Littlewoods league cup trophy sells for £320,000

Luton Town captain Steve Foster and goalscorer Brian Stein (right) celebrated the 1988 Littlewoods Challenge Cup victory with goalkeeper Andy Dibble (centre)

An original English Football League Cup trophy has sold for £320,000 at auction, more than 10 times its estimate.

The solid silver trophy – which at the time was called the Littlewoods Challenge Cup – was presented to winning teams in the late 1980s.

Highlights included the 1988 final, when Luton Town's Brian Stein denied Arsenal back-to-back wins with a last-minute goal, resulting in a triumphant 3-2 win.

The estimate was set between £20,000 and £30,000.

It was auctioned at a two-day sporting memorabilia sale by BUDDS, which is based in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.

The trophy was purchased by a private buyer.

The trophy far exceeded the estimate it was given of between £20,000 and £30,000

The ornate trophy was made in 1895 as the Viscountess Furness Cup.

It was repurposed as the Littlewoods Challenge Cup from 1986 to 1990, before the sponsor was changed to Rumbelows, and later Coca-Cola.

The tournament format was changed in 1992 due to the restructuring of English football, and it has been known as the Carabao Cup since 2017.

The League Cup is the second most prestigious knockout competition trophy in English football, after the FA Cup.

It is contested by the teams in the top four divisions, from the Premier League to League Two.

The trophy was awarded to teams in the late 1980s

The trophy is inscribed with its winners: Arsenal in 1987, Luton Town in 1988 and Nottingham Forest's double wins of 1989 and1990.

Former Luton Town winger Kingsley Black said he was shocked by how much it sold for and hoped it went to a local fan as it was a "significant part of the club".

He recalled that during a celebratory parade through Luton the cup was broken into two pieces.

"So obviously the repair has been successfully done to achieve such an amazing price at auction."