MEDAL HURLED INTO CROWDS BY JOSÉ MOURINHO SET TO SPARK A SCRAMBLE AT BONHAMS

Bonhams is delighted to announce that it is offering the second medal thrown into the crowds by José Mourinho at the 2005-6 Premier League final as part of its sale of Sporting and Golf Memorabilia at Chester on 24^th February 2010.

 

The Portuguese former Chelsea manager was presented with the second medal minutes after he had thrown his first winner’s medal, along with his blazer, into the delighted spectators at Stamford Bridge, celebrating Chelsea’s 3-0 win against Manchester United. Mourinho said at the time: "The medal was for everybody but I think the person in the crowd who got the medal is a lucky guy who goes home with a fantastic memory or goes to eBay and makes a fortune."

 

In 2008 Bonhams marked Mourinho’s words selling the first medal for £21,600 on behalf of a Chelsea fan. The second medal has attracted a pre-sale estimate of £12,000 - £15,000.

 

The sale also features a number of items belonging to Bolton Wanderers player Jimmy Seddon. A 1923 FA Cup winner’s medal from the first ever game to be played at Wembley Stadium (estimate £8,000 - £10,000), a 1927 England International cap (estimate £800 - £1,000) and a 1928/9 England International cap (estimate £800 - £1,000) are among the lots being sold through Bonhams by Seddon’s family.

 

A trial cap belonging to David Jack, the first person to score a goal at Wembley and the first player to be transferred for more than £10,000, is also being offered.  The cap was owned by the same person since he was given it at his christening 70 years ago (estimate £400 - £600).

 

Other highlights include Stanley Matthews’ match worn boots from the 1953 FA Cup Final (estimate £6,000 – 8,000), an 1883-84 Welsh International badge awarded to Joe Williams (estimate £1,000 - £1,500) and a 1950 World Cup England international cap awarded to Bill Eckersley (estimate £1,000 – 1,500).

 

Bonhams is also offering several rare medals and badges from the 1908 Summer Olympics, held in London, including a bantamweight boxing bronze awarded to William Webb (estimate £800- £1,000).

 

A Randolph Turpin Middleweight Champion of the World diamond ring (estimate £5,000 – 6,000) and a ringside ticket for the 1927 World Heavyweight Boxing Championship Tunney v Dempsey - 'The Long Count' fight (estimate £300 - £400) are among boxing highlights.

 

This is all quite exciting to Peachy Deegan, who was an on-air sports personality in Cork, Ireland once with Des Curran who taught her quite a lot about all of sport in Europe.  (And she taught him about how great Boston College hockey was.)

 

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further seven throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Boston in the USA; and Switzerland, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 50 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com.