Reds’ legendary hard man Smith to sell medals

Former Liverpool captain Tommy Smith, pictured, is selling all the medals and memorabilia from his highly-decorated career at Anfield.

The tough-tackling defender made 638 appearances between 1963 and 1978, winning four league titles, two FA Cups, two UEFA Cups and the European Cup.

Smith’s collection amounts to 75 lots and is expected to sell for an estimated £120,000 (€142,000) when it goes under the hammer in Chester on February 22.

“I had a wonderful career but the memories I’ve got are more important to me than the medals and the shirts,” the 66-year-old told the Liverpool Echo.

“I’m not skint, I don’t have to do this, but I’m getting old and the money is of more use to me now than the medals.

“It’s not as if I’ve been used to having my medals all out on display at home and seeing them every day. I hadn’t seen them for about two years as they were in the bank and I just thought, what the hell are they doing there?

“They are worth an awful lot of money but no one is benefiting from them all just sitting there; it’s not helping me and it’s not helping my family. I want to ensure one day I’m able to leave them some money.”