A CHAMPIONSHIP winner's medal and other items of rare Notts County memorabilia are to go under the hammer at an auction.
The items are being sold off by the family of legendary Notts County defender Tommy Deans.
The Scotsman – dubbed firm but fair in his time – helped Notts win the Division 3 (South) Championship in 1949-50 and played in the same Magpies side as England international Tommy Lawton.
Mr Deans was still living in Nottingham when he died in 2000, aged 78.
His family are now preparing to sell off more than 50 lots at auction next week, including the Division 3 winner's medal.
Iris Smith, chairman of the Notts County Supporters' Club, said: "The idea of all that memorabilia possibly going to people not living in Notts is distressing.
"I'd love to see the club buy it. Chairman Ray Trew is very interested in the history of the club so I'm sure he will look very closely at it.
"I'm sure there will also be quite a few Notts fan who would like to buy bits and pieces. It would be lovely if they came back to Notts where they belong."
Mr Deans, born in Shieldhill, near Falkirk, signed for Notts from Clyde in 1949 for £7,500.
He made 253 appearances for the Magpies between 1949 and 1955, earning a reputation for his tough performances on the left side of the Notts defence.
Despite that, he was never booked or sent off during his professional career.
His first season at Meadow Lane saw Notts win Division 3 (South), sometimes playing in front of crowds of 45,000.
Mr Deans' memorabilia is due to go under the hammer on March 15 at Special Auction Services, in Newbury.
The championship medal is inscribed "T Deans, Notts County" and in its original case. It is being sold in a lot valued at between £1,000 and £1,500, which also contains an embroidered shirt badge, a postcard of the Notts squad, a VIP issue souvenir booklet of the 1949-50 season, and a newspaper cutting showing a picture of the squad.
Other Notts-related items up for sale include a programme from the club's centenary game against an England XI in May 1962, a toy World Cup Willie, the mascot of the 1966 World Cup, and a Supporter's Club Dinner Menu from 1939.
Jamie Dixon, head of media at Notts County, said: "It is sometimes perhaps too easy to overlook some of the players that played alongside Tommy Lawton, simply because his very presence in the team has, in many ways, defined that era.
"However, any player that formed part of a championship winning side, especially one who went on to make over 250 appearances for the club, simply cannot be overlooked and has to be considered a true Notts great.
"That Tommy Deans' family have so much prestigious memorabilia from his time at Notts County says a lot about the player and his significance in the club's history.
"No doubt the auction will draw a great deal of interest not only from Notts County supporters, but football fans in general and those looking for a unique piece of sporting memorabilia."
For more details about the auction lots visit www.specialauctionservices.com.
