Historic Liverpool FC auction to take place at Anfield
Liverpool supporters are being given the opportunity to own a piece of Reds history and help support the Liverpool Former Players Association in a special memorabilia auction being held at Anfield.
The unique event, which will be held on Thursday February 22, will see more than 380 items from the club’s old Main Stand go under the hammer and auctioned off to fans.
A donation from the auction proceeds will be made to the Liverpool Former Players Association - via the LFC Foundation - to support a local charity of their choice that helps young people across Merseyside.
The auction is in itself a piece of history; for the first time, the club is giving its supporters an opportunity, in a live auction-room setting at Anfield, to bid for their own piece of Liverpool FC history.
The driving force behind this unique occasion was the re-building of the Main Stand. This hugely significant project saw the end of the 1970s-era stand pulled down whilst retaining the original 1906 Archibald Leitch section intact, beneath the new structure that opened in September 2016.
John Aldridge, chair of the Former Players Association, said: “This is a great way for fans to have an opportunity to bid for items that represent our history. We’re fully supportive that some of the proceeds will come to our group and we will donate those funds to a local charity of our choice that really helps young people within our city.”
Stephen Done, Liverpool FC curator, said: “This auction is just one of the special events to mark our 125th anniversary. The former players are a huge part of Liverpool Football Club’s rich and colourful history. Without their tremendous talent and contribution to the club, we wouldn’t have such prestigious memorabilia and fantastic memories.
“The items on offer in the auction are both unique and diverse - from directional signage that hung on the walls of the Main Stand to the actual dugout seats the Reds’ manager and team used pitchside.
“We have been extremely careful in filtering the selection of lots to ensure we retain vital mementoes of past games and heroes enabling us to tell the story of our wonderful club.”
Below are 10 of the most interesting lots, selected by Done…
- Liverpool Football Club crest removed from the perimeter fence/gate to the Main Stand at Anfield in June 2016. This will be the only example ever offered for sale, the other similar crests are all preserved in the LFC Museum collection for future relocation in the new Main Stand and elsewhere. A truly ‘iconic’ image of the club crest and a beautifully cast piece of artwork, seen by millions.
- A Tom Murphy maquette of his celebrated sculpture of Bill Shankly that stands at the entrance to Liverpool Football Club's Anfield stadium, one of three presented to LFC as part of the commission of the full-size statue sponsored by Carlsberg in 1998. Two are preserved by LFC and will never be available, this third example represents a unique opportunity to acquire an original work of art of arguably the most significant personality in Liverpool Football Club history as created by a significant Liverpool artist of considerable repute. Cast in beautifully patented bronze, mounted on a pale marble base.
- Framed 12" long playing Liverpool Football Club record that formerly hung in the Main Stand near the directors' guest lounge c1990-2016, titled THE KOP CHOIR, in a pale wood frame with grey mounting card, size over frame 73.5 by 58cm., frame scuffed. (Note: the Museum has retained both vinyl and CD examples and also a Gold Disc version).
- A Framed 12'' long playing Liverpool Football Club record that hung in the old Main Stand near the directors' guest lounge, titled O LIVERPOOL WE LOVE YOU.
- A Framed and mounted colour photograph of the 1986 FA Cup-winning team removed from the corridor beside the Director's Lounge at Liverpool Football Club's Main Stand, In use circa 1990-2015.
- The Ciudad de Marbella Trophy, made in Cordoba, a silver-plated trophy awarded to Liverpool Football Club for coming second in the pre-season mini tournament played in Marbella 13-15 August 1982, other competing teams comprising CD Malaga, Real Betis, Albacete Balompie and Bayer 04.
- Liverpool Football Club old Main Stand signage, CLUB GUEST LOUNGE in use circa 1974-2015, brushed aluminium sign removed from above the entrance to the Lounge.
- Liverpool Football Club signage from the 2015-16 season Hospitality Marquee, THE TROPHY ROOM.
- Liverpool Football Club signage from the old Main Stand, HOME TEAM DRESSING ROOM, aluminium sheet with protective film, white text on red.
- A Row of five linked Seats from the Dug Out Area in the old Main Stand at Liverpool Football Club, red upholstery, New Balance branding, black.
For more information on the auction and access, please visit: www.liverpoolfc.com/auction.