World Cup collection is part of social history'

The World Cup collection of Sheffield fan Mark Watterson reflects England’s 1966 triumph and how memorabilia can endure as social history. Although Watterson was born the year before England’s only World Cup win, he says the milestone became his defining passion. He started collecting after meeting 1966 hero Geoff Hurst at a Sheffield United match in 1980, when he was 13, and the conversation “snowballed.” Over the past 40 years, Watterson has assembled items including tickets from every England game before the final against West Germany and a final programme acquired at Bramall Lane in 1983. A quarter-final ticket vs. Argentina is described as unused. He also holds a signed replica final shirt, with signatures from the 10 surviving players after Bobby Moore’s death in 1993; Geoff Hurst is the only remaining member of the winning squad. Watterson, 58, has met multiple players and has considered what will happen to the collection after he is no longer able to maintain it.