Historic Rangers Vs Benfica 1948 Match Programme To Fetch £1,000 At Auction

A piece of football history, a 76-year-old match programme from Rangers' first post-war international fixture, is set to be auctioned next month. This rare collectible, from the friendly match against Benfica in Lisbon on 10 February 1948, has been given an estimated value of between £800 and £1,200. The auction will take place at Glasgow's Trades Hall on 10 April, with the programme's details going live online this Friday.

David Convery, an auctioneer and expert in sporting memorabilia, has highlighted this item as one of the most scarce Rangers and Scottish post-Second World War match programmes to be found. Despite some wear, including a taped spine—a consequence of the paper rationing of the era—it is expected to attract significant interest from collectors and potentially exceed its guide price.

The programme's journey into the hands of Neil Brown, a collector from Edinburgh, is a story of chance. In the early 1960s, when Brown was just 11 years old, his Sunday school teacher gifted him a random selection of old programmes, unknowingly including this valuable piece. It wasn't until decades later that Brown realized the significance and rarity of his possession.

Over the years, Brown has amassed a diverse collection of memorabilia spanning sports and music. However, with intentions to downsize, he has decided it's time for this unique item to find a new home. The timing of the auction coincides remarkably with Rangers and Benfica facing off in the Europa League, decades after their initial encounter.

The 1948 match itself was historic for several reasons. It marked Rangers' second post-war match abroad and their first-ever meeting with Benfica. Played at Lisbon's Estadio Nacional, Rangers emerged victorious with a 3-0 win in front of an estimated 60,000 fans. The match also played a part in a personal love story; former Rangers player and manager Willie Waddell met his future wife Hilda on the flight to Lisbon for the game.

This auction not only offers a tangible piece of football history but also celebrates the enduring legacy and international friendships formed through the beautiful game. As this programme prepares to change hands, it serves as a reminder of football's ability to unite people across generations and geographies.