Mr Budd said: “Bryan Horsnell is a pioneer of football collecting and has been very active in this pursuit since the 1960s, a time when very few people were like-minded in this hobby.

“More often than not he would acquire items directly from footballers and built up a spectacular collection.

“This has been supplemented by purchases at auction since memorabilia sales grew from the 1990s onwards.

“It would be difficult and expensive for anybody setting out today to amass such an incredible array of treasures.

“However, the auction offers a unique opportunity to buy football memorabilia of the highest quality.

“(Bryan’s) is the oldest Manchester United medal that has been offered at auction. And there is no knowledge of the whereabouts of any other medal in existence that is older.”

What else is for sale?

Elsewhere in the Horsnell collection is a 1903 FA Cup winner’s medal awarded to Willie Wood of Bury FC, which is also expected to fetch between £3,000 and £5,000.

A pennant presented by Portugal to England ahead of their World Cup semi-final in 1966 is estimated to sell for between £3,000 and £5,000.