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Sir Alf Ramsey World Cup scout reports to be sold

Edd Smith/BBC An open light brown suitcase with a photo of Sir Alf Ramsey and Bobby Moore inside, alongside other documents.Edd Smith/BBC
Sir Alf Ramsey (left) and Bobby Moore (Right) pictured holding the 1966 World Cup trophy

Football memorabilia that belonged to Sir Alf Ramsey - the manager of England's 1966 World Cup-winning team - is set to go under the hammer.

The suitcase of documents includes photographs of former England captain Bobby Moore and scouting reports from the then Manchester United boss Sir Matt Busby and ex-Luton Town defender Sydney Owen.

The documents were given to Sir Alf's neighbour, who he lived alongside during his spell as Ipswich Town manager between 1955 and 1963, after Sir Alf's wife died in 2018.

The items are set to fetch up to £1,500 when they are auctioned in Diss, Norfolk, on 28 November.

Edd Smith/BBC A man standing dressed in blue stood adjacent to the suitcase of memorabilia Edd Smith/BBC
Edd Smith/BBC A letter addressing Sir Alf Ramsey on Old Trafford, Manchester headed paperEdd Smith/BBC
Manuscript specialist Rob Henshilwood describes the collection as "unique"
Sir Alf received letters from some of the biggest names in 1960s football including Sir Matt Busby

The note written by Sir Matt, addressed to "dear Alf", said: "First of all, congrats - keep it up.

"I know you have knowledge of Portugal but [I] have included a report which may help.”

Rob Henshilwood, 41, a books and manuscripts specialist at TW Gaze auction rooms, described how the range of items reflect the "collaboration" of those who worked together to help England succeed.

"It’s so hands on as well isn’t it? It’s a world away from modern football management where you have a whole entourage," he said.

"This is all hand done and typed up, Alf Ramsey had a hand in all of this."

Handwritten scouting reports from club managers detailed the performance and strategies of opposing teams, including Germany and Switzerland.

One report contained hand-drawn diagrams depicting the formations of the Swiss team during a match in the tournament.

Edd Smith / BBC A handwritten letter in blue ink including a hand drawn diagram of the football players positions Edd Smith / BBC
The two neighbouring families became friends and would often go on holiday together, particularly to Austria and Germany

A programme for the training camp at Lilleshall in June 1966 outlined the full 40-name squad list nominated to Fifa.

It also included details of rooming arrangements for the players and mealtime requests for "first-class food" with "waitress service in the dining room" alongside instructions for "squash, milk and fresh food".

The documents showed captain Moore shared with players including Jimmy Armfield, Nobby Stiles and Alan Ball.

Jimmy Greaves was with the likes of Norman Hunter, goalkeeper Gordon Banks and 1966 World Cup Final goalscorer Martin Peters.

Hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst, meanwhile, was with Jack Charlton and Peter Bonetti.

Alongside the various letters, an Olympic assessment report into effects of altitude in Mexico City was also among the collection, demonstrating the beginnings of science being applied within sports.

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