A MEMENTO of the biggest day in Southampton Football Club's history was today due to be sold at auction.

Peter Rodrigues' treasured FA Cup winner's medal was due under the hammer after it was put up for auction by his daughter Amanda behind his back.

The devastated football legend has failed in his attempts to retrieve the medal after learning earlier this month that Amanda, who lives in Bolton, Lancashire, had decided to sell the souvenir.

It is understood Mr Rodrigues had given the medal to Amanda as a keepsake about ten years ago.

Auctioneers Sportingold Ltd confirmed today that the medal presented to the Saints captain following the Saints' shock 1-0 win over Manchester United in 1976 was still up for sale.

Director Chris Williams estimates the prized possession will fetch between £8,000 and £10,000.

He said: "There has been a lot of interest in the Southampton area and across the country.

"Although we do get FA Cup medals coming up for auction quite frequently the Southampton ones are very rare because they have only won the FA Cup once.

"Including the team's substitute there are only 12 medals which is a limited number and three of those have already been sold."

Mr Williams said he had spoken to Amanda and was satisfied that she had the legal right to sell it.

"We have talked with her and she still wants to go ahead. All the legal paperwork is in order and she has the legal title to the medal."

Around 100 people are expected to turn up to the football memorabilia auction at Northampton Town Football Club, although hundreds of telephone bids are also expected.

There is little chance of the medal returning to Saints' home after a Southampton Football Club spokesman yesterday said the club had no intention of buying the memento.

Mr Rodrigues, who retired from football just a year after lifting the cup, had faced a race against time to get his medal back after he was contacted earlier this month by the Daily Echo.

It is understood the 60-year-old former Welsh international had spoken to his daughter and that solicitors are now dealing with the matter.

The medal, which is being sold in its original case, is inscribed on the back with FA Challenge Cup Winners and Mr Rodrigues' name as captain.

It was handed to him by the Queen, the last year she presented the FA Cup and medals to the winning team.

Fellow team members Peter Osgood and Jim Steele are thought to have already sold their medals.

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