The club MUST buy these items. There is no excuse not to. If they feel they are short of money then fine Maric 2 months wages for being a Croat and give the #200k straight to the lady. Any pretension of a club museum without these items is ludicrous.

If they don't buy them I will.

SOCCER legend Jackie Milburn's three FA Cup medals won with his beloved Newcastle United are to be put up for auction.

Wor Jackie's widow Laura has made the heart-breaking decision because the greatest player in United's history never earned the fortune his stature would bring today.

Wor Jackie's personal mementoes will go under the hammer but without question his three winners medals presented at Wembley in the early 50s will be the centrepiece of the collection.

Milburn, who established the No.9 legend at St James's Park, scored both goals which beat Stanley Matthews' Blackpool in 1951, helped Newcastle beat Arsenal 1-0 a year later, and then notched what was the fastest goal in Wembley history after 45 seconds against Manchester City in 1955.

Those feats established Wor Jackie forever in black and white folklore - thousands lined the streets of Newcastle for his funeral in 1988 and a bronze statue, commissioned by the Chronicle, was erected in his honour in the city centre.

Two of Milburn's England caps, plus a World Cup medal he was presented with in Rio in 1950, several personal contracts and trophies from his time with Linfield in Ireland are also up for sale.

Laura Milburn said: "It was a soul searching decision but one we as a family have sadly had to make. I've been 12 years on my own now.

"Jackie never made any money as a player and was self employed as a journalist after he finished playing. He had no pension we could fall back on.

"I've never had an expensive holidays but I've been happy with wonderful memories. He was a marvellous man who was just thrilled that he was able to play football. He never realised the esteem so many people held him in.

"We could never enjoy his cups and medals. They had to be locked away in a vault. I hope they go to people who will care for Jackie's memory."

Laura, who is moving to Morpeth, added: "I know Jack would understand what I'm having to do."

Two Milburn contracts with Newcastle, which are on offer, reveal that his wage was docked in 1956 - a year after United's third FA Cup triumph - from #14 to #12. Today players can earn #30,000 or more a week.

Wor Jackie, an Ashington pit lad, played 494 games for United between 1943 and 1957 scoring 239 goals after arriving at St James's Park with his boots in a brown paper parcel to take part in a public trial match when he scored six goals. An auctioneer in Morpeth is handling the sale.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

Answers

Fucking right the club must buy them.

Jackie played a massive part in the clubs history for pennies compared to that fucking greedy, bastard, hated, shitheed, croatian ugly bastard.

I wish someone would point that out to silvio.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

If they had any soul, the club'd give her the money and let her keep the medals. Out of interest, does anyone on here collect NUFC memorabilia?

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

Dan wrote: "Out of interest, does anyone on here collect NUFC memorabilia? "

Yeah, I think Spurs do.

It would be nice if the club helped out. But wouldn't it also be nice if the current number 9 bought the old number 9's medals? A nice tribute that would be.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

I don't know Screacher, can you imagine what Wapping would make of it:

Shearer finally gets his hand on a Toon winner's medal...but it's not his own

See pages 5-12 on hapless Geordie fool who turned down Heath twice... (conts p.94)

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2000

Maybe YBR will buy them, or one of the Charltons. want to put their pawprint (electronically) on my letter

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2000

PFA TO THE RESCUE??!!

PFA to save 'Wor Jackie' memorabilia? ++ The PFA have stepped in to save Jackie Milburn's football memorabilia after his widow was forced to put them up for sale. 'Wor Jackie' earned world-wide acclaim for his footballing skills but players in the 1940s and 50s did not earn such riches as the players of today do. Laura Milburn has been forced to put the memorabilia up for sale just to make ends meet. They are due for auction soon in Morpeth, Northumberland. However, it now seems as though the PFA may buy the medals and caps as they are keen to keep the game's prized possessions in this country. A spokesman for the PFA said: "When it comes to memorabilia, the union is proactive about keeping it in the game. "There could be a way that she does not have to sell the medals."

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-- Anonymous, June 28, 2000

Official website says NUFC is interested in buying the collection.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

Yes Pilgrim....but the official shite also says we are interested in buying a lot of new players....but we haven't yet!

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000