A rare piece of sports film memorabilia signed by Ipswich Town players and a football legend is going up for auction.

A football will be sold by Lockdales Auctioneers of Martlesham Heath on Saturday, June 1.

The ball was brought on to the set of the 1981 film Escape to Victory, starring Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone.

Ray Norris, a camera assistant for the film, brought the ball to set, and was able to get it signed by the world famous football stars who were also in the film.

Ipswich Star: The football that is signed by Pele will go to auctionThe football that is signed by Pele will go to auction (Image: Lockdales)

Ipswich Star: Everything that will be available at the auction including the photographs and footballEverything that will be available at the auction including the photographs and football (Image: Lockdales)

This includes the signatures of Pele, Bobby Moore, Mike Summerbee and Osvaldo Ardiles, as well as Ipswich Town legends Kevin Beattie, Russell Osman, Paul Cooper and John Wark.

As well as the signed football, there are also some photographs from the set being sold alongside it.

One of these pictures features Ray Norris, as well as pictures behind the scenes of the film.

Ipswich Star: Ray Norris on the set of Escape to VictoryRay Norris on the set of Escape to Victory (Image: Lockdales)

Ipswich Star: The football was also signed by Town legend Kevin BeattieThe football was also signed by Town legend Kevin Beattie (Image: Lockdales)

Lockdales Auctioneers received the ball and pictures from the family of Mr Norris, and the lot is valued between £500 and £600.

This rare piece of memorabilia will be sold on Saturday, with bidding starting at 9.30am.

Ipswich Star: The Town players who starred in the film at the Ipswich premiere with Sir Bobby RobsonThe Town players who starred in the film at the Ipswich premiere with Sir Bobby Robson (Image: Newsquest)

The film celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2021 and was about a team of allied prisoners of war who agree to play an exhibition match against a German team.

Numerous Town players John Wark, Russell Osman, Laurie Sivell, Robin Turner and Kevin O'Callaghan starred alongside Caine, Stallone and Pele in the film.

Kevin Beattie and Paul Cooper provided body-double footballing skills when the Hollywood actors didn’t prove to be as nimble as they should have been in close-up shots.

The film was directed by Oscar winner John Huston who won best director in 1949 for The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.

His career highlights included The African Queen, The Maltese Falcon and Annie.