1966 World Cup medals, those sold, those saved, and an inheritance tax ‘disgrace’ | OneFootball

60 years after 1966, England’s World Cup medals have become traded artefacts, some hidden from view, and tax rules now complicate inheritances. According to NY Times, eight of the 11 player medals have been sold, with only Bobby Charlton, Jack Charlton and Roger Hunt’s remaining unsold.

West Ham bought Bobby Moore’s collection in 2000 and later acquired medals from Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters. The club says they are largely in storage, with occasional temporary displays. Manchester United purchased Nobby Stiles’ medal in 2010 and exhibits it.

George Cohen’s attempted 1998 auction fell short, so Fulham paid £80,000 and display his medal. Alan Ball’s sold in 2005, then again in 2018 for £252,000. In June 2026, Gordon Banks’ medal failed to sell against a £220,000 reserve. Ray Wilson’s was sold in 2002 and again in 2014, now part of Nigel Wray’s Priory Collection.

Many sales were driven by care costs or practicality. Stiles, later found by a coroner to have died from high-stage chronic traumatic encephalopathy linked to repeated heading, said he had little choice, his care reportedly cost £125,000 a year. Wilson and Hurst cited easing the burden on children and the impossibility of dividing such items.

Hunt’s medal is kept at Liverpool’s museum and the family intend never to sell. Bobby Charlton’s is on show at Manchester United. Jack Charlton’s family say inheritance tax has led them to return his medal to his widow, calling the situation a “disgrace”. HM Treasury says exemptions cover state honours, with sporting medals treated as private assets.

Source: NY Times