Good-quality football boots do not come cheap…just ask any mum whose offspring want the latest ‘must haves’ from Nike, Puma or Adidas.

But just how pricey can they get?

Rio Ferdinand decided to commission the most expensive football boots in Britain, when he organised a charity auction of match boots worn by himself, Wayne Rooney and John Terry in aid of his Live the Dream Foundation.

Between them, the three pairs of boots were emblazoned with 7,500 precious jewels, including diamonds and rubies, and raised £60,000 for underprivileged children.

For the record, Rooney’s Nike boots made £18,000, Terry’s Umbros £20,000, and Ferdinand’s own Nike Total 90s – gold tipped laces and all – raised £22,000.

Terry’s signed Umbro Speciali boots included sapphires and white and black diamonds; Rooney’s Total 90 Laser II’s featured his famous number 10 moulded out of rose gold, while Ferdinand’s were customised with graffiti by none other than musician and film producer Goldie – not to mention 43 carats of diamonds and rubies.

But the prize for most expensive piece of football memorabilia ever must go to the match ball signed by each member of the 2006 World Cup winning Italian team.

The black, white and gold Adidas +Teamgeist raised an unbelievable $2.4 million in aid of the Reach Out To Asia outreach programme, a charity aimed at helping educational and community projects in Asia and Qatar.

Not quite in the same league, but:

Pele’s 1970 World Cup final football shirt sold at Christie’s ten years ago for £157,750. Geoff Hurst’s ’66 jersey made £91,750 at auction, and England team-mate Alan Ball’s shirt went for £51,775.

The World Cup Winner’s medal won by Nobby Stiles sold for £188,200 – it was bought by his old club Manchester United.

George Best’s 1968 European Cup winner’s medal was sold by Bonhams after his death for £156,000.

• Collecting football memorabilia is big business…and can make big money.

An official programme – the ‘United Review’ – from their match against Ipswich Town in 1958 sold for £4,700.

A ticket for Aston Villa v Liverpool in the ‘English Cup Semi-Final’ on March 28th, 1914 – “Kick off 3.30. No guarantee is given that the proposed match will be played” – went for £1,500 at auction.

Issued – one has to wonder why? – by Tottenham Hotspur Football and Athletic Company Ltd – the original price for seat number 217 was 5/-…(five shillings,) or 25 pence in today’s money.

Nicki Williams writes for Gear-Zone, where sports fans will find all the major brands for football, rugby, tennis, cricket, running and athletics