Photographer's vintage football shirts to be sold

A personal collection of vintage match-worn football shirts will go under the hammer in Shropshire next month to raise money for cancer charities.

The items were owned by Matt Ashton, a football photographer and Shrewsbury Town fan who died in 2025, 14 months after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

The auction will be hosted by Shaun Owen from football shirt shop 12th Man Retro in Shrewsbury, and includes kit from the likes of Dave Edwards, Grant Holt, Jermaine Grandison and Mark Atkins, as well as shirts from as far back as 1979.

It will take place on 11 April, before Shrewsbury Town's match against Oldham Athletic.

Ashton was the founder and owner of AMA Sports Photo Agency.

He started taking pictures for Shrewsbury Town at the age of 17, when it was based at the old riverside ground, Gay Meadow.

The opportunity led to him covering eight World Cups, 25 Champions League finals and tournaments in North America, Asia and Africa.

Being on the touchline, Ashton was able to collect Shrewsbury shirts from every era.

"They date back from the 80s all the way through, and with each passing shirt, there's a special moment connected to it," Owen said.

"We have all the classics, all the Wem Ales or the River Severn badge shirt from the eighties, the centenary.

"These shirts would have meant a lot to Matt, but I'm sure he would be absolutely delighted that they're going to go to Town fans, sold in Shrewsbury."

The shirts have been kept in the best possible condition, inside of a suitcase, Owen said.

"They're not battered, they're not wrecked, they've been kept in absolutely pristine condition.

"[The shirts are] not memorabilia, they're art, they're beautiful."

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