Nottingham Forest have arranged a deal with Viv Anderson to buy the European Cup winner’s medal that their former player had put up for auction.
Anderson, a two-time winner in Brian Clough’s team, had decided to sell his medal from the 1980 final against German champions Hamburg as a part of an auction held at Old Trafford, home of Lancashire county cricket club.
However, the medal was withdrawn from the auction at the last minute after an announcement that the former England international, now 68, had accepted an offer from his former club. The exact details were not announced but the reserve price was set at £10,000 to £15,000.
Evangelos Marinakis, Forest’s owner, made a personal intervention when he heard that one of Clough’s heroes was auctioning off his collection.
“Mr Marinakis has enormous respect for Viv Anderson, as well as all the European Cup winners, and recognises the importance of the club celebrating its rich history,” said a Forest spokesman.
“The medal will be a prominent addition in the club’s museum and we are delighted to acquire this important piece of history from one of the players who brought greatness to Nottingham Forest.”
It is understood Marinakis made a generous donation on top of the guide price.
Anderson, whose career also included spells at Arsenal and Manchester United, had also put up for auction his international shirt from the game against Czechoslovakia at Wembley in 1978 when he became the first black footballer to play for England.
The shirt attracted bids up to £29,000, making it by far the most expensive item on display. However, that means it registering as a no-sale because it did not meet the reserve price of £30,000 to £50,000.
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