Shamrock Rovers’s first European Cup campaign was short but memorable.
Drawn against Matt Busby’s exciting young Manchester United team, the Dublin side were beaten 6-0 in Milltown before travelling to Old Trafford and recording a commendable 3-2 defeat.
That was 1957 and United would go on to beat Dukla Prague in the second round before being drawn against Red Star Belgrade in February 1958.
It was on the way home from the Yugoslavian capital, after refuelling in Munich, that the Manchester United plane crashed on take-off, killing 23 passengers, including eight players.
Manchester United and Shamrock Rovers fans have an opportunity to own a very special piece of memorabilia – a ball used in the home leg of the first leg tie between Rovers and United.
Not only that, it is signed by Busby, Bobby Charlton, Geoff Bent, Johnny Berry, Roger Byrne, Jackie Blanchflower, Joe Carolan, Jack Crompton, Duncan Edwards, Ian Greaves, Mark Jones, Noel McFarlane, David Pegg, Albert Scanlon, Tommy Taylor and Liam Whelan.
It will cost you. Whytes Auctioneers in Dublin have included the ball in a sport and entertainment memorabilia auction on December 14th and the ball has an estimate of €6,000-€8,000.
Maybe not one for a kickabout in the back garden so.
Also on offer is the oldest known Irish rugby jersey in existence. So old it is not even green anymore!
The jersey was worn by Ireland international William “Billy” Byron during Ireland’s 1899 Triple Crown winning campaign, their second ever and last for almost half a century.
Again, you won’t get it cheap. The biscuit-coloured shirt is estimated to fetch somewhere between €25,000 and €30,000. It seems there is quite a market for old rugby jerseys, with a New Zealand shirt from 1904 selling for£180,000 at auction in October!
Once again, not one for a kickabout in the garden.
More affordable is a Paul McGrath international cap, being offered with accompanying FAI letter and signed photograph, it is estimated to fetch €1,000-€1,500. An 83-cap veteran, McGrath had to request the cap from the FAI at Denis Irwin’s testimonial as the association had been a bit slow in recognising his efforts.
On top of all this Whytes are auctioning signed jerseys from the likes of Bryan Habana, Lionel Messi, Christiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski, Richie McCaw and Kaka.
Time to crack open the piggy bank.
