The National Football Museum reopens next month, with England’s 1966 World Cup winning ball considered its most treasured item.
But if it had not been for the Daily Mirror, exactly 25 years ago, it would still be languishing forgotten in a German cellar.
Sir Geoff Hurst scored the only ever World Cup final hat-trick with the ball in the 4-2 victory over West Germany at Wembley.
But it was not, as tradition dictates, given to the striker after the match.
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It disappeared and for 30 years no one knew where it was.
Detective work by the Mirror in 1996 discovered German midfielder Helmut Haller took it.
He put the ball in his cellar to stop his son playing with it.
Mirror reporter Peter Allen was the first to Germany as a bidding war broke out over the ball.
We ended up paying £80,000 for it so it could be reunited with Hurst before being given to the country.
Former Mirrorman Peter, who brought the ball back with Haller and World Cup winner George Cohen, recalled: “It was an extraordinary few days.
“It was incredible that the ball had been forgotten about for 30 years.
“And I was very proud to play my part in bringing the ball back to England.
“One of my great memories of that week was when we had brought the ball back to England and we went to a little football club in Essex called Hatfield Heath FC.
“There we had Geoff Hurst, the West German international goalkeeper Hans Tilkowski and the original World cup ball.
“They re-created the disputed 'did it cross he goal on Hatfield Heath's ground, which is called "Calves Pasture', as bemused dog walkers passed by.
“It certainly was a surreal experience!”
In the run-up to this summer's delayed Euros – with the semi finals and final being played at Wembley – the National Football Museum is expecting huge interest in supporters wanting to see the ball.
The ball is expected to be the item most fans want to see when the museum in Manchester opens its doors again on May 27.
Chief executive Tim Desmond said: "The 1966 World Cup Final ball is among the most iconic objects in our Football Heritage Collection.
“The museum is set to reopen from 27th May.
"Tickets have gone on sale and we are excitedly preparing our galleries to welcome back visitors.”
He added: “They will be able to see these ‘crown jewels’ of 1966.”
