1966 WORLD CUP FINAL PROGRAMME.

I AM PLEASED AND EXTREMELY PROUD TO OFFER FOR AUCTION A TRUE ORIGINAL PIECE OF HISTORIC SPORTING MEMORABILIA.

I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THAT ANYWHERE SHORT OF FOOTBALL MUSEUMS HAS AN ORIGINAL PROGRAMME BOUGHT AT THE MATCH AND STILL IN ITS UNTOUCHED IMMACULATE CONDITION.

THE STORY BEHIND THIS BEAUTIFUL PIECE IS THAT MY UNCLE WHO WAS WORKING IN LONDON IN THE 1960'S ATTENDED THE GAME AND WITH AN EYE FOR A SOUVENIR BOUGHT SIX COPYS,WHICH HE STILL TELLS ME NOW CAME FROM THE MIDDLE OF A BATCH,ALL HAVE BEEN VIRTUALLY UNTOUCHED BY HUMAN HAND EVER SINCE THAT FAMOUS DAY.

FIVE OF THE SIX ARE NOW SOLD TO DELIGHTED PURCHASERS(SEE FEEDBACK),THIS IS THE LAST ONE!!!

AND TO RECOGNISE THAT WHEN THE BIDDING REACHES £300 THE WINNING BIDDER WILL RECIEVE AN AMAZING GIFT.

I WILL INCLUDE WITH THE PROGRAMME A PHOTO TAKEN ON THE PITCH THAT DAY OF THE ECSTATIC POST MATCH TEAM CELEBRATIONS SIGNED BY THE LATE ALAN BALL.

I HAVE DONE ALL MY HOMEWORK ON THE PROGRAMMES SINCE DECIDING TO SELL AND WOULD ENCOURAGE ANY INTERESTED BIDDERS TO DO THE SAME AND AVOID THE MAJORITY OF FAKES WHICH SELL ON EBAY.

THE ORIGINAL LIKE THIS ONE IS INCREASINGLY SCARCE WITH ITS WITH IS VERY DISTINCT DARK(CHELSEA) BLUE FRONT COVER WHILST TO THE REAR COVER THE CADET CIGARETTE PACKET HAS A SCARLET RED STRIPE ACROSS THE PACKET.ALSO ON PAGE TWO ON THE PACKETS OF PLAYERS CIGARETTES THE LOGO ON THE PACKETS IS QUITE OBVIOUSLY TWO SHADES OF LIGHT AND DARK GREY.

ALSO AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY THE SIZE OF THE ORIGINALS STAPLES AS LAID DOWN BY CHRISTIES AUCTION HOUSE ARE EXACTLY 9/16THS OF AN INCH.

HERES HOW TO SPOT A REPRINT-

1970 REPRINT

FRONT COVER MORE LILAC

STRIPE ON CIG PACKET ON REAR MORE TANGERINE IN COLOUR.

PAGE TWO CIGARETTE PACKET TWO TONE GREY ALMOST IN DISTINGUISHABLE GREY BLENDS INTO ONE.

1999 REPRINT.

SADLY A MUCH BETTER COPY BUT IF ANYTHING THE COVER IS TOO DARK ALSO BOTTOM RIGHT OF REAR COVER WORD REPRINT WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN REMOVED SO BE CAREFUL.

PARTLY BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAMME DEALERS ARE NOW SELLING ORIGINALS LIKE THESE FOR AROUND £600!!!

ADD TO ALL THIS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY LAST YEAR AND THE FACT THAT ANOTHER WORLD CUP FALIURE HAS COME AND GONE,THE VALUE OF THIS PIECE ESPECIALLY IN THIS CONDITION WILL ROCKET STILL HIGHER,AND MANY EXPERTS PREDICT THAT TRUE ORIGINALS SUCH AS THIS COULD BE WORTH UPWARDS OF £1000 IN YEARS TO COME.

I WOULD WELCOME BIDS FROM FOOTBALL MUSEUMS SUCH IS THE QUALITY OF THE PIECE.

IN CONCLUSION BEWARE OF FAKES,BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMMES ARE RARE ENOUGH BUT IN THIS CONDITION SURELY ONLY A HANDFUL STILL EXIST.

I WILL START THE BIDDING WITH NO RESERVE AT £1 AS I WANT ALL BIDDERS TO HAVE A CHANCE.

GOOD LUCK WITH ALL YOUR BIDS!!