MEMORABILIA: A missing, presumed-lost 1963 UEFA Cup-Winner's Cup medal belonging to Belfast-born Northern Ireland player Danny Blanchflower is a highlight of a football memorabilia auction next week. The auction includes a 1963 UEFA Cup-Winner s' Cup medal that had been presumed lost, Pelé's shirt and Ray Wilson's 1966 World Cup medal, writes Joe Armstrong

The shirt worn by Pelé in the 1970 World Cup final between Brazil and Italy is expected to fetch €50,000 to €82,000, while a World Cup winner's medal, 1966, awarded to Ray Wilson of England carries an estimate of €120,000 to €150,000.

The football memorabilia auction takes place at Christie's in London next Wednesday, March 27th.

The missing Blanchflower medal was discovered at the bottom of a claret jug bought at auction for £25 sterling (€40). It is expected to fetch between €14,000 and €20,000. The vendor turned the jug upside down when he returned home and the medal fell out. Thinking no more about it, it lay in his bookcase for 11 years until the vendor decided to have it valued.

Mr David Convery, football specialist at Christie's, told him that it was an important, presumed-lost medal awarded to Danny Blanchflower, the Tottenham Hotspur's hero who captained the team to victory in the 1960-1961 season and a further FA Cup win in 1962.

Blanchflower's club-playing career culminated in the European Cup-Winners' Cup win in 1963. He appeared for Spurs 436 times over 10 years, scoring 27 goals, including the third goal in the FA Cup final of 1962. He captained Northern Ireland in the 1958 World Cup campaign and played 56 times for the North. He became manager of Chelsea in 1978 and subsequently became Northern Ireland manager.

"We sold the Blanchflower collection in 1997 in Glasgow, and this medal was absent. It's a highly significant medal: we expect plenty of interest," said Mr Convery.

The Pelé 1970 World Cup shirt was gained as a swap by Roberto Rosato after the Brazil versus Italy final, regarded by some as the greatest final of any World Cup. Played at the Azteca Stadium before 107,000 spectators, Brazil beat Italy 4-1, with Pelé scoring the first goal of the match, which was the 100th scored by Brazil in World Cup tournaments. Born in 1940, Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pelé) wore the famous yellow number 10 of Brazil on 110 occasions and scored 95 goals. He won his first of two World Cups with Brazil in 1958 when he was 18 years of age.

"This shirt is one of the most important pieces of football memorabilia I have ever had the pleasure of offering for sale. On par with the shirt worn by Sir Geoff Hurst in the 1966 World Cup final, which fetched £91,750 sterling here at Christie's in September 2000, we look forward to another great result," said Mr Convery.

Ray Wilson, who has put his 1966 medal for auction said: "Although it is painful to part with my World Cup winner's medal, an object full of personal and national nostalgia, I have decided to sell in order to financially provide for my family.

"It has taken me a good few years to come to this decision but I believe it is for the best and I hope my medal finds a worthy home."

Lots relating to the career of Joe Smith, born 1889, of Bolton Wanderers include a white Ireland versus England international cap, 1913, estimated at €740 to €900 (Ireland won 2-1), and a white Ireland versus England 1919 cap expected to make €660 to €990 (a 1-1 draw).

Lots associated with John (Jock) Govan, who played for Hibernian in the 1940s, include a blue Ireland versus Scotland international cap, 1948-49, estimated at €660 to €990, and a blue-and-white Scottish Football League versus Football League of Ireland shirt, 1952-1953, estimated at €370 to €460.

A torn and folded 1931 Ireland versus England international single-sheet match programme is estimated at €330 to €410.

jmarms@irish-times.ie