THE gift of a football fan’s collection has set the ball rolling in a theatre’s move to raise money in the face of likely funding cuts.

London-based psychotherapist Frances Griffiths has donated the memorabilia, which belonged to her late father, to Newcastle’s Live Theatre.

Alan Lyte Kew had twin loves of Newcastle United and theatre. When he lived on Tyneside he acted at the People’s Theatre in Newcastle. Later, he moved south and became an accountant.

Frances is a friend of North East writer Michael Chaplin, who has written football-themed plays for Live Theatre.

When she heard of the funding cuts to the arts in Newcastle, she decided to give her father’s football programmes collection to the theatre so it could be sold to raise funds.

The collection includes tickets and programmes for Newcastle’s FA Cup-winning finals in 1951, 1952 and 1955, the “Stanley Matthews final” in 1953 and the Preston v West Brom final in 1954.

Also included are the tickets and programmes for the three FA Amateur Cup finals of 1954-57 involving Bishop Auckland, and Crook Town’s 1959 final against Barnet. There are also publications such as a Newcastle United promotion souvenir from 1948-49, The Romance of Newcastle United of 1952 and a 1951 FA Cup final souvenir.

Frances said: “My father was a dedicated Newcastle fan, and the collection will be a good opportunity to raise money for the theatre. My father would be delighted that his lifelong support of Newcastle United could help fund theatre in a city in which he was once employed as a professional actor.”

Max Roberts, artistic director of Live Theatre, which is marking its 40th anniversary this year, said: “This is a kind and generous offer.”

BBC Look North sports presenter Jeff Brown, who was invited to look through the keepsakes, said: “It’s a great collection from a golden era for Newcastle United, and all so lovingly preserved.

“Programmes have always been at the heart of every football fan’s collection, but the ticket stubs and souvenir booklets are really special. “

The theatre is open to offers on 0191 269 3498, and is also seeking advice from auctioneers.

Theatre development manager Gillian Firth said: “This is a lovely, heart-warming gesture from Frances in what she sees as our hour of need.”

A Friends of Live Theatre group has also been set up and now has 70 members.