This Manchester United shirt from the middle of the 1984-86 era recently sold at auction for a whopping 13 times its estimate - £9000 rather than the predicted £600-800.
As is often the case, the sale proved the premium there is on Manchester United memorabilia, likely owing to the club’s enormous supporter base, and this example - match-prepared for the 1985 FA Cup Final at Wembley, which the Reds won - is a case in point.
Serving as substitute Mike Duxbury’s long-sleeved spare - the number 12 was wearing short sleeves when he came on at the beginning of extra time - the design carries no obvious branding referring to iconic German manufacturer adidas on the front of the trunk. It does, however, boast the legendary Sharp logo as sponsor, as well as match embroidery and a beautiful embroidered crest - the lattermost indeed featuring a tiny pair of adidas boots.
What the front of the trunk perhaps lacks, the sleeves and the reverse more than make up for. Full adidas logos appear on said sleeves, complete with wording, and the famous Trefoil sits at the foot of each flock-style digit on the back.
This item was sold by Graham Budd Auctions, a specialist in sporting memorabilia.
