Bonhams to sell Liverpool FC legend Tommy Smith’s vast medal collection

Bonhams is delighted to be offering Liverpool FC legend Tommy Smith’s medal collection in the Sporting Memorabilia sale in its Chester saleroom on 22 February 2012. Comprising 75 lots, the collection includes FA Cup, UEFA Cup and European Cup winners’ medals, a full England International Cap, a record five Charity Shields, and 20 shirts worn in big games. Renowned for his uncompromising defensive style earning him a reputation as a hard man, manager Bill Shankly once said: “Tommy Smith wasn’t born, he was quarried.” He joined Liverpool as a schoolboy in May 1960 and made his debut on the 8 May 1963. In 1965, he started to feature more regularly and was an integral part of the Liverpool side that won the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history. By the time that he left Liverpool in 1972, he had made 638 appearances, winning four League titles, two FA Cups, two UEFA Cups and two European Cups. Highlights of this collection include a 1964/65 FA Cup winners medal (estimate £8,000-10,000); a 1965/66 Division 1 Champions medal (estimate £4,000-6,000); a 1973 UEFA Cup winners medal (estimate £3,000-4,000); a 1974 FA Cup final match worn shirt (£3,000-4,000); and a 1977 European Cup winners medal (estimate £8,000-10,000).

Other highlights of the Sporting Memorabilia sale include the last shirt worn in a match by Argentine footballer Diego Maradona (estimate £8,000-10,000), from his last international appearance for Argentina at Boston on 25 June 1994 v Nigeria in the World Cup; and a collection of Arsenal medals, shirts and caps won by Welsh footballer Charles Jones (1899-1966) during his career at the club (1928-1934).