Two keen bidders have pushed the price of the pair of boots worn at the 1953 FA Cup final up to £38,400 well above the estimate of £8,000. Sports consultant at auctioneers Bonhams, Dan Davies, said; “I’d previously said I would be delighted if they fetched £10,000. I didn’t expect them to go for so much.”

The leather boots had been specially made for Matthews by Heckmondwike footwear company Goliath, otherwise known as the Co-op Boot Company. They were made very light for him so he could have extra speed on the wing.

Matthews won the 1953 FA Cup Final wearing them, starring in Blackpool’s 4-3 win over Bolton Wanderers, after the final he gave the boots to fan Wilf Coomer, but was not until recently that the boots were rediscovered. As part of the lot, the winner also got a cup final ticket and a April 2001 magazine article detailing how Mr Coomer would travel to Blackpool for home games and met up with Sir Stanley for lunch, before walking to Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road ground, where he would join the Matthews in the dressing room.