Fans on the look out for World Cup football memorabilia

With less than 20 days left for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, football memorabilia is selling like hot cakes.

"The iconic shirt worn by England star Geoff Hurst in the 1966 World Cup is up for grabs for a whopping 2.3million pounds - 25 times what it was sold for 10 years ago," reports The Daily Star.

Everything from World Cup medals to tickets are in great demand, as fans are gearing up to become a part of history.

Christie's auctioned Hurst's shirt, which he wore in the 4-2 drubbing of West Germany, for 91,750 pounds in 2000. If it sells for the asking price it will smash the 157,000 pounds record set in 2002 by Pele's 1970 winning shirt.

"It is an iconic image of the greatest moment in this country's football and sporting history," said property tycoon Andrew Leslau, who is selling Hurst's red No10 shirt.

Other 66 memorabilia were also sold.

The late Alan Ball sold his winner's medal in 2005 for 164,800 pounds. His cap also went for 43,200 pounds. Keeper Gordon Banks sold his 66 medals for 124,750 pounds in 2001.

The sale includes Hurst's spare shirt from 1966 worth around 8,000 pounds plus David Beckham's France 1998 World Cup suit, estimated at 400 pounds.

"The World Cup sale will do really well. Anything associated with World Cup players sells best. But anything linked to England's 1966 win does well," claimed Dan Davies, the sports consultant in charge of the sale.

"With people fed up with the banks and looking elsewhere for places to put their money it's a good investment for the future," he added.