IT is one of the rarest pieces of memorabilia in football – an England World Cup winner’s medal.

Now Saints legend Terry Paine has decided it is time to put his prized 1966 memento up for sale.

The 72-year-old, who was a member of Alf Ramsey’s squad when they famously lifted the World Cup on home soil, will auction off his winner’s medal in October.

It is expected to fetch up to £25,000 when it goes under the hammer.

Terry, who is also selling a host of other memorabilia collected during his career, said: “In some ways I am sad to see it all go.

“But these things have just been sat in a vault doing absolutely nothing.

“It comes to a stage where you’ve got to decide exactly what you want to do.

“If you split everything among your family, who do you give what to?

“Obviously, there are some bits that are more valuable than others, so it’s very difficult.

“I think the best way to go about it is to put it up to auction.

“I’ve still got the memories, and that’s the important thing.”

Terry, who made a record 815 appearances for Saints, only received his winner’s medal two years ago.

As he did not play in the final – a 4-2 win in extra-time against West Germany – he was not entitled to one at the time.

However, that was put right in a special ceremony at 10 Downing Street in 2009.

Terry, who is spending a week in England after flying over from South Africa, where he now lives, hopes the medal will find a good home.

He admitted his ideal scenario would be for it to end up at Saints.

“It would have been nice for my World Cup medal to end up at St Mary’s, to go alongside my first England cap, which is there,” he said.

“But it will go on the open market in an auction, so we’ll have to see.

“I would like the items to be bought by somebody who really appreciates what they’re all about. I’m sure that will be the case.”

Saints did buy Peter Rodrigues’ 1976 FA Cup winner’s medal for £10,200 when it was auctioned in 2004.

Terry’s World Cup medal is not the first belonging to an ex- Saints player to be auctioned – Alan Ball’s went for £165,000 in 2005.

Included among Mr Paine’s other memorabilia is the medal he received when he was voted on to a list 100 legends to celebrate the Football League’s centenary in 1998.

The items will be auctioned by Bonhams in Chester on October 5.