United goalie gets his hands on cup-final keepsake

FINDERS keepers: former United ’keeper Jack Crompton and his wife Sheila show off the 1948 cup final programme and (below) the United team from that day

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SOME things in life are far too special to put a value on — as collector Phil Shaw found when sold a 1948 FA Cup final programme.

The man who came to buy it was none other than 90-year-old Jack Crompton, the former Old Trafford goalkeeper and last surviving member of the Manchester United team that beat Blackpool 4-2 on that April afternoon.

Phil (48), who lives in Cleveleys, said: “Jack’s wife Sheila rang to inquire and to make sure it was genuine asked me to run through the team.

“When I said the goalkeeper was Jack Crompton, and she said that was her husband, I was gobsmacked!

“I bought the programme at an auction and thought it would draw interest from a Blackpool fan when I advertised it. My intention was to make some money.

“But when Jack appeared I was so honoured he had come to my house, I was like a little kid.

“I’ve loved Manchester United all my life and there I was, meeting the club’s elder statesman — the man who helped Matt Busby during the glory days of the 1960s. I’m so proud.

“I was asking £100 for the programme, but when Jack turned up I felt it belonged to him.

“Jack insisted I took the money, but while we were together I learned he was involved with Kingfisher School in Oldham. So later in the day I put his £100 into a collection box for a charity that provides Blackpool holidays for terminally-ill children.”

Jack, from Chadderton, added: “I wanted the programme for my wife really. I never saved anything from those days. I never gave them any thought or imagined they would ever be worth anything.

“Sheila wanted the programme and we were so excited we hardly slept the night before we went to Phil’s house.

“It’s nice to have something from the 1948 era and as we left, I gave the programme to my wife.

“Phil was fully entitled to the £100 but I’m delighted he chose to give it to charity.”


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