PFA Centenary Auction - a tribute to the stars featured in this unique collection

Following yesterday's launch of one of the greatest auctions of football memorabilia in the history of the game - all part of the on-going PFA Centenary celebrations - we take a look back at the careers of the 34 players whose framed, signed shirts make up this unique collection. The organisation's 'One Goal, One Million' campaign is moving ahead at full speed and money raised from the auction will go towards £1million target we are hoping to raise to fund a treatment and rehabilitation unit at a new Children's Hospital in Manchester. Here's a Centenary tribute to the first four winners of the PFA Players' Player of the Year award...starting with Norman 'bites yer legs' Hunter...

1974
NORMAN HUNTERPosition: Defender; Born: Eighton Banks, Gateshead, 29 October 1943; Country: England; Teams: Leeds United, Bristol City, Barnsley; Football League/Premiership Record: 676 + 3 Appearances, 22 Goals. Playing career: 1961 to 1983.

Norman Hunter was renowned as one of the most effective and uncompromising central defenders throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Rarely beaten in the tackle, he was also a talented player who was able to distribute the ball with accuracy to his colleagues.
Norman was raised on Tyneside, and after leaving school began an apprenticeship as an electrical fitter before being recruited by Leeds United. The Elland Road club struggled for form at the start of the 1962-63 season and early in September manager Don Revie introduced a string of youngsters, including Norman, for the fixture at Swansea. Leeds won 2-0 and this was effectively the start of the revolution that transformed the club into one of the major powers in English football.

Norman immediately became a fixture in the line-up, partnering Jack Charlton in the centre of the defence. Leeds went on to win the Second Division title in 1963-64 and 12 months later came close to the coveted League and Cup 'double, finishing as runners-up to Manchester United for the League title and losing out to Liverpool in the FA Cup final. Over the next decade Leeds were always in with a shout of honours, although often narrowly missing out.
However, Norman was a member of two Championship winning teams (1968-69 and 1973-74), and gained an FA Cup winners medal (1972) and two Inter Cities Fairs Cup winners' medals (1968 and 1971).

Norman later spent three years with Bristol City, helping the club retain First Division status, and had a spell as player-manager of Barnsley before retiring as a player in May 1982.
Although Norman was capped 28 times by England, his international career was often overshadowed by the presence of another talented left half, Bobby Moore. After winning his first cap against Spain in December 1965, Norman was a member of the squads for the 1966 and 1970 World Cup finals and continued to feature for his country until October 1974.

1975
COLIN TODDPosition: Defender; Born: Chester-le-Street, 12 December 1948; Country: England; Teams: Sunderland, Derby, Everton, Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest, Oxford United, Luton Town; Football League/Premiership Record: 637 + 4 Appearances, 10 Goals; Playing career: 1966 to 1985.

Skilful and elegant, Colin Todd was one of the finest defenders in English football during the 1970s. Comfortable on the ball, he had pace, poise and the ability to read the game, making defending look simple.

Todd joined Sunderland as an apprentice on leaving school and was a member of the team that reached the final of the FA Youth Cup in 1966. He went on to make his senior debut that September, coming off the bench to replace Charlie Hurley at Stamford Bridge. Colin quickly established himself in the line-up at Roker Park and was an ever present in the 1967-68 season, earning a reputation as one of the countrys most promising up-and-coming defenders. However, the Black Cats suffered relegation from the First Division at the end of the 1969-70 campaign and in February 1971 Colin was sold for £170,000 to Derby County whose manager Brian Clough was himself a former youth coach at Sunderland.
Colin partnered another young talent, Roy McFarland, in the centre of defence as the Rams went on to enjoy a golden period of success. The Football League title was secured in 1971-72 and again in 1974-75 when Colin was in magnificent form, rarely putting a foot wrong. He remained at the Baseball Ground until September 1978 when he was sold to Everton, and 12 months later he was on the move again, signing for Birmingham City. After helping the Blues win promotion to the First Division in 1979-80 Colin turned out for Nottingham Forest, Oxford United and Luton Town before retiring as a player to embark on a career in coaching and management. He is currently coach of Danish Superliga club Randers FC.

Colin won two Football League caps and 27 full England caps, making his debut against Northern Ireland in May 1972, although he never fully established himself as a regular for his country.

1976
PAT JENNINGS Position: Goalkeeper; Born: Newry, Co Down, 12 June 1945; Country: Northern Ireland; Teams: Watford, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal; Football League/Premiership Record: 757 Appearances, 0 Goals; Playing career: 1963 to 1986

Pat Jennings was one of the most consistent goalkeepers in post-war British football. Tall and strong, he possessed a huge pair of hands, excellent positional sense and the ability to produce some magnificent reaction saves.
As a youngster Pat had played Gaelic football before switching to soccer. His rise to success was rapid: six months of senior football with Newry Town in Irelands B Division earning him a transfer to Watford where he quickly established himself as the club's regular 'keeper, and before the end of his first full season at Vicarage Road he won his first international cap for Northern Ireland against Wales in April 1964.

In the summer of 1964 Pat was sold to Tottenham Hotspur and he went on to become one of the greatest-ever keepers for the White Hart Lane club. A member of teams that won the FA Cup in 1967, the Football League Cup in 1971 and 1973 and the UEFA Cup in 1974, he was rather surprisingly allowed to leave for North London rivals Arsenal in August 1977 for a nominal fee. Pat spent eight years at Highbury, adding a further FA Cup winners' medal when he was a member of the side that defeated Manchester United to win the 1979 final. He eventually returned to Tottenham for the 1985-86 season when he was deputy to Ray Clemence before finally retiring at the age of 41.
Northern Ireland's first-choice goalkeeper for over 20 years, Pat won 119 caps, a tally that has yet to be beaten. He represented his country at both the 1982 and 1986 World Cup finals. Pat was awarded the MBE in 1986 and the OBE in 1987.

1977
ANDY GRAYPosition: Striker; Born: Glasgow, 30 November 1955; Country: Scotland; Teams: Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton, West Bromwich Albion; Football League/Premiership Record: 374 + 14 Appearances, 121 Goals; Playing career: 1975 to 1988.

Andy Gray was a big, powerful old-fashioned style centre forward, effective in the air, useful at holding the ball up to bring his colleagues into play and never more dangerous than when running at opponents with the ball.
Andy signed as a professional for Dundee United in May 1983 and at the age of 18 appeared in the Scottish Cup final defeat by Celtic. In October 1975 he was transferred to Aston Villa, earning a record fee for the Tannadice Park club, and he went on to make an immediate impact on his arrival in English football. Forging a productive partnership up front with Brian Little, Andy was capable of destroying opposition defences. One of his finest performances came against reigning champions Liverpool in December 1976 when he helped tear the Reds' defence to pieces as Villa romped to a 5-1 victory.

In September 1979 Andy moved on to Wolves, netting the winner in the 1980 Football League Cup final against Nottingham Forest. Next stop in his career was Goodison Park, where he contributed to the Toffees' successful side of the mid-1980s. He scored in the 1984 FA Cup final victory over Watford and the following year's European Cup Winners Cup final win over Rapid Vienna, also helping the club lift the Football League title in 1984-85.
Thereafter Andy had a spell back at Villa Park and also played for West Bromwich Albion and Rangers (where he added a Scottish League Cup winners' medal to his tally of honours) before retiring from the game. He has since developed a career as a pundit for Sky Television. Andy also won 20 caps for Scotland between 1976 and 1985, scoring seven goals. * NOTE: bidding for the shirts that make up this unique collection is open to every member of the public. You can bid online at www.specialistauctions.com/pfa