'Can I spit on it?' - England's stars of '86 reunited with 'Hand of God' ball 

The football from the famous defeat to Diego Maradona's Argentina is set to go under the hammer. 

CAN WE HAVE OUR BALL BACK: Former English football players Kenny Sansom, Terry Butcher and Peter Reid at an event at Wembley displaying the football used by Maradona to score the 'hand of God' goal at the 1986 World Cup quarter final. Picture: Matt Alexander/PA Wire.

'Can I spit on it?' snarls Terry Butcher as his piercing defender's eyes drilled into the battered black and white panelled adidas World Cup football he had not seen for 36 years.

Time is a great healer and the former England international has moved on, as he jokes for old team-mates Peter Reid and Kenny Sansom, but being up close and personal with the 'Hand of God' ball, for the first time since Diego Maradona punched it past his goalkeeping captain Peter Shilton, clearly stirs the formidable former centre half.