Kit man 'Dukesy' all set to kick-off second charity auction

Our Head of Kit and Equipment, Steve Dukes, is ready to launch a second charity auction as he continues to raise money for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance in memory of his late father, Charlie, who tragically lost his life after a cycling accident in May, 2020.

Last year, in honour of his dad, ‘Dukesy’ auctioned a collection of signed shirts from all 92 Football League clubs. That auction, alongside a JustGiving page, has now raised almost £50,000 for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance.

Now Dukesy, ‘one of our own’, a Spurs fan who started working as a steward at the Club in 1987, has reached out to his many friends in football and other major sports to organise a second auction that will run online at Graham Budd Auctions, kicking off at 9am on Saturday morning (11 June) and running until 26 June.

“First of all, I want my dad’s legacy to continue,” said Steve, already beginning preparations for a busy 2022/23 campaign, which will be his 18th heading up the kit team. “That’s what it’s all about, really. I also want to continue to support Essex & Herts Air Ambulance.

“Also, it helps me. I found when the first auction finished, there was a big gap in my life outside what we do here every day. The first auction marked the first anniversary of my dad’s passing, I dedicated so much time to it and it kept me going. I still have times when I struggle coming to terms with it all, but I’ve found working on this auction so inspiring. So, it’s those three things, my dad, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, and me. Those are the things that have driven me to do it all again.”

There is a wider sporting appeal beyond football in this second auction, as Steve explained. “For Spurs fans, there’s a Sonny Spurs shirt and South Korea shirt, a Harry Kane shirt, an England shirt signed by Harry and the full squad as well.

“Hugo Lloris signed shirts and gloves, and donated a French t-shirt signed by the whole squad after they won the UEFA Nations League last season. That includes the likes of Mbappe, Pogba, another huge item. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg donated a Denmark shirt, signed by the squad. There’s a Christian Eriksen Brentford shirt, Joe Hart Celtic shirt and Dele Everton shirt. Jan Vertonghen also sent me a Benfica shirt.

“There are lots of Premier League shirts, including Ronaldo and Kevin de Bruyne, but also European teams, including an Ibrahimovic Milan shirt signed by the squad, a Coutinho Bayern Munich shirt signed by the squad, there’s even a Kulusevksi Juventus shirt signed by the Juve squad!

“We’ve really branched out this time to widen the appeal of the auction. We’ve items signed by some of the biggest names in sport, the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Tyson Fury, Conor McGregor, Owen Farrell and England rugby union, an Essex cricket bat signed by the team, including Alistair Cook, Jonathan Trott, who is a Spurs fan, has donated an Ashes shirt. How huge is that? Wrestler Finn Balor, another Spurs fan, has been great as well and donated a number of items.

“We’ve put together some brilliant items for the auction and I can’t thank enough everyone who has helped me along the way. It means a lot.”

Separately from the auction, anyone who wishes to make a donation to the cause, however big or small, can do so via Steve’s JustGiving page.