Blackpool cup final memories under the hammer

And they include three cup final programmes including one for the legendary 1953 “Matthews Final.”

The memorabilia is being put up for auction by Lockdales of Ipswich on the weekend of January 23 and 24.

They are a part of a huge selection of football programmes which are a speciality of the firm.

Lockdales spokesman Chris Elmy said: “There are some excellent Blackpool programmes which should be of interest to keen fans.

“They came to us from a big collection belonging to a private collector and we have split them into lots.

“Programmes are very collectible. We tend to put them up with a catalogue price and see where they go from there.

“It depends on how fanatical supporters are or whether it is a special game or if they feature a special player.

“It is always interesting because you never really know what to expect. Sometimes we put them on with a fairly low catalogue price and they go for much, much higher thanks to the bidding.

“We had one recently that was £25 in the catalogue and it went for hundreds.”

He said the lots were open for viewing from today and people can travel down to the auction house if they wanted to see them in person.

The prize lot (1110) features the 1953 programme.

It is dated May 2, 1953, for the famous match between Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers which ended in a 4-3 victory for the Seasiders.

Stan Mortensen scored three goals and Sir Stanley Matthews finally picked up a winners medal after years of disappointment for one of England’s greatest ever players. The estimated price in the catalogue is between £25-£30.

Lot 1103 is the programme from the FA Cup Final on April 24, 1948 between Blackpool and Manchester United. It’s estimate is £20-£25. The match was regarded as one of the best cup finals ever and finished 4-2 with Stanley Matthews on the losing side.

Lot 1107 features the programme from the FA Cup Final dated April 28, 1951 and is estimated at £20-£25.

Blackpool played Newcastle United and once again Matthews and Mortensen were on the losing side as Newcastle and England striker Jackie Milburn and his team ran out 2-0 winners.

One of the remaining lots features five of Blackpool’s home programmes from 1947 to 1948 and is priced at £25.

Chris Elmy said: “These are interesting because they are single sheet programmes. They were saving paper because it was just after the war and paper was still rationed.”

At that time the team featured the likes of Harry Johnston, Eddie Shimwell plus Mortensen and Matthews and they finished fifth in the first division in 1946 and ninth the following year.

A second lot features 33 programmes from seasons between 1947 and 1983 and is priced at £30.

Anyone interested in bidding can visit the website, www.lockdales.com, and bid via the internet, by telephone or by visiting the auction rooms in person on the day.