A collection of documents belonging to Ipswich Town legendary manager Sir Alf Ramsey has sold for £12,000 more than it was expected to fetch at auction.
The documents, including preparation for the 1966 World Cup final, when Sir Alf was managing England, went under the hammer at Diss Auction Rooms on Thursday morning.
They sold for a price of £13,500 to an unidentified buyer.
The collection went up for auction after the death of Elaine Coupland, a close friend of Sir Alf and his wife, Lady Victoria, who took ownership of the items after the Ramseys had passed away.
Dated to 1966 and 1970, the collection of documents detail Sir Alf's preparation for the 1966 World Cup, the only major trophy the England men's team has ever won.
Training sessions, medical checks, ground inspections, kit orders and the dividing of prize money are all discussed in the letters.
It was estimated before the hammer fell that the lot would sell between £1,000 and £1,500.
Before the auction, a spokesperson for Diss Auction Rooms said: "It’s an incredible collection of letters and papers showing the inner workings that went into England’s victory at the 1966 World Cup.
"Not only that but it comes from the man at the helm of it all, it is completely unique, and also a one-off chance for someone to own a piece of the crowning glory of England’s football history."
Sir Alf is one of Ipswich Town's greatest-ever managers, having took the Blues from the third division to the top flight title in 1962 as boss.
Kieran McKenna is the only other Blues manager to secure promotion from the third tier to the top flight.
Town icon Sir Alf later retired from football management but lived in and around Ipswich before his death in 1999, aged 79.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel