GOING going gone!When ex-speedway boss James Easter decided to clear out his cupboards it was not a bin bag he needed but an auction.Mr Easter, who is well-known for successfully managing the Australian, USA and England teams found thousands of pounds worth of speedway and Ipswich Town Football Club memorabilia hidden away in boxes forgotten over the years.

By Victoria Knowles

GOING going gone!

When ex-speedway boss James Easter decided to clear out his cupboards it was not a bin bag he needed but an auction.

Mr Easter, who is well-known for successfully managing the Australian, USA and England teams found thousands of pounds worth of speedway and Ipswich Town Football Club memorabilia hidden away in boxes forgotten over the years.

"This is a life time collection and it was just sitting in my house doing nothing. A friend of mine said that I should do something with it and I decided he was right," he said.

Some of the pieces up for auction include Ipswich Town programmes from as far back as 1936. There will also be race jackets and trophies from his time as a manager.

When the 1936 programme was bought it would have cost two pence in old money – today the auctioneer has said it should sell for between £100 and £150.

Nick Barber, who runs Leisure Collectables, will be selling the items for Mr Easter. He has already had interest from an Ipswich Town fan in the USA.

"Some of these pieces really are wonderful. There is even a map found in an old World War 11 plane showing where the German bombers were going to hit in Ipswich. Stuff like this is really rare.

"Many people will not do this and will just throw things out. I hear horror stories of people throwing stuff like this away but there is something they can do with it," he said.

Mr Easter said he would just like to see all his collections go to a good home.

"It would be nice if some of the Ipswich Town programmes could stay in the region but really I would just like to see them go somewhere they can be appreciated.

"I had a heart attack two years ago and that helped me to put things in perspective. I have no family to leave it all to, so why not sell it to people who really want it?" added Mr Easter.

The auction will take place on September 15 at the Marriott Hotel, Nacton Road Industrial Estate, Ipswich.

If you think you may have some hidden sporting treasures you would like to sell then call 01394 278499 or 283266.

Or go to www.leisurecollectables.com.