1966 World Cup hero to auction off medal

AFP - Nobby Stiles has become the latest player from England's victorious 1966 World Cup team to announce he is selling his winner's medal.
  
When the medal, which is being sold as part of the former Manchester United midfielder's collection of football memorabilia, is auctioned in Edinburgh next month, only Roger Hunt, Bobby Charlton and Jack Charlton from the 11 that beat West Germany 4-2 at Wembley will still possess the much-coveted prize.
  
Today top-flight footballers, as midfielder Stiles was during an 11-year career at Old Trafford that saw him win two league titles and the European Cup, can earn upwards of 100,000 pounds (154,598 dollars) per week.
  
But playing football in the 1960s, while well paid by the standards of the time, did not set a player up for life.
  
Stiles, 68, who suffered a stroke in June, said: "It was always my intention to leave the entire collection to my children.

"But I have three sons - how do you fairly divide up this sort of collection between them?
  
"They have each selected some pieces they would like to keep for themselves."
  
He added: "I'm as patriotic as the next Englishman and will always cherish my memories and the friendships I made in my playing days, but at this stage of my life I would rather have some control over the distribution of my memorabilia and know my family will benefit."
  
The sale includes Stiles's 1966 World Cup winner's medal (estimate: 100,000-150,000 pounds) and his 1968 European Cup winner's medal (estimate: 20,000-30,000 pounds)
  
The sale will take place at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh on Wednesday, October 27.