ALAN Ball’s 1966 World Cup final shirt has fetched over £50,000 at auction today.

The Saints legend’s jersey was up for sale as part of an impressive range of football memorabilia owned by former England and Manchester United star Nobby Stiles.

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Convery Auctions, of Edinburgh, said the shirt worn against West Germany in the Wembley final 44 years ago had gone for £51,755.

Stiles gained the shirt after swapping it with Ball, who died in April 2007, after the match.

The highlight of the auction was Stiles’ 1966 World Cup winners’ medal.

It was bought by his former club, Manchester United, for £188,200 – slightly less than they are reportedly paying Wayne Rooney each week now.

The sum trumped the £165,000 fetched by Ball’s own World Cup medal five years ago.

Stiles, 68, made a total of £424,438 from his collection during the sale, with many of his 45 lots being bought by United for their club museum.

A spokeswoman for Convery Auctions said there had been interest in the sale from around the world, including Australia, Chile and the Far East.