Steve Bloomer's England memorabilia sells for £320k
- Published
Steve Bloomer scored 23 goals for England
A collection of memorabilia of one of the best known footballers of his day has been sold at auction for £320,000.
The lot, auctioned in Penzance, Cornwall, was made up of caps, medals and pictures of former England star Steve Bloomer.
He scored 23 times in 28 games for England in the 1890s and early 1900s.
He is also the second highest all time goal scorer in top tier English league football having played for Derby County and Middlesbrough.
The lot failed to reach its estimate of £500,000.
Read more about football auction and other Cornwall and Devon stories here
Steve Bloomer is Derby County's record goal scorer
Author Peter Seddon has written books about Steve Bloomer and said: "He was the first of a breed that we are now familiar with - that of the superstar footballer.
"He was the first to play for money and he became a celebrity.
"He was football's first superstar and England's first popular footballing hero and like Beckham or Rooney, he was always the guy that popped up with the winning goal.
"He was the best known footballer in the country and so in the world because the game hadn't developed in many other countries. So he was more like Ronaldo or Messi if you want a modern equivalent.
"He was a household name - mention Steve Bloomer to anybody in the 1890s and they would instantly recognise him."
All about Bloomer
His career lasted between 1891 and 1914 and he played into his 40's
He scored 23 goals in 28 games for England
Played 525 times for Derby County and is the club's record scorer with 332 goals
The anthem Steve Bloomer's Watchin' is played at every home Derby game and there's a bust of him in the stadium
He also played 125 times for Middlesbrough
During the first world war he spent four years at a civilian detention centre in Germany
Sources: WH Lane & Son, Derby County FC