A file of memorabilia relating to the renowned artist Harold Riley, who died earlier this year, and projects conducted for Manchester United’s legendary manager Sir Matt Busby is being auctioned by Graham Budd Auctions next month.

It’s being offered as part of a much wider mammoth two-day Sports Memorabilia Auction, that includes a number of standout lots such as the 2022 World Cup Final football, full run of FA Cup football programmes, offered over separate lots, a cricket memorabilia collection curated by David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd, a selection of items from the career of Thomas ‘Tom’ Wilson, a Pelé match-worn shirt (and, separately, some celebratory artwork) and much more besides.

The memorabilia offered by Harold Riley features an artist’s proof for a Sketchbook featuring a portrait of Sir Matt Busby, signed by both the artist and the subject; an original pen and ink drawing signed by Riley, dated ’93 and titled “The Old Stretford End”; a National Sporting Hall of Fame brochure autographed inside by Harold Riley, Sir Matt Busby, George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law; and a pen and ink doodle of The Old Stretford End signed by the artist and additionally by Bryan Robson, Nobby Stiles and Norman Whiteside.

With an address book to rival any A-lister Harold treated everyone he met the same, with warmth, affection, and respect, artist Harold Riley died aged 88 in April, leaving a vast legacy of work which ranges from portraits of Prince Philip and Pope John Paul II to the backstreets and characters of his home city. (You can read a tribute by Neal Keeling of the Manchester Evening News here).

The auction also includes plenty of signed sports equipment, an illustrated 1948 London Olympic Games Official Report, published by World Sports (and much more memorabilia relating to that post war event); 1908 London Olympics memorabilia, including the original artwork for the 1908 London Olympic Games gold medal winner’s diploma by the artist Sir John Bernard Partridge (1861-1945); and artwork, both caricatures and cartoons.

These include a Roy Ullyett newspaper strip, presumably for the Daily Express, presumably commenting on Australian cricketer Dennis Lillee‘s behaviour in the Tests in 1979, when he caused an ill-mannered furore by opening his innings using an aluminium bat. The cartoon suggests Mr Lillee was his mouth out with soap!

Another Roy Ullyett cartoon on offer also gently compares Alf Ramsey with 1966 World Cup mascot World Cup Willie.

There’s also a smashing drawing by Daily Mail and Punch cartoonist Leslie Illingworth (1902-79) “Village Cricket”, featuring a village cricket match with assembled crowd, with title in pencil “Village Cricket, ‘Aye, trade must be improvin’, That’s the third time in two overs that Evans the grocer ‘as ‘eard is shop bell go and ‘as ‘ad to run back and serve in the shop”.

If you’re fan of Leslie Illingworth’s work for Punch magazine, don’t forget you can buy official prints of his cartoons and illustrations.

There don’t appear to be any comics gems among the plethora of magazines, medals, caps, art and match programmes on offer, although a copy of the 1905 Football Post Cartoon Book did catch my eye, which includes the comic history of the game. The 32 page booklet comprises cartoons relating to football from the Nottingham Football Post, many drawn by the cartoonist R.I.P, and many relate to East Midlands area teams, including Forest, County and Derby plus Leicester Fosse.

Wellingborough-based Graham Budd Auctions are the UK’s leading specialist auctioneers of sports memorabilia. Their vast range of expertise includes Football, Rugby, Golf, Cricket, Tennis, Boxing, Horse Racing, Motorsports, Olympic Games, and other popular sports.

• Sports Memorabilia Auction 6th – 7th July 2023 Graham Budd Auctions, Unit 18 Leyland Trading Estate, Irthlingborough Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN8 1RT Web: grahambuddauctions.co.uk| The-Saleroom Auction Link

• If you’re fan of Leslie Illingworth’s work for Punch magazine, don’t forget you can buy official prints of his cartoons and illustrations

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John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

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Categories: Art and Illustration, Auctions, downthetubes News, Events, Other Worlds

Tags: Daily Express, Dennis Lillee, Football, George Best, Graham Budd Auctions, Harold Riley, Leslie Illingworth, London Olympics, Olympics, Pelé, Punch, Roy Ullyett, Sir John Bernard Partridge, Sir Matt Busby, World Cup Willie