A GOALKEEPER'S jersey worn by Busby Babe and North-East star Ray Wood in an FA Cup final fetched more than £6,000 at auction yesterday.

The former Darlington keeper was wearing the jersey as Manchester United failed in their bid to win the first English league and cup double.

Wood, from Hebburn, Tyneside, was in goal for United in the 1957 final against Aston Villa as Sir Matt Busby's young team tried to add the knock-out trophy to the League Championship.

But a goalkeeping error just six minutes into the game, played at Wembley, ruined his match, and Busby's dreams.

In one of the game's most controversial moments, Wood collided with Villa forward Peter McParland and was carried concussed from the pitch.

Long before the era of substitutes, Wood bravely came back on, first as an outfield player, then between the posts.

By the time he resumed his duties in goal, United were 2-1 down and he was unable to prevent the FA Cup going to Villa Park.

After the match, Wood was found to have played on with a broken jaw.

A year later, he was one of the Busby Babes to survive the Munich air crash.

The jersey was expected to fetch up to £5,000 but was sold for £6,300 at London auction house Bonham & Brooks, in Chelsea.

A Bonham & Brooks spokeswoman said: "The jersey is a unique item and we are very pleased that it has fetched so much more than its estimate."

The shirt formed part of a collection of footballing merchandise from across more than four decades going under the hammer