A DEDICATED family of football fans today vowed never to part with their treasured keepsakes - despite seeing a relative's memorabilia exchanging hands for big money.

Rare football artefacts fetched over the expected price at Sotheby's last week. Items included a William Townley England versus Ireland cap from 1890, sold to mystery buyers for £1,123, and a signed photograph of Blackburn-born England goalkeeper Jack Hacking which brought £172.

But Great Harwood-man Jack Hacking - son of former international 'keeper - knows he will never sell his dad's memorabilia.

Jack senior played in goal for Blackpool and Oldham, winning six caps for England before going on to manage Accrington Stanley.

Jack Jnr, and his son John, were also goalkeepers, both playing for Accrington Stanley.

Jack, 78, said he would never part with the memorabilia, which he has kept safe since his father died in 1955.

He said: "I've always treasured his caps and medals. People used to come to my dad and offer to buy them, but he always said that there wasn't enough money in the world, and I'd say that's still the case now."

The hoard is made up of three international caps, three inter-league caps and a winning medal from the Home International tournament. The oldest cap dates to 1926 when Jack made his international debut.Although Jack Jnr was a professional footballer for 16 seasons, and played in the same position as his father, he said he was never under any pressure to take up the goalkeepers' gloves.

His dad was manager of Accrington Stanley when he was playing for them, but he insists this did not help his own career. "He didn't do me any favours. He said I would have to stand on my own two feet."

Jack retired from professional football in 1960, to concentrate on a career as a wheelwright.

He still follows football on the television, but he says he is getting too old to attend matches.

He believes it is a completely different game compared with when he and his father were playing. When his dad was playing for England he was paid £8 a week - quite a difference to today's multimillionaire footballing superstars.