A daily newspaper’s 125th birthday celebrations have received a timely, if unexpected boost, from England manager Fabio Capello.

An England shirt signed by the Italian will be a star auction item at the ES 125 Ball in honour of the Ipswich Evening Star’s milestone.

The signed shirt was originally donated by Capello to Suffolk New College when he visited Ipswich to open the new multi-million pound education facilities.

With Capello now out in South Africa plotting a World Cup bid, Star editor Nigel Pickover is hopeful item will prove popular in the charity sale after the college decided to place it under the hammer.

Said Nigel: “There was a great buzz when Fabio visited the town and we hope it will be a great auction item raising around £1,000.

“I am going to the tournament next week with my sons and I would love to be able to return the favour by the Star reporting on an England World Cup win.

“The Ipswich and Suffolk Press Ball is always a great occasion and has raised tens of thousands of pounds in its 15-year history.”

As well as commemorating the newspaper’s landmark anniversary, the night will also raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich.

The ES 125 Ball is just one part of a series of events being held this year by the Evening Star to celebrate its 125th birthday.

The official milestone in February was marked by a special radio broadcast from the Ipswich headquarters and the cutting of a huge birthday cake in its newsroom.