A Manchester United superfan is to pass on his memorabilia collection of over 70,000 pin badges through online auction this Wednesday.
Hugh Mortimer’s haul is believed to be the largest Manchester United memorabilia collection in the world.
It includes badges commemorating the Munich Air Disaster, as well as membership badges for a host of different supporter branches and homages to decades of footballing victories, and also includes a huge selection of books – from collector’s editions, to autobiographies – and flags, which have been flown at games home and away.
Speaking on the ever-growing collection back in 2018, the United superfan explained that he wanted to boost his collection of badges to 62,958 as a means of reflecting the anniversary date of the Munich Air Disaster – 6.2.1958 – but judging by the sheer number on offer this week, he’s definitely managed to exceed that number.
Hugh – who started badge collecting at the start of the millennium – said: “United are my one love in life.
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“I’ve spent my life demanding things of the team, because that’s what we do as fans and this is my small way of putting United in the record books and saying thank you for everything,”
He added: I left everything behind me to move to Manchester and be closer to Old Trafford and I’ve never regretted what I did. When I arrived here, I got a job on a stall outside the ground and I would be paid in badges instead of cash, it was a deal that worked well for me and the guy who owned the stall.
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“Some players didn’t have a badge, so I would have batches made up.
Charles Taylor Auctioneers
“My favourite badge is of Joe Jordan because he was my favourite player. He really battled for United and I loved him more than Bryan Robson or Roy Keane.
“He was everything.”
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The memorabilia collection is to be divided into around 300 separate lots at the auction.
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the auction will be fully hosted online by auctioneers Charles Taylor – who are based out of Salford – on Wednesday 28th October and bidders interested in the haul are encouraged to contact Charles Taylor as the auction house will be opening its doors by appointment-only for the two days preceding the auction.
Matthew Bateman – Director and Auctioneer at Charles Taylor – said: “As local auctioneers in the shadow of Old Trafford, we were humbled to be approached by the vendor to sell his lifelong collection of Man Utd memorabilia.
“We’ve sold lots of sporting collectors items in the past – a Stirling Moss signed racing suit and an autographed Ayrton Senna racing helmet to name a couple – but none that is as unique and special as this.
“As dedicated United fans ourselves, we’ve followed our team both home and away – so the significance of this collection really isn’t lost on us. We’re all season ticket holders ourselves so, whilst we can’t go and see our team play right now, we hope the winning bidders will take as much pleasure in owning their badges as we know the vendor did collecting them.”
You can find more information ahead of the auction via the Charles Taylor website here.
Sport
Salford confirms another ex-player as new CEO of phoenix rugby club
Danny Jones
As Salford turns the page of a new chapter in its rugby league history, ex-Red Devils player Ryan Brierley has been announced as the new chief executive officer (CEO).
His appointment was confirmed on Wednesday, 24 December, giving Salford rugby fans some fresh hope over the festive period.
Brierley, who played as a full back at Salford Red Devils from 2022 before leaving for Oldham RLFC halfway through last season earlier this year, follows fellow former player Mason Caton-Brown in returning to the team in a leadership capacity.
Sharing the news on his own social media, he wrote: “Incredibly honoured to announce I have been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Salford RLFC.”
His official statement goes on to read: “I would like to place on record my gratitude to the board members Malcolm Crompton, Mason Caton Brown and Paul Hancock for this opportunity. I would also like to thank the RFL and Salford City Council for their continued support.
“Lastly, but most importantly, to the Salford fans: what we had to go through last year was heartbreaking. I think I can speak to the wider Rugby League community and echo the sentiments of all fans that no club should ever go through that experience.
“Thank you for letting me lead this organisation into a new era. I’ve always said Salford people are my people and I will protect this club, with its best interests at heart. It is important [that] expectations are managed, and patience is required.”
He signed off by simply asking for the same support he was afforded as a fan, adding: “I have no doubt in my mind that you will go above and beyond, it’s just what Salford fans do…”
Led by the aforementioned Caton-Brown (a retired winger who played for the Red Devils between 2014-26), as well as another pair of directors in Hancock and Crompton, the Salford phoenix club has officially been given a Championship license for 2026.
Although relegation from the Super League and liquidation after 152 years were dark days for the club, this new consortium has already provided fans with some promising signs.
Besides saving the Salford sporting institution from total extinction, having previous members of the old outfit who know the bones, the stadium, the culture and the city so well is obviously a big bonus.
For now, it is a race against time to get a squad ready for the season opener against Brierley’s last team, Oldham – though contracts for a head coach and several players have reportedly been “pre-agreed”.
Featured Images — John Moorhouse (via Geograph)/supplied (via Rumpus PR)
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Manchester City have announced a special away day fan zone for festive fixture
Danny Jones
In a real added bonus for away fans making the roughly two-hour journey to their only fixture over the festive period, travelling Man City supporters are being treated to a dedicated away-day fan zone for their upcoming game against Nottingham Forest.
Now this is the kind of backing we want to see from big teams.
That’s right, for those visiting Nottingham for the meeting against the fellow Premier League side and one-time European Cup winners, Manchester City will be putting on a special and exclusive fan zone.
Confirmed on Christmas Eve ahead of the match this coming Saturday, 27 December, the club revealed a quick glimpse of the pop-up supporters’ park.
As detailed in the announcement, the public events space known as ‘The Nest’ will be open exclusively to away-ticket holders heading to the City Ground.
Perfect for a quick pit-stop before and after the clash, the venue is one of the closest you’ll find to the stadium itself and, better still, is located roughly just a 10-minute walk away from the railway station.
There will be a huge bar offering a wide selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, plus plenty of street food to enjoy. Here’s hoping the players don’t indulge in too many of those this Christmas, especially following Pep Guardiola’s ‘fatty’ comments.
They kick off at 12:30pm, but will everyone make the weight?…
Once again, Man City have advertised this as an away-day ticket-holder-only event, so we would probably call ahead and double-check if you’re a Blue who just so happens to live/be in the area and want to go along.
It also goes without saying that this will serve as an ideal and presumably trouble-free place to celebrate after the result, as it’s a strictly sky-blue event and we’d wager the title contenders and serial trophy winners to come out on top.
So, if you needed any extra assurance that making the approximately 81-mile trip to Nottingham, we’d say potentially going top at Christmas and cheersing a few pints with your mates on a would-be concourse designed just for you is plenty of added motivation.
As for those of you staying firmly in Greater Manchester this holiday season, there’s no reason you can’t still have a little away day of your own:
Emily Sergeant -
26th October 2020 
