Football icon's possessions set to raise £500,000 - 22 years after huge funeral at Sheffield cathedral
Memorabilia set to be auctioned belonged to England football legend who made Sheffield his home
More than 20 years after his funeral at Sheffield Cathedral, football legend Emlyn Hughes’ old shirts and memorabilia are expected to raise £500,000.
Hughes made his name with the famous Liverpool team in the 70s, before moving to South Yorkshire to manage Rotherham United in the ealy 1980s.
He loved Sheffield enough to settle in the city permanently for the last 20 years of his life, setting up his family home in Dore and getting a job on Radio Sheffield.
After he died in 2004, after over 20 years living in the city, a huge funeral was held at Sheffield Cathedral, attended by big names from sport and entertainment.
Now, more than 240 lots from the life and career of the Liverpool and England legend will go under the hammer.
The collection brings together some of the most personal and historically important objects from Hughes’ career.
It includes major match-worn Liverpool and England shirts, international caps, medals and presentation pieces, and shirts exchanged with opponents.
Highlights of the sale include a Liverpool 1977 European Cup Final match-worn shirt, estimated at £30,000–£50,000, and one from the 1978 final, expected to fetch between £20,000 and £30,000.
Other standout lots include Johan Cruyff’s shirt from a 1976 Barcelona v Liverpool match, estimated at £10,000–£15,000, and Hughes’ England international debut cap, awarded for the 1969–70 season and estimated at £700–£1,000.
There are also several lots featuring Pierre Sangan jumpers and cardigans worn by Hughes on BBC quiz show A Question of Sport.
Emlyn’s daughter Emma Hughes said: "We were left with hundreds of dad’s shirts and memorabilia and for a long time we didn’t really know what to do with them.
"Going through the collection has brought back so many wonderful memories and it’s been lovely to revisit those moments from his incredible career.
"We hope that by bringing these items to auction, they’ll find new homes with fans and collectors who have their own special memories of watching Dad play.”
Emlyn’s son Emlyn said: “I was only born in 1976, so I was too young to really remember Dad playing during his Liverpool years. Most of what I’ve seen of his career has been through old footage and YouTube.
“What’s special about this collection is that so many fans will have their own memories of the matches and moments these shirts represent.
"It’s wonderful to think that these pieces of Dad’s history can now be enjoyed and treasured by the people who watched him play."
David Convery, Head of Sporting Memorabilia/ Collectables at Budds, added: "What makes the collection so remarkable is its breadth of quality. There are hugely important Liverpool and England pieces, European Cup shirts and medals, but also the shirts he exchanged with the great players he faced and the personal objects that tell the story of Emlyn away from the pitch.
"It isn’t simply a collection of football memorabilia. Taken together, these objects document the life and career of one of the most recognisable and much-loved figures in British football."
Hughes died at his home in Sheffield on November 9, 2004, aged 57, after suffering from a brain tumour.
Emlyn Hughes Collection auction will take place in Liverpool on November 2.
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