An iconic Leeds United tracksuit top worn by club legend Billy Bremner has set a new world record for the player's memorabilia.
The warm-up top, worn by the hard working Scottish midfielder during the club's league championship winning season of 1973-74, sold for £3,037 ($4,760) at PFC Auctions on May 24.
 Complete with upside down 'smiley badge' |
The Admiral tracksuit featured the famous "smiley" badge first introduced in 1973, which in this case had been stitched upside down. The tracksuit also included the name of the Leeds United captain on the back.
Notoriously superstitious, manager Don Revie introduced the striking badge in 1973, having jettisoned the traditional three owls version for a slanting "LUFC" script in 1971 due to his belief that birds in pictures brought bad luck.
PFC Auctions' Kylie Whitehead said: "Leeds United apparel from this era is so iconic, and Leeds fans absolutely adore Bremner. It's no surprise the tracksuit did so well."
The tracksuits were just one of several ideas introduced by Revie to give the team a competitive edge, as well as a more national appeal.
He changed the kit to all white in the belief that the colour was the easiest for players to pick out.
Revie also introduced numbered sock tie-ups, which the players would sign and throw into the crowd at the end of the match.
The previous record for Bremner memorabilia was a pair of his sock tie-ups from Leeds' shock 1973 FA Cup Final defeat to Sunderland, which made £352 at Sotheby's in 2001.
The consignor commented following the sale: "[PFC Auctions'] pre auction assessment of my merchandise was well founded and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount bid."
Bremner went on manage the club from 1985 to 1988, and was recently voted the club's best ever player. He died aged 54 in 1997 of a suspected heart attack.
