A PIECE of North-East footballing history is going under the hammer in aid of animal charity, the RSPCA.
The autographed football was used in the 1974 testimonial match of Middlesbrough player Bill Gates, between Boro and Leeds United, and is autographed by both teams.
Alison Parkin, secretary of the RSPCA's Durham and district branch, said: "A member of the public donated the football to our charity shop in Langley Moor for us to sell and raise money for our work of rescuing and re-homing animals in the Durham area. The ball has been mounted in a perspex box.
"We would be very grateful to anyone interested in acquiring this bit of footballing history to put in a bid at Thomas Watson's Auctioneers, where it is lot No 168 and is going under the hammer tomorrow, at 10am."
The ball can be viewed today, between 9am and 5pm, and tomorrow, from 9am to 10am before the auction.
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