Back in 1911, Jimmy Speirs scored the biggest goal in Bradford City’s long history, as they beat Newcastle United 1-0 in an FA Cup final replay at Old Trafford to lift the famous trophy for the first, and so far only, time.

Speirs sadly died six years later, killed serving his country in World War One at the Battle of Passchendaele.

But his legacy still lives on over a century later, with a flag at City’s ground last season commemorating his special place in the club’s history, and now, an online auction on December 1 will showcase some of his incredible memorabilia, which you can purchase.

There are a couple of Scotland caps from when he made his international bow in 1908, footage of the famous 1911 cup final, and the ball from the win over Blackburn Rovers in the semis that Speirs kept in his possession.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: There is surviving footage of City's FA Cup final win from over 112 years ago.There is surviving footage of City's FA Cup final win from over 112 years ago. (Image: UGC.)

On top of that, there are newspaper articles featuring him, cigarette cards and telegrams from both his football days and his time as a soldier in the war.

His granddaughter Liz Warner told the T&A: “It’s only in more recent years I’ve become aware of just what an important figure Jimmy was at Bradford City.

“Jimmy was my mum’s father, but he died when she was five, so she didn’t really know him, and his wife remarried.

“Because of that, and the fact my parents weren’t great talkers, I didn’t know a lot about him, though there were a lot of telegrams in the family relating to him being missing in action and then dying.

"But I saw the flag with his image on it at Valley Parade and I loaned a lot of his war and football memorabilia to the National Football Museum a few years ago.

“It was on display for three or four months and I wish I’d have gone up there, as I’d have loved to have seen it on display.

“There’s also memorial to him near Ypres in Belgium, close to the battlefield where he was killed, which commemorates what he achieved in the war and football.”

Asked why she had decided to auction the memorabilia now, Ms Warner said: “A lot of the items, other than his caps, have been sat in boxes for 30 years since my parents died.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Jimmy Speirs was capped by Scotland in 1908, the year before he joined Bradford City.Jimmy Speirs was capped by Scotland in 1908, the year before he joined Bradford City. (Image: UGC.)

“There was that reluctance to let it go, but it’s silly keeping it really when it’s not out on display.

“What it will achieve, we’ll see what happens on the day.

“I approached various auction houses but some of them didn’t even give me a response, which I thought was a bit unbelievable and rude given everything Jimmy had collected.

“But a big Bantams fan, and a really nice man, Andrew Pickles, set up a website about Jimmy years ago, and we’ve kept in touch.

“He pointed me in the direction of Sportingold Auctions, and they’re the ones running the online auction on December 1.

“I’ve no idea of the prices, as the company don’t value or place reserves on the items.

”The main thing is I’d love this memorabilia to go to someone who really appreciates it.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Cigarette cards of players like Jimmy Speirs were popular collectibles back in the day.Cigarette cards of players like Jimmy Speirs were popular collectibles back in the day. (Image: UGC.)

Ms Warner has also been in touch with others over the items too, keeping City’s commercial manager Davide Longo in the loop over what is happening.

She added: “I know (former City chairman) Mark Lawn bought Jimmy’s FA Cup winners’ medal for a lot of money several years ago, so I’ve written to him to see if there’s anything else he’d like.

“I’ve been back in touch with the National Football Museum too, just to see if they want anything of Jimmy’s.

“I would have loved to donate the memorabilia there, but it’s just not something I could afford to do.”