A suitcase containing an archive of material having belonged...

Estimate

£1,000 - £1,500

A suitcase containing an archive of material having belonged to Sir Alf Ramsey (1920-1999) and relating to his tenure as manager of the England national football team for the FIFA World Cups in 1966 and 1970, mainly preparation for the aforementioned FIFA World Cups, several documents with original manuscript pen & ink notes by Alf Ramsey, other material including some original Autograph Letters Signed and Typed Letters Signed to Alf Ramsey, some copies of Typed Letters Signed and copies of other documents, some associated ephemera etc, documents relating to World Cup 1966 include Autograph Letter Signed from the Leeds United first team coach Syd Owen (1922-1998) to Alf Ramsey together with Owen's 7pp manuscript scouting report of West Germany v Switzerland 12th July 1966, the ALS 1¼pp on Leeds United headed paper "Dear Mr Ramsay, Please find enclosed report on the German v Switzerland game which I trust you may find helpful in the future. May I take this opportunity on behalf of all at Elland Road to wish the England team success in the future games. Please extend my best wishes to my club colleagues Les, Jack and Norman. I would have liked to have written a more comprehensive report, detailing each player, but morning and afternoon training has limited my time. Kind regards, and every success to your efforts. Yours sincerely, Syd Owen", the 6pp m/s scouting report on the same sized paper (26.5 x 21cm), "Germany v Switzerland Tuesday 12th July Hillsborough. Ground conditions: perfect surface. Result Germany 5 Switzerland 0. After seeing this game the general opinion I formed is that the German side are thoroughly fit, resolute in everything they do, tactically well drilled, and I consider will go a long way in this competition. It was obvious after the first 15 minutes that Germany would dictate the game with strong defensive in their own half, supported by speedy attacks against the Swiss...the German defenders never allowed the Swiss forwards an inch of freedom in which to work...The Swiss centre forward was opposed throughout the game by No. 6 (Weber) allowing No 5 (Schulz) to act as a sweeper behind a defensive line consisting of the following players [m/s diagram below showing the formation of the 10 outfield German players with arrows for directions in which individual players operate in relation to each other/within the team structure]... Schulz works laterally across the field covering his colleague being attacked with the ball. The following situation arises when the opposition gets into advanced attacking positions on the flanks (Diagram) [with diagram on following page]. The diagram shows the Swiss outside right... v Schnellinger with Schulz on the cover...the tendency is for man for man marking... Held the O.L. (No 10) can catch pigeons (a real flyer). Not much craft when on the ball... Beckenbauer and Haller attack when the situation is on and Overath No 12 is a neat player with good control... All the goals were well taken, illustrating the tremendous confidence that the individual had in his own ability as a finisher..." etc etc, with typed letter reply by Alf Ramsey thanking him for the report, plus Autograph Letter Signed from Manchester United manager Sir Matt Busby (1909-1994) to Alf Ramsey, together with a typed scouting report by Busby on Portugal, both on Manchester United headed paper, the ALS "Dear Alf, a note in haste - first of all congrats - keep it up - I know you have knowledge of Portugal but have included a report which may help. Wembley final the next stop is the wish of Yours Truly, Matt", the typed scouting report "The Portuguese defence is not a walled-up effort and they come out playing. Both backs come in hard but are inclined to play very square. They play tight on the wingers. BAPTISTA is not over dominant in the air. Flankwise he can be a little suspect...Of the countries we have seen, the Portuguese forwards have been the most dangerous, particularly EUSEBIO, who will take on players and hit every conceivable ball from 30 or 40 yards... I do suggest Eusebio should be tightly marked for the whole of the game.", plus another 3 page manuscript scouting report on Brazil v Hungary played 15/7/66, not signed, unknown hand, plus further scouting reports incl. 3½pp typed report West Germany v Spain by Alan W. Brown of Sheffield Wednesday FC, 6¼pp typed report signed by Alan Brown of Sheff. Wed. on various matches and teams, dated 19th July 1966 and others similar; 6½ pages of manuscript pen & ink notes by Alf Ramsey outlining a provisional training programme, training programme and schedule for the England football team throughout June and July 1966, provisional programme 4½pp "The Football Association. World Cup 1966. Provisional Programme. Headquarters - 6th to 17th June Lilleshall Sports Centre. 20th to 24th June Hendon Hall Hotel. 8th to 21st July. Hendon Hall Hotel. Programme. Monday 6th June. Assemble Station Hotel, Stafford by 1pm for luncheon. Proceed by coach to HQ after luncheon. Allocation of rooms. Meeting of full party to discuss programme. Activities. Tuesday 7th June. Medical Check. Ball Practice. Physical Training. Activities... Thursday 9th June. Medical check. Ball practice. Physical training. Open afternoon for press etc. Activities. Friday 10th June. Ball practice. Team practice. Tactical practice. Activities...Sunday 12th June. Medical check. Golf...Tuesday 14th June. Team practice. Tactical practice. Golf. Activities. Wednesday 15th June. Tactical practice. Open afternoon for press etc. Team practice. Activities. Thursday 16th June. Team Practice. Tactical Practice. Physical training...Monday 20th June. Assemble Windsor Hotel Lancaster by 1pm for luncheon. Training at ---- [Wembley Stadium crossed out]. Anglo American Club as guests of honour. Tuesday 21st June. Training [al day crossed out] at [Roehampton crossed out] Wembley 3pm...Friday 24th June. Depart for Finland. Report London airport 10.40am. Finnair flight AY832. Depart at 11.25am. Arrive Helsinki 3.10pm L.T... 25th June Training in Helsinki... 26th June England v Finland... 27th June Depart for Norway... 28th June Training in Oslo... 29th June England v Norway... 30th June Depart for Denmark... 1st July Training in Copenhagen... 2nd July [ditto]... 3rd July England v Denmark... 4th July Depart for Poland... 5th July England v Poland... 6th July Depart for England. Report Warsaw Airport 8.40am... Arrive London 12 noon. Connecting flights to be arranged. Players Disperse on arrival... 8th July Assemble at Windsor Hotel 4pm. Training at Highbury [Stamford Bridge crossed out]... 10th July Training at Wingate evening [Roehampton all day crossed out]. Monday 11th July Training at Wingate. England v Uruguay... 13th July Training at Highbury [Roehampton or golf crossed out]. France v Mexico... 15th July Training at Roehampton. France v Hungary... 16th July Training at Wingate. Morning. England v [France crossed out] Mexico. 17th July Golf [----?]... 18th July Training Highbury Undercover... 19th July Training at Roehampton all day. Wednesday 20th July. Training at Wingate", attached with paper clip above this, 2 page m/s document by Ramsey similar with short day by day schedule for the team with daily entries from 8th July to 30th July, outlining where the team will be meeting, training, dates and times of all other group games, potential plans for the team if progressing through knockout stages to final, etc "...23rd July Quarter Finals. If qualifying will be playing at Wembley or Sheffield. If Wembley arrangements as above. If Sheffield leave for Sheffield 21st July after luncheon. Training at Sheffield Ground on 22nd July... 26th July Semi Final at Wembley 7.30pm. If playing in quarter final at Sheffield and qualifying for Semi Final at Goodison Park leave Sheffield for Liverpool on evening of 23rd July. Training at a Liverpool Ground on 24th and 25th... 28th... Play off for 3rd and 4th Positions 7.30pm... 30th July Final. Wembley. 3pm", above this clipped a 3 page typed version of the programme with manuscript pen & ink notes and corrections by Ramsey; plus 5½pp manuscript pen & ink notes by Ramsey on plans and preparations regarding the England team at Lilleshall, June 1966, notes include on accommodation, training facilities, films, food, coaching and medical staff, daily allowance for players during competition stated as £2, match fees stated as £60 per match for players, £30 per match for reserves, "Incentive bonus for winning World Cup £22,000 [possibly £2,000 or £22,000?]. 366-13-4 per match per player", list pf previous International football matches with scores, etc, the group of documents with typed document clipped at top headed "World Cup Party at Lilleshall: June 7/17, 1966. Notes of Meeting between Mr Ramsey and MR Whitehorn of the Football Association & Mr J. Lane of the C.C.P.R."; plus several other documents relating to World Cup 1966 and England's build up and preparations for the tournament, some with Alf Ramsey's manuscript pen & ink notes, including Lilleshall training camp June 1966 typed rooming lists for players and staff, list of 40 players nominated to FIFA, separate programme for the FA Summer Tour to Finland, Norway, Denmark and Poland 20/6/66-6/7/66, m/s by Sir Alf and typed with his m/s notes, International Senior Committee minutes of a meeting 21/7/1964, being analysis/report on summer tour to Eire, USA and Brazil, “Arising from the discussion the following points were agreed:- … The results of England’s participation in the Four Nations Tournament was most disappointing. [England lost 5-1 to Brazil, 30/5/64, in the Taça das Nações, or “Little World Cup”] If England want [want m/s crossed out by Sir Alf and replaced with “are”] to be successful in the World Cup of 1966 improvements were necessary in some positions particularly the forward line. Younger players should be given the opportunity to gain experience…in future matches. Higher standards must be sought in:- 1. Individual performance in basis [sic] skills. 2. Accurate and decisive passing. 3. Aggressive and accurate shooting and heading. 4. Thought and application and means of applying these to the game…TRAVELLING ARRANGMENTS. It was considered unsatisfactory that the team should arrive in Rio the day prior to their first match after travelling overnight by air, and to be accommodated in a poor hotel in Sao Paulo. Particular attention should be given to these matters in the future…Although the touring party was made up of outstanding players from The Football League, very few compared with players of other competing countries and players with experience, such as, Charlton and Greaves have not justified themselves when playing in competitive International Tournaments…There was strong support to a suggestion that Moore be given further opportunities of proving his worth as Captain. The question of an incentive payment as an alternative to a match fee was deferred…Officials who attended the meeting were of the opinion that a valuable purpose had been served as a basis for Team planning and building for the next two years.”, senior tour report FA continental tour of Yugoslavia, West Germany & Sweden, 6/5 to 16/5 1965, marked “Private and Confidential”, International Committee Meeting 3rd July 1965, 5 page document titled “Provisional Training Plans Brazil 1966” detailing plans/programme for the Brazil team March 21st to July 10th 1966, showing detailed training schedule in Brazil March to May, subsequent travel to Sweden in June and plans for matches and training, then travel to Manchester 7th July with some plans before commencement of World Cup 1966, UEFA and FIFA documents 1965 & 1966, FA report on World Cup 1962, programme for World Cup in Sweden 1958, FIFA technical study on World Cup 1966 by Dr. A Foni, Swiss coach, and the same by Alf Ramsey, others similar by Lajos Baroti, Hungary coach, and Juan Carlos Lorenzo, Argentina coach, etc; plus good quantity of similar documents for Mexico 1970 World Cup, including altitude training preparation, prior research on suitability of various hotels for England team to stay at during the World Cup, several hotel promotional booklets and brochures, headed paper etc many with manuscript pen & ink notes by Alf Ramsey including 4pp notes by him on Hotel Maria Isabel, Mexico City, 1pp notes Gudalajara Hilton, etc etc, suggested daily programme for England team for duration of stay/tournament in Mexico with some m/s notes by Ramsey, letters/reports on Brazil team in lead up to tournament, TLS from José Antonio Roca, Mexican FA, to Alf Ramsey, typed letters from British Embassy Mexico City to Alf Ramsey and FA, 1969, kit order, press release, docs relating to prior visit to Mexico of England team, typed note re Bobby Moore bracelet incident, Bogota, May 1970, travel instructions, British Olympic Association medical report into effects of altitude in Mexico City in 1965, various other documents, research, letters about effects of competing at altitude, etc etc, post tournament technical study of tournament booklets etc; plus a folder containing several documents on the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, mainly on various teams and the groups drawn together in, England failed to qualify and Ramsey was sacked by the FA on 1 May 1974, another 3 page typed document "Sir Alf. Questions that need answering for a synopsis. Part One. 1 When did you know you had been sacked?..." etc etc, plus a few contemporary black & white photographs and a copy of the book 'England the Alf Ramsey Years', by Graham McColl, 1998, 1st edition, original pictorial boards. A unique and fascinating collection giving insight into England's historic World Cup 1966 victory and Alf Ramsey's tenure as England manager, the FA and football management of the period. Provenance: Provenance: From the Estate of Mrs Elaine Coupland. The Couplands were close friends and neighbours of the Ramseys, both living in Valley Road Ipswich from the 1960’s. They often holidayed together in Austria and Germany, and remained friends in later life. These documents were gifted to Mrs Coupland and were subsequently found amongst her effects after she died in March of this year.