World Cup: What happened to England's 1966 shirts?

England's 1966 World Cup win remains their sole triumph on the greatest footballing stage. The enduring symbol of that victory has come to be the simple red shirts worn by those who made it on to manager Alf Ramsey's team sheet, but where are these "national treasures" now?

"Some people are on the pitch! They think it's all over! It is now!"

BBC commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme's words rang out on TV sets across the nation as Geoff Hurst fired the ball high into the West net, ensuring England would lift the Jules Rimet Trophy.

The 11 men who took to the Wembley turf had secured the country's greatest sporting success, their names to be ed by generations of football fans.

Adorned with only a crest and number - and, in somewhat of an irony, broadcast to 32.3 million people in black and white - the scarlet shirts are arguably the most recognisable symbol of that win and carry a cultural and monetary value belying the modesty of their design. Sadly, not all survive.

"Half the team swapped their shirts with the opposition and most of those have never been seen again," explains Jim Drewett, editorial director of Vision Sports Publishing, which has just released Three Lions on a Shirt: The Official History of the England Football Jersey.

"At the time players didn't consider the value they could have in the future. It was a completely different world.

"As time has gone on, they have become national treasures. [Midfielder] Martin Peters said swapping his shirt was the biggest regret of his life."

Goalkeeper Gordon Banks (who wore yellow) and defenders George Cohen and Ray Wilson also exchanged jerseys with West German players - as did forward Roger Hunt and midfielder Bobby Charlton.

Decades later, Drewett says, Charlton asked his counterpart Uwe Seeler if his shirt could be returned only to be told it had been thrown away.

His brother Jack, who died two years ago, is believed to have kept his, although his family were reluctant to discuss the matter when ed by the BBC.

Another swap - this time between England team-mates - led to what may be the most unusual story associated with the team's historic attire.

When midfielders Alan Ball and Nobby Stiles exchanged jerseys during the lap of honour, no-one would have expected Stiles's shirt to make its way into the window display of a Bolton television shop.

Ball, the book's authors say, returned from holiday to find his mum had washed the keepsake.

When the next World Cup began in Mexico, in 1970, Ball's parents loaned it in return for a new TV set which allowed them to watch their son play in colour.

"That's my favourite story of all," says Drewett. "I'd love to find a photo of Nobby's shirt sitting in the shop window."

By 2010 it was no longer in the Ball family's possession and made its way to auction where it sold for £75,000.

The man who purchased it was Nigel Wray, former owner of Saracens Rugby Club. It was not his first '66 final shirt, though. Nor would it be his last.

In 2006, he had secured Cohen's jersey for £38,400 when it was auctioned by the family of the late German player Lothar Emmerich.

A decade later, he bought hat-trick hero Hurst's number 10 top via a private treaty when it failed to reach its £300,000 reserve at Sotheby's. The jersey had initially been sold by the striker in 2000 for a then-record £91,750.

Entrepreneur Wray believes he has "the three most-important" '66 final shirts.

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