Liverpool Icon Sammy Lee to Auction Prized Career Memorabilia
Former Liverpool and England star Sammy Lee is set to auction a significant collection of memorabilia from his distinguished football career, with hopes of raising around £100,000 for his family. The 66-year-old, renowned for his midfield prowess during Liverpool's dominant era, has decided to part with over 60 lots in a sale scheduled for next month in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.
Glittering Career Honours Up for Sale
During his playing days, Sammy Lee amassed an impressive array of trophies and accolades. As a key component of Liverpool's success in the 1980s, he secured five league titles, two European Cups, four League Cups, and three Charity Shields. Additionally, Lee earned 14 caps for the England national team, scoring twice. The auction will feature nearly all of his major medals, with each of his European Cup winners' medals anticipated to fetch approximately £15,000 apiece.
"Almost all of the major medals won by Sammy are included," confirmed auctioneer David Conery. "He has only kept back his first First Division winners medal from 1982 as a personal souvenir."
Family-Focused Motivation Behind the Sale
David Convery, head of sporting memorabilia at Budds, elaborated on Lee's decision, noting the strong current market for football collectables and the midfielder's desire to benefit his loved ones. "Sammy Lee is a Liverpool native and a club legend at Anfield," Convery stated. "The market is robust at present, and Sammy has observed contemporaries selling their footballing items. All proceeds are designated for his family and grandchildren to enhance their financial security."
The collection includes shirts and caps from Lee's international career, alongside the coveted medals, offering fans and collectors a rare opportunity to own pieces of football history.
From Anfield Academy to Coaching Dugout
Sammy Lee's journey in football began at the Liverpool academy, leading to a decade-long tenure at Anfield before transfers to Queens Park Rangers, Osasuna, Southampton, and Bolton Wanderers. Transitioning to coaching in 1993, he rejoined Liverpool's staff and built a lengthy career in the dugout, with spells at Southampton, Crystal Palace, Everton, and West Bromwich Albion. Lee also briefly served in the England set-up under Sam Allardyce in 2016.
This move places Lee among other former England internationals who have auctioned memorabilia, such as ex-Manchester United defender Paul Parker and goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who sold his iconic 'Hand of God' shirt.
