Almost all printed copies of the Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers programme of 8 February 1958 were destroyed following the tragic deaths of eight of the Manchester United squad on 6 February in what became known as the Munich air disaster.
The game was subsequently cancelled, and the programmes binned.
One copy, however, has made its way to auctioneer Hanson Ross – and could achieve £5,000–£8,000 under the hammer.
Amanda Butler, director of operations at the Royston firm, said: “The vendor’s uncle worked in the Manchester print shop that made the programmes. Most were destroyed but his uncle kept one and gifted it to our seller.
“He also gave him a programme for a Manchester United v Nottingham Forest match on February 22, 1958, just a couple of weeks after the disaster. The two will be offered at auction together.
“For any football memorabilia collector this is an extremely unusual opportunity. Hardly any of the Manchester United v Wolves programmes exist and examples rarely come to light. We are aware of one which sold previously at auction for £6,200.”
The seller, 67-year-old Peter Jackson from Wembley, said he was parting with the programmes to ensure they go to someone that could take proper care of them.
He said: “You get to a time of life when you start thinking about what may happen to things that are important to you. I’m a Manchester United fan and I have owned these programmes nearly all my life so it’s a big deal to let them go. But they’re historically important and deserve to be preserved.
“They were given to my dad by his brother as a gift for me when I was a small child in the late 1950s. They were always meant for me. When I left home at 18 I took them with me. They have moved house a few times but I’ve always looked after them. They’ve been in a cardboard folder in a bedside drawer.
“I came across them again during a clear out and decided maybe now was the right time to sell. I’ve always known I’d have to let them go eventually.
“I hope they will go to a Manchester United fan or keen collector who will look after them for years to come to honour the Busby’s Babes who lost their lives.”
The programme was printed locally in Manchester by C. Nicholls & Co., of Philips Park Press, where vendor Peter Jackson’s uncle worked.
Nicholls himself was an impressive character, beginning life as the son of a bargee. While his first job was riding the horses along canal tow-paths, he would later become a successful printer and the owner of Cheshire Life.
