Thieves escape with Millichip memorabilia

Jewellery and football memorabilia belonging to the family of the late Sir Bert Millichip has been stolen from the family home in Worcestershire, the BBC reports.

The burglars took the items when Lady Barbara Millichip, the wife of the former Football Association and West Bromwich Albion chairman, left her home for a short time yesterday.

Some of the high-profile pieces that were taken included a gold chain with a UEFA medallion, a silver bowl with FA and West Bromwich Albion crest inscriptions and a Bachelor Brooch given to Sir Bert when he was knighted in 1991.

Peter Millichip said the theft had "affected my mother deeply", adding that she was "distressed" over the loss of items that "have huge emotional and personal value".

Sir Bert died in 2002, aged 88. He famously served as chairman of the Football Association during some of the darkest days of the domestic English game – through the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters and as hooliganism began widely and publicly infiltrating the sport.

He was known for his frequent media gaffes but was also widely regarded, as Premier League chairman Rick Parry once said, as "an extremely honourable man - one of nature's gentlemen".