John Lovell, rugby's greatest memorabilia collector (Dom Thomas)Over four decades, John Lovell has dedicated his life to collecting memorabilia and programmes which tell a fascinating century-long story of rugby.Over four decades, John Lovell has dedicated his life to collecting memorabilia…

Collector John Lovell has spent more than 40 years assembling a collection of roughly 550 vintage rugby programmes and memorabilia. His passion began in 1983 when he bought his first programme at a Scotland versus Wales match after selling a leek from his father's car aerial for 50p.
Stored in his Yorkshire Dales home, the collection features rare items including programmes from the 1973 Barbarians versus New Zealand match and the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Lovell prioritizes personal sentimental value over monetary worth, acquiring pieces through platforms like eBay and Vinted rather than high-end auctions.
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