By Charlie Hawes
An extraordinary collection of vintage Leicester City FA Cup memorabilia is to be sold at auction in Market Harborough next week.
Three lots from the personal collection of Howard Riley, who was a winger for LCFC between 1955 and 1965, making more than 200 appearances and scoring 38 goals, are up for auction.
Items include the player’s runner-up medal and tracksuit top and jersey from the 1963 FA Cup final, along with his jersey from the 1961 FA Cup final.
Will Gilding, Director at Gilding Auctioneers in Market Harborough, where the items are to be sold said: “Having recently sold a 1969 FA Cup final tracksuit top belonging to Leicester player Bobby Roberts for £600, which was double its upper estimate, we’re expecting great interest in these memorabilia.
“The 1961 jersey is estimated at £200 – £300 and the pair of tops from 1963 is expected to realise between £400 and £600.
“The 9-carat gold runner-up medal, which is offered in its original box and engraved with ‘The Football Association,’ has two players and the Three Lions emblem on the front and the player’s name on the back.
“This should be particularly sought after on the day and is estimated at £1,500-£2,500.”
Born in Wigston in 1938, Howard Riley made over 200 appearances for Leicester City, joining the club straight from Kibworth School only four days after his 17th birthday, before army service called.
The only Leicestershire-born player in City’s 1961 FA Cup final side, his moment of cup glory came in 1964 when he scored the winning goal in the League Cup final against Stoke.
The jersey from the 1961 FA Cup final vs Tottenham Hotspur is lot 125 and includes the squad number 7. It was made by Bukta, is a size 38 and includes an embroidered club badge.
The track suit top and jersey from the 1963 FA Cup final is lot 126 and was made by Redmayne and Todd. It’s embroidered ‘Howard Riley’, it includes the club badge with banner ‘Wembley 1963’ below and to the back ‘Leicester City FC’,
The 9-carat gold FA Challenge Cup final 1963 runner-up medal is lot 127, and it was awarded after the match against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 25, 1963.
The medal is engraved with ‘The Football Association’ and includes two football players and the Three Lions emblem. The reverse side is engraved ‘The Football Association Challenge Cup Runners-Up H. Riley 1963’.
The medal has a diameter of 32mm, weighs 23g and is accompanied by its original fitted box.
The items are being auctioned at Market Harborough-based Gildings Auctioneers’ Christmas Art and Antiques Auction on Tuesday at 11am.
For further information about the items and the sale, visit the auction house website.
