Rare Albion programme originally costing tuppence sells for £20,000

The monumental 1886 FA Cup final programme between West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers was made up of just a single sheet, featuring the team line-ups and an advertisement on the back.

Described as 'extremely scarce in football memorabilia', the programme was sold this week at Graham Budd Auctions in a 'Sporting Memorabilia' auction in London.

It was expected to sell for between £20,000 to £25,000 and was bought by a mystery bidder.

It is particularly important as it was Albion's first ever appearance at an FA Cup final.

Auctioneer Graham Budd said: "There was lots of interest in both programmes and we were happy with the final outcome.

"The Albion programme has joined a rare band of programmes that have been sold for such a high price. The world record is £30,000, so you can count the amount of programmes sold within this bracket on one hand really.

"I'm delighted with the price it was sold for, as any programme of this nature, pre-First World War, is exceptionally rare."

The programme would have originally cost a tuppence when new - equivalent to 1 pence in new money.

The match was played at the Kennington Oval, now the Test-playing home of Surrey County Cricket Club, to a crowd of 15,000 on April 3.

They beat Aston Unity, Wednesbury Old Athletic, Wolves, Old Carthusians, Old Westminsters and Small Heath Alliance to reach the final.

The match finished 0-0, with one of the rules at the time being both teams needed to agree for extra time to take place. Albion were keen to continue but Blackburn Rovers refused, forcing a replay a week later at Derbyshire County Cricket Club's Racecourse Ground.

Just moments after the Albion programme was sold, a 1921 Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Spurs FA Cup final programme was also sold for £850. It cost sixpence when new.

Wolves lost 1-0 to Spurs by a Jimmy Dimmock goal. The cup was presented by King George V.

Mr Budd added: "I was a little disappointed with how much the Wolves programme went for, as I expected it to fetch around £1,500 but £850 is still a good price."

In May the 1888 FA Cup Final programme, which saw the Baggies upset the odds to beat Preston North End 2-1 to bring the cup to the Black Country for the first time, was also sold at auction for £20,000 after originally costing 1 pence.