Fans' Billy bonanza at auction

Prized memorabilia belonging to former Wolves legend Billy Wright, including an England cap and a signed FA Cup final ball, will be going under the hammer.

Fans are expected to shell out thousands of pounds to get their hands on the items which will be auctioned on June 17.

The collection has been put up for sale by an anonymous Wolves fan.

See also: Archive: Tram tribute to Wolves legend Billy Wright

They include two of Billy Wright's ties, two programmes from the first Wolves home game after his death and a civic banquet dinner menu from Wolverhampton Civic Hall on April 29 1959. The lot is expected to collect between £250 and £300.

Some of the items, which will be auctioned by Bonhams in Chester, will be available for viewing at Molineux on June 9. One of Billy's England caps from 1958 for a match against Yugoslavia is expected to sell for up to £2,000 and a 1949 FA Cup final ball signed by former players - including Billy, Bill Shorthouse, Jimmy Dunn, Jimmy Mullen, Roy Pritchard and Jessie Pye - will also be going under the hammer.

A signed photograph of the Wolves team which won the former Division One championship in 1954 is expected to sell for up to £300.

Billy, who also captained England, was the first player in the world to reach 100 international caps and a solid silver ash tray given by the Portuguese FA to commemorate the occasion and valued at up to £1,000 will also go under the hammer.

He died 15 years ago at the age of 70.

Also up for grabs in the auction but from a different seller is a rare and sought-after original programme from Wolves' 1908 FA Cup victory over Newcastle valued at between £5,000 and 6,000. It may be the only surviving one from the game. Chris Hayes, Bonhams Sports Specialist said: "It is rare for a collection of this size to come on the market.

"We would expect a great deal of interest especially in the caps. Caps and programmes always sell well. There is quite a good range of different items available. We expect there will be interest due to the Billy Wright and England link."