ONE of English football’s most iconic figures Nobby Stiles made more than £400,000 yesterday by selling his treasured medals gained during his most distinguished playing career.

And at least Manchester United proved there is a little bit of the corporation that cares for one of their own.

The Red Devils paid a sum of £188,200 for Stiles’ 1966 World Cup winning medal, meaning that little piece of history will be displayed at Old Trafford.

Of course it is a real shame that one of the greats from the past has been forced to sell his prized possessions - but that is the way football, and sport in general, has gone.

People like Stiles didn’t earn life changing amounts of money and the spoiled multi-millionaires of today cannot really hold a candle to the players of the past.

Manchester United deserve praise for paying out but Wayne Rooney could have earned a few brownie points at the sale.

With his record breaking pay rise confirmed, Rooney could have bought the World Cup medal and had an obscene amount of change from his weekly wage.

Maybe his agent Paul Stretford could have advised him better. That would have been a real top PR stunt...and it would have done much to repair the damage caused to the beautiful game in recent months.

But instead Rooney was sipping champagne in a Dubai swimming pool.

It would have been a smashing touch - but at least Stiles picked up a pay day.

Just a shame it had to come to that.