In 1969, a promotional battle between fuel companies led to one of the most cherished sports collections in British history. The Texaco “Famous Footballers” coin set featured 20 bronze-finished tokens, each depicting a top-tier player of the era. The collection became a staple for young fans who spent the summer collecting these medals and placing them into vacuum-formed plastic display plinths.
Famous Footballers of 1969: Jeff Astle (West Bromwich Albion), Colin Bell (Manchester City), Bobby Charlton (Manchester United), Jack Charlton (Leeds United), Allan Clarke (Leicester City), Charlie Cooke (Chelsea), Ron Davies (Southampton), Derek Dougan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), John Hollins (Chelsea), Roger Hunt (Liverpool), Geoff Hurst (West Ham United), Brian Labone (Everton), Billy McNeill (Celtic), Terry Paine (Southampton), Martin Peters (West Ham United), Alex Stepney (Manchester United), Nobby Stiles (Manchester United), Mike Summerbee (Manchester City), Bobby Tambling (Chelsea), Ian Ure (Arsenal).
Allan Clarke at Leicester City: The Record-Breaking Year
The Allan Clarke coin is a unique historical marker because it captures “Sniffer” during his brief but historic tenure at Leicester City. While he is often associated with the trophy-laden years at Leeds United, his single season at Filbert Street (1968–69) saw him become one of the most sought-after strikers in the world.
Leicester City paid a then-British record fee of £150,000 to sign Clarke from Fulham in 1968. He was so highly regarded that he reportedly turned down a move to Matt Busby’s Manchester United to join the Foxes, citing a positive personal meeting with Leicester manager Matt Gillies.
Clarke’s year at Leicester was defined by a legendary run to the FA Cup Final. He scored the decisive winning goal in the semi-final against West Bromwich Albion, the club he had supported as a boy, to secure Leicester’s place at Wembley.
In the 1969 FA Cup Final against Manchester City, Leicester lost 1–0. However, Clarke’s individual performance was so dominant that a panel of journalists named him Man of the Match. He remains one of the few players in history to receive this honour while playing for the losing team.
Texaco produced the coin set during the 1968–69 season, meaning Clarke is forever represented in a Leicester City shirt. By June 1969, shortly after the set hit the market, Don Revie paid a new record fee of £165,000 to bring him to Leeds United. This coin serves as a “prequel” to his legendary career at Elland Road, marking the exact moment he transitioned from a rising star to a national icon.
Current Market Value (2026)
Market values for the Allan Clarke coin depend heavily on condition and the presence of the original display materials. An average condition coin typically sells for £5 to £8, while a mint specimen with sharp details and no tarnishing can fetch £12 to £15. For collectors seeking the complete 1969 experience, a full set of 20 coins housed in the original plastic display plinth generally valued between £45 and £75, depending on whether the fragile plastic has remained intact over the decades.