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The collection contains objects varying from an oil
painting dated 1830, thought to be one of the oldest paintings of
its kind to the Stanley Matthews kit worn in the 1953 FA Cup Final.
Known as the Matthews’ Final; it was incidently the first
time Queen Elizabeth had ever attended a football match. The first
World Cup Final between Argentina and Uruguay which was
controversial because the teams couldn’t agree on which ball
to play with, so it was decided that they play each with their own
ball for one half. We have the Uruguayan ball played in the second
half where they went on to win 4-2. The Bobby Moore shirt which he
so famously swapped with Pele after the 1970 World Cup group match
in Mexico.....plus many more items. |
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The museum contains unique items which have enormous
historic significance; Douglas Jardine’s Harlequin cap worn
during the Bodyline series of 1932/33 to Australia when the England
team reverted to leg theory bowling to restrict the danger of Don
Bradman. From the same Tour, the ball hit for six by Eddie Paynter
to secure the series win at Adelaide. For art enthusiasts there is
the life-sized painting of WG Grace by Ernest Breun which was the
only item to have been actually named in his Last Will and
Testament. From a larger than life character to another; the hero
of the 1981 Headingly Test, we have have in the collection the bat
used by Ian Botham when he scored his 149 not out against
Australia. Everybody over a certain age will remember where they
were that eventful day and the bizarre nature of Australia's
capitualtion on the final day when Bod Willis and Co. reduced them
to 111 all out. |
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An ever evolving sport from where William Webb Ellis
at Rugby School drew up the rules of the game a rare watercolour,
‘The Origins of Rugby’ 1890, is believed to be the
oldest known painting of a game of rugby. The painting depicts a
game of rugby outside the wall at Rugby School where a variation of
the game took place but note the size and shape of the ball. The
collection is also proud to have acquired Jason Robinson’s
Rugby League and Union shirts from his World cup finals. He still
remains the only player to have done so and is the only England
player to have scored a try in a final. From the first ever tour of
the Springboks tour of 1906/7 we have the Carolin Papers, a
handwritten diary and photographic album of his memories of the
tour. The term Springbok was adopted on this tour and the image
remains an important one for obvious reasons. One must not forget
that these tourists were at war with each other three years before
in the Boer War. The 1905 All Black shirt for their first ever tour
to the UK; take a look at the shirt. |
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Who would have thought that the megaphone and top hat
used by the official starter of the London 1908 Olympics athletic
events could have survived all these years? They did and they are
both in remarkably good condition. There is a fine collection of
Olympic torches and if anybody has the torch from the 1952 Helsinki
Olympics we would love to hear from them as the torch is very rare!
William Robinson’s ‘A Welsh Victory’ remains one
of the most important boxing paintings of all time and indeed it
was bought at auction last year for £144,000 setting a world
record for a boxing artefact. It is a very important painting dated
1919; it depicts the lightweight world title fight which took place
at the National Sporting Club when Jimmy Wilde outpointed the
American, and the then current world champion, Joe Lynch. At the
end, the Prince of Wales, the ill fated Edward VIII, entered the
ring to congratulate the tiny Welshman. It was the first time
Royalty entered a boxing ring. |
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