ORGANISERS of a sale tomorrow at the Wessex Auction Rooms in Chippenham have their fingers crossed for an England victory in Wednesday night’s semi-final for more reasons than one, as tomorrow (Friday) they are due to see 1966 World Cup memorabilia go under the hammer.

They are also expecting huge interest from fans of iconic English rockers The Who, for another lot features signed vinyl records and never-seen-before signed photos of the band.

Martin Hughes, director and auctioneer of Wessex Auction Rooms, couldn’t believe his luck when he found the envelope full of unique photos, individually signed by members of The Who, when he emptied out a box of vinyl records which had been left there after the centre held a valuation day.

They include a signed picture of drummer Keith Moon, who died in 1978, which gives it rareity value.

Mr Hughes immediately rang Kristian Horne, from Kent, who had left the records to be valued, to let him know what he had found.

Mr Horne was given the box of records by his aunt, sand said: “It took me by surprise. The photo’s had been left there for decades.

“My aunt Gaby McGee, who is was close friends with the band and started hanging out with them when they were known as the High Numbers, but their friendship fizzled out. She got some amazing shots.”

Mr Hughes said: “I called Kristian up and asked if he knew anything about them. He said his aunt knew the guys from The Who.

“She met them hanging around the side of the stage before they were The Who and they were called the High Numbers.

“She took photos of them and had the foresight to get them to sign the pictures.

“The only one being sold on its own is a really good shot of Keith Moon and he signed the front of it.

“It is amazing, and they are way more interesting than the vinyl themselves because they are so unique and no one has seen them before.”

Among the football memorabilia lots will be a football programme signed by the whole of the England 1966 World Cup winning team, and manager Alf Ramsay, and a 1966 World Cup brochure, along with tickets for the quarter-final, semi-final and final.

Mr Hughes added: “The brochure is from one of the qualifying games for the European Championships in November 1966, signed by the same line-up as the World Cup final.”

They will all be up for auction tomorrow at Wessex Auction Rooms, Westbrook Farm from 10.30am, along with other vinyl, guitars, music, film, postcards and stamps.