Two shirts from legendary World Cup matches are set to headline the world’s biggest ever World Cup memorabilia auction next month – as Brits are urged to check their homes for hidden football treasures that could be worth thousands.
With sporting memorabilia values at an all-time high, the auction house is issuing a final call for consignments ahead of a submission deadline on 8th May.
Highlights will include Martin Peters’ 1966 World Cup Final spare red shirt, valued at £30,000 – £50,000. Peters famously scored the second of England’s four goals in the tense match against West Germany, having only made his England debut earlier that year.
Another standout lot is the shirt worn by Northern Ireland’s Norman Whiteside at the 1982 World Cup, where he made history as the youngest ever player to appear in the tournament – a record he still holds today.
“These are just two highlights of an incredible collection, featuring medals, shirts, caps and even a complete set of tickets from each of the 32 matches played in the 1966 World Cup,” said David Convery, head of sporting memorabilia at BUDDS.
“There is a lot of excitement in the run-up to this year’s tournament, and that’s reflected in the price estimates, some of which are at an all-time high. We are accepting new items into the sale until 8th May, so there’s still time for people who have memorabilia at home to see if it’s worth something. It’s a great time to be selling, and we’re offering free valuations for anyone interested in finding out what their items or collections might be worth.”
Martin Peters played a crucial, but sometimes underappreciated, role in the ‘66 World Cup Final. His goal put England in the lead in the final 15 minutes of the match, when he was the fastest player to a loose ball in the penalty area.
Peters had a successful career at West Ham from 1962 – 1970, during the club’s ‘golden era’, alongside the likes of Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst. He then became football’s first £200,000 footballer when he was sold to Spurs, where he played from 1970 – 1975.
“Martin Peters was known as ‘The Ghost’ for his ability to slip unseen into dangerous positions for the opposition, and he was right where he needed to be during the cup final in 1966,” continued Convery. “To have one of his shirts from this famous match is a big deal – items like this just don’t come to auction very often.”
Norman Whiteside broke Pelé’s record when he debuted for Northern Ireland at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, aged 17 and 41 days. At club level, Whiteside was a key figure for Manchester United, famously scoring the winning goal in the 1985 FA Cup Final against Everton, making him the youngest scorer in a Wembley final at the time.
David Convery continued: “Norman’s ability to perform in decisive moments, combined with his versatility and maturity, left a lasting legacy, even though his career was ultimately shortened by injury. It’s been a real honour to work with him, and we’re already seeing interest from around the world in his shirt, which tells such a significant story in World Cup history.”
The BUDDS World Cup Auction will take place on 25th June 2026, with an online timed auction starting on 2nd June.
