IT COST Manchester United nearly £90 million to secure the signatures of Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Dimitar Berbatov. But they could be yours for just £1. This Manchester United football has been signed by every member of the current first team squad. With the club standing on the brink of the treble it could soon become a genuine piece of footballing history.

And a group of committed Coventry fundraisers are offering you the chance to own it – or a one in 2,000 chance to be precise. Retired police sergeant Steve Mayor convinced the world-famous club to part with the ball so they could raffle it in aid of two great causes. He said: “Manchester United have been marvellous to give us the ball.”“We want to raise a fair sum, but give someone local a great opportunity to win the ball and a one in two thousand chance is just that.

The group is selling 2,000 tickets and will donate £1,000 to Parkinsons UK, with the other half going to the Neurofibromatosis Foundation. Steve was diagnosed with the nerve disorder Parkinsons five years ago and it has steadily grown worse. “It has progressed quicker than I expected,” he said. “Now I can’t smile and my left hand and leg shake. I need help with simple little tasks.”