The final printed edition of a regional daily’s football title has sold for more than £7, despite a cover price of just £1.

The Sunderland Echo’s sports paper the Football Echo ceased print publication after 106 years at the end of December and has gone online only from this month.

Now a copy of the last printed edition, headlined “The Final Whistle” has sold on Ebay £7.51? after becoming a collector’s item among fans.

The final commemorative edition of the Johnston Press title looks back on the history of the Football Echo, showing old editions and focusing on the fortunes of Sunderland AFC over the years.

Sunderland Echo editor John Szymanski said: “The Final Whistle is a must-have for any Sunderland fan, no doubt.

“I do admire the entrepreneurial spirit of this seller on Ebay – but would like to point out that there is no need to bargain, bid, haggle or wait for a copy.

“They are still on sale at shops across Wearside and from us here at the Echo, not second hand – and all for only one pound!”

When the closure of the printed title was announced, John said that changes in kick-off times as well as new technology had contributed to the decision.

At the time, he said: “It is still a great paper that we are very proud of. However, technology has moved on, match times have as well with around half of Sunderland’s games not being at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon  – and so we have to move on too.

“We hope that moving online, giving it more immediacy after games, ability to update it at a moment’s notice, and making it free, will open the Football Echo up to a much wider audience.”

The Echo is one of a number of sports titles to cease print publication in recent years, with Sheffield Star’s The Green ‘Un also going online only last year, while fellow Johnston Press title The News in Portsmouth brought back its Sports Mail supplement nine months after scrapping it.