Liverpool legend Steve Nicol is putting a piece of club history under the hammer, auctioning off his 1986 FA Cup winner’s medal for the benefit of “true fans.”
The memento hails from one of Anfield’s most cherished eras: the 1985-86 campaign, a season defined by the Reds securing their first-ever domestic double during Kenny Dalglish’s debut year as player-manager.
Liverpool have enjoyed many successful seasons, but for the fans of that generation, it was one of the most enjoyable the 1985-86 campaign, as the Reds went on to win their first domestic double under Kenny Dalglish’s first season as manager.
Former defender Steve Nicol is now selling his 1986 FA Cup-winning medal later this month at Propstore auction house in London, which is expected to go for £20,000, according to the BBC.
This was the Scottish defender’s first FA Cup victory, which was followed up by two more in 1989 and 1992. He’s glad they are being auctioned so ‘true fans’ can pick up the memorabilia.
The mid-80s was a period of transition and triumph for Liverpool. Following the departure of Joe Fagan, the club took a bold step by appointing Kenny Dalglish as the first player-manager in top-flight history. What followed was a masterclass in leadership and clinical football.
The 1985-86 season saw Liverpool achieve their first-ever Domestic Double, winning both the First Division title and the FA Cup.
- The League: Liverpool trailed local rivals Everton for much of the season but mounted a relentless late surge, winning 11 of their last 12 games to clinch the title at Stamford Bridge.
- The FA Cup: The season culminated in an all-Merseyside final at Wembley. Despite going 1-0 down to a Gary Lineker goal, the Reds roared back with a brace from Ian Rush and a strike from Craig Johnston to win 3-1.
Nicol is auctioning prized possessions
The 64-year-old spent 13 years at Anfield from 1981 to 1995, where he had plenty of success alongside FA Cups, such as four league titles, two league cups and a European Cup.
In 1989, the Reds won another FA Cup against their same opponent, Everton. The shirt he wore in the final that day is up for auction and is expected to sell for £3,000 to £6,000.
Also available is Nicol’s Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year award, which he won in the same year.
There are many more items up for grabs, such as a match-worn shirt from the Rous Cup, where Scotland faced England in 1988.
The former Red spoke about the importance of this for fans to own items that are special in their hearts.
He said, “It means a great deal to know they’ll continue to be appreciated for years to come.”
Alastair McCrea, a specialist at Propstore, commented on having these lucrative objects accessible.
“It’s not often that material of this quality and provenance becomes available.”
A special player at Anfield
Today, he’s known for his punditry, but during his playing days at Anfield, he was one of the best to represent the club and is a legend on Merseyside.
When he initially arrived, he wasn’t a regular in the first team, as legendary defender Phil Neal was still a part of the squad.
After he left to join Bolton Wanderers in 1985, the Scotsman took the mantle as the right back in the squad and became a dependable option for the Reds.
At the time, he shared the pitch with many legends of the club, such as Scottish teammates Graeme Souness, Alan Hansen and his manager, Dalglish.
He made 458 appearances for Liverpool, helping the club remain a dominant force in English football during one of the club’s most successful eras, with the 1986 FA Cup final being a jewel in the crown.
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The 1986 FA Cup final remains a “jewel in the crown” of Liverpool’s history, representing the moment the city’s footballing divide was settled in the most dramatic fashion possible.
For Steve Nicol, the decision to part with these mementos is not about closing a chapter, but about ensuring the story of that legendary squad continues to be told by those who feel its pulse most strongly: the fans.
Whether it is the £20,000 FA Cup medal, the FWA Footballer of the Year award, or the shirts worn during the heat of battle against Everton and England, these items are more than just collectibles. They are physical reminders of an era when a versatile Scotsman and his teammates turned Anfield into an inescapable fortress.
As Nicol himself noted, knowing these pieces of history will be appreciated for years to come provides a satisfaction that rivals the victories themselves.
While the medals may find new homes at the Propstore auction, Nicol’s place in the Anfield pantheon as the dependable, marauding right-back who helped define the “Double” winners is permanently etched in stone.
For the true fans lucky enough to secure a piece of this haul, they won’t just be buying memorabilia; they’ll be becoming the new custodians of Liverpool’s golden age.
