IT is without doubt one of the most prized pieces of Chester FC memorabilia – but Blues legend Gary Talbot is still pinching himself at just how much his ‘Famous Five’ photograph sold for.

The classic shot of Gary, Mike Metcalf, Jimmy Humes, Elfed Morris and Hugh Ryden was the star lot in the auction at Saturday’s ‘125th Anniversary of Chester FC’ celebration bash at Chester Racecourse.

The Chronicle had been taking sealed bids for the framed picture featuring all five signatures of the net-busting quintet in advance of the sold-out event, but those were blown out of the water when a Blues fan made a winning bid of £1,050 on the night.

Gary, 72, of Eccleston, said: “I am over the moon. It was an absolutely wonderful gesture by the person who bought it. I don’t know who it was, but I did try to find him and I would like to meet him in the future just to pass on my thanks.

“It is a tremendous amount of money and it totally exceeded my expectations.”

The picture was taken at Sealand Road to immortalise the Famous Five’s incredible feat of scoring 138 of Chester’s 141 goals in the 1964-65 season.

The auction featured a host of other items, such as a framed 1974-75 replica Chester shirt and match programmes from the club’s League Cup run, which sold for £825, and a ball signed by both the Liverpool and AC Milan players before their thrilling Champions League final in Istanbul, which sold for £510. The auction alone raised more than £5,000 for Chester’s war chest.

It also brought the curtain down on a memorable night attended by more than 500 Blues supporters. Also present were former Chester players Stuart Rimmer, Colin Woodthorpe, Gary Bennett, Graham Abel, Milton Graham, John Butcher, Paul Carden, John Kelly, Mal Starkey, Grenville Millington, Gary Talbot, Bob Delgado and John Evans, along with former chairman Ray Crofts.

Blues manager Neil Young, first-team coach Gary Powell and players Greg Stones and Mark Connolly were also in attendance and it was Young’s rousing speech that helped lift spirits after England’s disappointing World Cup draw with the USA, which was shown live on screens in the racecourse’s pavilion suite.

As cries of ‘Chester are back’ echoed around the room, the inaugural Harry McNally Trophy was presented to the Chester stars of the past who played under the much-missed former Blues manager. From next season onwards, the trophy will be awarded to the club’s player of the year.

Talbot summed up the feelings of all those present when he said: “It was a wonderful night for the club. Now everybody cannot wait for the first game to watch our club again.”