Fan Buys Unique Shirt Collection

An Anglesey property developer last week secured the purchase of a unique collection of football shirts.

Tony Pritchard forked out £15,300 for 92 signed shirts donated by every Premiership and Football League club as collected by Cornwall-based Wrexham fan Neil Williams.

Pritchard said he was delighted the money was going to struggling Wrexham FC fans trying to save their debt-ridden club.

The shirts went under the hammer at a Sotheby's Olympia auction a few weeks ago but failed to reach the reserve price of £10,000.

Mr. Pritchard had read about Neil's disappointment in local paper the Daily Post and contacted Sotheby's.

"We did some negotiating and agreed a price," said Pritchard, who runs Pritchard Development (North West) with his three sons.

"With the cost of framing every shirt, we are talking more in the region of £20,000...

" But it is worth every penny," said Pritchard, who started collecting sporting memorabilia, including rugby and soccer balls as well as cricket bats, a decade ago.

He added: "I would like to put the shirts on display somewhere.

"But my ultimate aim is to open a museum or exhibition centre devoted to sport - possibly on Anglesey."

Wrexham-born Neil said: "After the disappointment of failing to sell the shirts at auction, I am really thrilled that Tony has come in to buy them."

After commission is deducted, Tony expects to hand over around £13,000 to Wrexham Supporters Club, which will help the Supporters Trust’ as they look to help the club by offering them £3,000 a month to help with running the club.