Ex-Leicester man wins F4 CUP

A Leicester-born football fan yesterday became joint-owner of cherished vehicle number F4 CUP.

The plate came up for auction at yesterday's DVLA auctions at Stapleford Park, Melton Mowbray and was purchased for a five-figure sum.

Asked what he intended to do with it, the purchaser, a Northamptonshire-based businessman, said it was too early to say because 'we didn't expect to get it'.

However, it will undoubtedly be used for publicity purposes and possibly hired out on an annual basis to a director/player/fanatical supporter of the winning team rather than being sold on.

It may alternatively be hired out to a wedding car company in the Cup winners area to provide a bit of novelty for football ground/football fan weddings.

Still feeling shocked at the purchase, the new F4 CUP owner, whose father and brother are Leicester City fans said: 'As the sale time approached we kept looking round the auction room for top footballers or even Roman Abramovich because we would have been up against it big time competing with them.

'We honestly gave ourselves no chance of success but hearing that hammer fall was just like winning the famous trophy itself. It was the thrill of a lifetime.

Furthermore the price didn't seem so bad compared with some of the prices paid on day two...

For instance, 51NGH fetched a record £201,000 (£254,000 with costs), number 1 00 sold for £156,000 (£197,000), MR 51NGH £80,000 plus costs, K1NGS (£231,000 inclusive) and BA55ETT for £16,000 (plus costs).

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