SAINTS legend Alan Ball has sold his World Cup winner's medal and cap for a record sum.

The 1966 medal went under the hammer at Christie's in London yesterday for £164,800, a world record for a football medal and an item of memorabilia from that World Cup.

His cup winning cap was also snapped up for £43,200 by the same mystery bidder.

The former midfielder, who made a crucial contribution to the tense World Cup final match against West Germany, had hoped to raise up to £120,000 for the medal and £25,000 for the cap.

He wanted to sell the treasured pieces of footballing history to provide for his family's future following the death of his wife Lesley last year.

The 59-year-old previously said: "Winning the World Cup in 1966 will stay with me forever, but it is time to look to the future, not the past."

Ball was just 21 and the youngest member of the legendary England team that secured the historic victory at Wembley.

He is best remembered for his energetic performance during the match, which included taking the corner that led to the second goal.

In extra time, Ball was the man who made the pass to set up Geoff Hurst for England's famous but controversial third goal.

He went on to join Saints in 1976, then turned manager and took the top job at both Southampton and Portsmouth.

In May last year, the grandfather and devoted husband lost his wife Lesley to cancer. It was this tragedy that prompted him to put the medal up for auction.

He told the Daily Echo in April that he wanted to secure the future for his three children and three grandchildren.

The previous record for a World Cup medal was held by England goalkeeper Geoff Banks, who sold his for £124,750 at auction.

The highest price for a footballer's cap until this week was £37,600, paid for Geoff Hurst's World Cup cap.