Millwall fan bags home shirt from the only England international played at The Den – in 1911

A famous writer, whisky legend and lifelong football fan has paid thousands of pounds for a 1911 England football shirt – and says it’s the answer to his prayers after a 35-year quest to own one.

Jim Murray, regarded as the world’s best whisky writer, author of Whisky Bible, Millwall: Lions of the South and lifelong Millwall fan, drove from his home at the crack of dawn to reach Hansons
Auctioneers at Etwall, near Derby, hours in advance of their Sports Memorabilia Auction.

He ended his 35-year search for one of the shirts – he wanted it because of its connection to the Lions. It was worn in an England v Wales British Home Championship game at Millwall’s old ground, The Den, London, on March 13, 1911.

England won 3-0 in front of a crowd of 22,000. There has never been a full international game played at Millwall since.

The shirt – which almost ended up in a Wolverhampton jumble sale – sparked an intense battle between phone and internet bidders. But the Millwall fan, who was in the saleroom to bid, would not be beaten.

The hammer finally fell at £4,000 – four times the shirt’soriginal estimate of £800-£1,200.

Jim, 62, a former Fleet Street journalist who left newspapers behind to become the world’s first-ever full-time whisky writer, said buying the shirt was a dream come true.

He said: “I’ve wanted a shirt from that game since 1985 – that’s 35 years ago. I’m quite well known and have sold millions of books but my first book was Millwall: Lions of The South which I started writing in 1985. That’s when I knew I’d like to own a shirt from that game.

“In the book there’s a picture from that game in 1911 with players wearing the shirt. But after 35 years I’d all but given up hope of ever finding one. They barely come up for any nation pre-First World War, so I reasoned that the chances of finding one from the Millwall game must be next to nil.

“When I saw a story about the shirt online, I had to read it three or four times before it really sank in that one was coming for auction. It will be truly treasured. It’s a relic from a bygone age, something to be absolutely cherished. I will treat it with the respect it deserves.

“The first thing I will do is put it in the freezer to kill of any moth eggs. I will also be talking to a museum about the best way to preserve it.”

The historical treasure, which displays the three lions England badge, was uncovered in Wolverhampton by Hansons. Though records provide full team line-ups, it’s not known which England player wore the shirt – whoever it was swapped tops with Welsh international footballer Ted Vizard.

David Wilson-Turner, sports memorabilia expert at Hansons, said: “Just like today, players sometimes swapped shirts after a game. Vizard was playing for Wales, gaining his third cap in his first match against England. He swapped his shirt with one of the England players – we just don’t know which one.

“I’m absolutely delighted for Jim Murray – a lifelong football fan, sports memorabilia collector and legend in the world of whisky. There was no swaying him. He had to have it and it’s wonderful to
know it will be treasured.”

The seller, who did not wish to be named, said: “I’m pleased and surprised by the result – and delighted it will be going to someone who will really appreciate it.

The shirt was given to my mother about 50 years ago. She used to clean for Ted Vizard and his wife in the early 1970s in the Tettenhall area of Wolverhampton.

“She brought the shirt home one day and said the Vizards were having a clear out of items to send to a jumble sale. Mrs Vizard knew my mother had two sons and asked if she would like the England shirt from his first match playing for Wales against England. She told mum the shirt had been swapped after the game.

“My mother kept the shirt in a plastic bag in a drawer for years and occasionally got it out to show people and talk about how she was given it.

“My mother died two years ago and the proceeds from the sale of the shirt will be shared with my brother and sister.”

Ted (Edward) Vizard was born in Cogan, Wales, in 1889. The outside left joined Bolton Wanderers in September 1910 from Barry and made 512 appearances for The Trotters scoring 70 goals. He also notched up 22 international caps for Wales. He went on be a manager for Swindon, QPR and Wolves. He died at the age of 84 on Christmas Day in 1973.

The 1911 England football shirt was sold in a Sports Memorabilia Auction at Hansons, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire, DE65 6LS.