- The ball from the 1953 FA was sold £5,250 to a private bidder at auction
- That game is known as the ‘Stanley Matthews final’ as Blackpool beat Bolton 4-3
- The ball was claimed by Stan Mortensen after he scored a hat-trick in the final
The ball used in the 1953 ‘Stanley Matthews final’ has been sold for £5,250 to a private bidder at auction.
It went to a lifelong Blackpool fan, who wished to remain anonymous but expressed a wish to loan the historic sporting artefact to museums.
The ball was claimed by Stan Mortensen after he scored a hat-trick in the FA Cup final, which saw Blackpool beat Bolton Wanderers 4-3.
The FA Cup final ball from the 1953 showpiece has been sold for £5,250 to a private bidder
The game remains the only Wembley FA Cup final to feature a hat-trick.
Its colourful recent history saw it raffled off at Mortensen’s ’50 Years in Football’ party, believed to have taken place at the Savoy Hotel, Blackpool on November 30, 1989.
It has since passed through a number of private owners’ hands and sold at a fraction more than the auctioneers’ estimated price.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers in Etwall, Derbyshire, said the ball had edged price expectations.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said the ball had edged price expectations
He added: ‘A bit of money for old leather!
‘We had three phone bidders vying to buy this ball as well as bidders online and I was delighted to see it sell just above its top estimate of £3,000-£5,000.
‘It’s been incredible to handle a football used in the famous Matthews FA Cup final.
‘The ball was given to Stan Mortensen at the end of a game which was watched by 100,000 fans on May 2 1953.
‘Despite Bolton going 3-1 up, Blackpool came back to win 4-3.’