This Saturday we’ll be at Essex County Cricket Club for our end-of-year awards, celebrating the players, volunteers and performances that made 2026 one to remember.
This year the awards night also includes an auction of signed sporting memorabilia. There are eighteen lots in all, spanning cricket, football and rugby. They include prints signed by Fred Trueman and Denis Compton, a Shane Warne signed ball, Paul Gascoigne’s framed legends shirt and a run of items from England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup winners. There’s also a raffle for a signed Virat Kohli shirt, with tickets at £5 each.
Every pound raised will be split equally. Half goes to the club, and half goes to James Cook (JC’s son), who heads to Borneo in 2027 to help local charities build clean water systems and schools. While he’s there he’ll be teaching English and supporting conservation work, including rainforest replanting. If you can’t make it on the night, or you’ve already got your eye on something, you can place your bid in advance below.
How to Bid
Can’t make it on Saturday, or want to get in early on something? Advance bids are open now.
The Raffle
Raffle Prize
A signed Royal Challengers shirt from one of the greatest batters the game has seen. Kohli holds the record for the most ODI hundreds, has captained India in all three formats and was part of their World Cup-winning sides.
The Auction
From Fred Trueman and Denis Compton to Gazza and England’s 2003 rugby world champions, there’s something here for every sports fan in the club.
LOT01Limited edition 226/495
England’s spearhead through the 1990s and early 2000s, with 229 Test and 235 ODI wickets.
LOT02Signed print
133 Tests, 170 ODIs, more than 8,400 Test runs and a spell as captain. One of England’s finest keeper-batters.
LOT03Signed shirt
115 England caps and major honours with Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy and Paris Saint-Germain.
LOT04Signed by artist and Trueman · LE 70/100 · Certificate of authenticity
“Fiery Fred” was the first bowler to reach 300 Test wickets, finishing with 307 in 67 Tests.
LOT05Signed by artist and Compton · LE 64/100 · Certificate of authenticity
Middlesex and England’s great entertainer: 78 Tests between 1937 and 1957, nearly 39,000 first-class runs, and an Arsenal footballer too.
LOT06Signed cricket ball with montage
The man who brought leg-spin back. 708 Test wickets, a world record when he retired, and a World Cup winner in 1999.
LOT07Signed rugby ball · 1 of 2
From England’s 2003 triumph, sealed by Wilkinson’s extra-time drop goal to beat Australia 20–17. The first Northern Hemisphere side to lift the trophy.
LOT08Signed rugby ball · 2 of 2
The second signed ball from the 2003 world champions.
LOT09Signed by Boycott, Trueman, Close & Illingworth · LE 140/700
Four Yorkshire and England greats: Boycott the immovable opener, Trueman the first to 300 Test wickets, Close England’s youngest Test captain when appointed, and Illingworth, Ashes winner in Australia in 1970–71.
LOT10Limited edition 265/5000
11,953 Test runs for the West Indies, and still the record holder for the highest scores in Test (400*) and first-class cricket (501*, for Warwickshire in 1994).
–>LOT11Signed by the Warwickshire team
The shot that took him to 501, signed by the whole Warwickshire side apart from Lara, who was still at the crease.
LOT12Signed by the England team
Played at Lord’s to mark 100 years of Test cricket in England. Rain forced a draw, with Kim Hughes named Man of the Match for 117 and 84.
LOT13Signed · LE 5/500
The all-rounder and captain who made Warwickshire one of the dominant counties of the 1990s.
Framed · Certificate of authenticity
Gazza: 57 England caps, Italia 90, Euro 96, and as gifted a footballer as England has produced.
LOT15Framed
A framed Gascoigne cap alongside a signed programme, celebrating one of English football’s best-loved figures.
LOT16Framed
A framed, signed print from England’s World Cup win in Sydney.
LOT17Signed shirt
Signed by the squad that beat Australia 20–17 after extra time.
LOT18Framed with photo montage
The headline lot: a framed signed shirt and montage from England’s greatest rugby moment.
