World Record Month at GBA
Between 6 May and 6 June, Graham Budd Auctions delivered one of the most successful stretches in its history. In just over four weeks, five headline results - including three world records - marked a clear shift in collector confidence, bidding behaviour, and the growing value placed on football heritage.
From iconic match-worn shirts to rare printed ephemera, the appetite for football memorabilia with strong provenance is only accelerating. Here’s how the month unfolded.
The Stretford End Bench – Hammer Price £40,000
Auction: An Auction of Two Halves, 6 May
Estimate: £800–£1,200 | Final Price: £51,500
This wooden two-seater, removed from the Stretford End during Old Trafford’s 1992 redevelopment, smashed expectations to become the most valuable football bench ever sold at auction.
With its seat numbers - 41 and 42 - still visible and its provenance backed by MJ Finnigan Demolitions, bidders recognised it as something more than furniture: a tangible piece of matchday history. With fresh discussions around a potential £2bn stadium rebuild, the demand for authentic Old Trafford relics has never been stronger.
Ferenc Puskás’ Real Madrid Shirt – £40,000
Auction: Scottish Sporting Memorabilia Auction, 21 May
Estimate: £3,000–£5,000 | Final price: £51,500
Worn in a 1965 European Cup tie against Kilmarnock and swapped post-match with Tommy McLean, this No.10 shirt once belonged to one of football’s greatest-ever goalscorers.
Puskás, the prolific Hungarian captain of the Golden Team and three-time European Cup winner with Real Madrid, scored 746 goals in 754 games. His shirt now holds the Auction Record for a football shirt sold in Scotland - and sets a new benchmark for shirts linked to football’s elite.
Tommy McLean’s 1972 Rangers Shirt – £19,000
Auction: Scottish Sporting Memorabilia Auction, 21 May
Estimate: £15,000–£20,000 | Final price £24,400
Worn at the Nou Camp when Rangers defeated Dynamo Moscow 3–2 in the 1972 European Cup Winners’ Cup Final, this long-sleeved Umbro shirt came directly from McLean’s personal archive.
Embroidered with the details of that historic night, the shirt now holds the auction world record for any match-worn Scottish football shirt - a fitting result for one of the most iconic nights in the club’s European history.
Arsenal v Scots Guards Programme – £15,000
Auction: June Sporting Memorabilia Four-Day Auction
Estimate: £4,000–£6,000 | Final price: £19,300
Dating back to 22 February 1890, this charity match programme is the earliest known Arsenal home programme in existence. Despite its fragile condition - with folds, tears and missing sections - collectors were quick to recognise its historical significance. The final hammer price set a new auction record for any Arsenal programme.
Wolves v Everton 1893 FA Cup Final Programme – £17,000
Auction: June Sporting Memorabilia Four-Day Auction
Estimate: £10,000–£15,000 | Final price: £21,800
Printed for the 1893 FA Cup Final at Manchester’s Fallowfield Ground, this single-sheet programme survived 130 years with only tape repairs and creases to show for it. Its rarity, coupled with the iconic status of the fixture, helped it become the most valuable FA Cup Final programme ever sold at auction.
May and June delivered a clear message. Demand is growing, confidence is strong, and items with authenticity, story, and emotional connection are setting new standards.
As more collectors enter the market - from seasoned investors to new-generation fans - the focus continues to shift toward quality, provenance, and cultural significance.
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