Star Lee's sell-off will aid youngsters
Ex-England international footballer Lee Sharpe today said thousands of pounds raised at an auction of sporting memorabilia would go to his charity, helping establish soccer academies for disadvantaged youngsters in South Africa.
Ex-England international footballer Lee Sharpe today said thousands of pounds raised at an auction of sporting memorabilia would go to his charity, helping establish soccer academies for disadvantaged youngsters in South Africa.
The ex-Manchester United winger will also give some of the proceeds to his parents so they can treat themselves to a holiday in this country, as his mother is not a fan of flying. Seventy five shirts and match programmes went under the hammer at Fieldings auctioneers in Stourbridge at the weekend fetching almost £30,000.
A mystery bidder got two of Sharpe's United shirts paying a total of £3,150 – more than five times what they were expected to fetch. One was a shirt worn in the 1994 FA Cup Final against Chelsea and the other was the 1991 European Cup Winners Cup final shirt against Barcelona.
Halesowen-born Sharpe, who won eight caps for England, said: "I think it's fantastic. It always shocks me just how much people want to get their hands on footballing memorabilia.
"I think it's phenomenal and I hope the shirts and programmes have gone to good homes.
"I've got a few shirts left now but I definitely won't be parting with my caps or medals."
Fieldings director Nick Davies said: "It was a very successful sale. A number of the lots sold for far more than their estimates. The final figure for the sale of Lee Sharpe's lots was close to £30,000."
Items were gathering dust for years before he decided to part with them. He will give some of the money to the Lee Sharpe Foundation which works with an organisation called Ambassadors in Sport. The charity supports underprivileged youth and the cash is likely to go towards funding a coach and mentor. Sharpe has visited South Africa several times and will be going there again in October.
Recent fundraisers included an ascent of African mountain Kilimanjaro and a golf day in Manchester attended by ex-United players Dennis Irwin and Gary Pallister as well as actor Chris Bisson who stars in Shameless.
When asked if his golf is as good as his footy Sharpe said: "I wish, my handicap is six.
"It was a really good event and we had entertainment from Chico who got everyone rocking."
Sharpe says there may be some projects in the pipeline but nothing is confirmed. In the meantime he is being signed up as an after-dinner speaker and said he may have a date in the West Midlands. He was in Halesowen seeing family at the weekend. He says he regularly comes back to catch up with his parents, sister and brother.
