Brick for sale from Darlington FC's twin towers at Feethams

This particular brick is rectangular and red, and is going under the hammer on Tuesday.

And although it just looks very brick-like, it is a piece of local sporting history.

It is one of only three bricks that were retrieved from “the Wembley of the north” when the twin towers at the entrance to Darlington FC’s Feethams ground were demolished in 2013.

Indeed, as Wembley’s twin towers were not built until 1923, the smaller ones at Feethams, which were built in 1913, must surely have been the inspiration for London’s great footballing landmark.

The brick which was salvaged when the iconic Darlington landmark was demolished in 2013

Just as Wembley Way – proper name Olympic Way, as it was built in 1948 by German prisoners of war for the Olympic Games – was the grand, mile-long boulevard leading to the gleaming towers 124ft high, so Feethams South was the 100-yard approach leading to Darlington’s towers which must have been a skyscrapping 15ft at least.

But not even Wembley had the ambience of Feethams’ towers: the push through the clanketty turnstiles and then the unique walk around the cricket pitch, underneath the scoreboard and then into the football ground, with the Tin Shed on your right, the East Stand in front of you and the men’s urinals on your left.

Happy days.

Wembley’s twin towers were demolished in 2003, whereas Darlington’s lasted until 2013. Rotarian Tony Marshall was passing as they were felled and was allowed to remove three bricks as souvenirs. He has since given one away, is keeping the other but the third is to be auctioned at Thomas Watson’s in Darlington on Tuesday.

The Feethams twin towers coming down in 2013

The first 28 lots in the sale have been donated by members of Darlington Rotary Club and every penny of the hammer price will go to St Teresa’s Hospice.

The brick comes with a signed letter explaining its provenance, and so auctioneer Peter Robinson has put an estimate of £30 to £50 on it.