A NEWCASTLE United shirt given to cheer up football-mad Robert Scott during a long-term hospital stay turned out to be one of the most famous shirts in the club's history.

Robert was just 13 when his father gave him the top worn by the legendary Jackie Milburn when he scored what for many years was the fastest goal in a Wembley cup final.

Robert is now 40 and living in Leighton Street, South Shields.

He decided to sell the shirt "Wor Jackie" pulled on for the 1955 final against Manchester City, in which he scored with a celebrated header after 45 seconds.

The shirt, signed by Jackie, will be sold by Sotheby's in an online auction on football items. It is expected to fetch between £2,500 and £4,000.

Father-of-two Robert, who is unemployed, was in Stannington Hospital in Northumberland when his father, who knew Jackie Milburn, arrived with the shirt.

Robert went to see Jackie when he left the hospital.

He said: "I was gobsmacked.

"Selling it was a hard decision to make, but I am unemployed and I can't afford to have the shirt restored."

He took the jersey to a Sotheby's valuation visit at the Stadium of Light, in Sunderland, earlier this year.

The online site is open for bidding from September 19 to October 2.

Sotheby's soccer specialist, Graham Budd, said: "The Milburn shirt is a major item.

"He is a Tyneside folk hero through and through, and you would hope the club or local museum would come for it."

Jackie scored 177 goals in 353 league appearances for United and 238 in an overall of 492 outings.