Football Memorabilia
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| Football ,Memorabilia |
It is not often in the world of collectables that a
modern-day item exceeds the values reached by comparable historical finds, but
it can happen with football memorabilia.
This may be a result of the aura of fame, wealth, and glamour that surrounds today's top players and clubs.
This may be a result of the aura of fame, wealth, and glamour that surrounds today's top players and clubs.
Football fanaticism is nothing new: when the wizard of the
dribble' Sir Stanley Matthews was due to play, attendances were estimated to go
up by 10,000.
The 1953 HA Cup Final has gone down in history as the 'Matthews Final', because of the way he inspired his team. Blackpool, to beat Bolton 4-3. The strip he wore that day sold for £10,321 in 2003.
The 1953 HA Cup Final has gone down in history as the 'Matthews Final', because of the way he inspired his team. Blackpool, to beat Bolton 4-3. The strip he wore that day sold for £10,321 in 2003.
Manchester United is the most collectable of British clubs,
partly because of its vivid history of triumph, tragedy, and outstanding,
charismatic players, such as George Best and Eric Cantona, but mainly because
of its recent domination of the English game and its huge global fan-base.
There was a national wave of sympathy for the club following the 1958 Munich air disaster, which killed eight players and seriously injured.
There was a national wave of sympathy for the club following the 1958 Munich air disaster, which killed eight players and seriously injured.
legendary manager Sir Matt Busby. The Arsenal v Manchester
United match programme for 1 February 1958 is highly sought after - it was the
last game played in England by the 'Busby Babes' before the tragedy. Much rarer
is the following Saturday's programme, officially pulped as a result of the
accident. It is likely to fetch at least .£4,000 apiece in today's market.
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| Football ,Memorabilia |
Other famous clubs likely to attract interest among
collectors include the fierce Glasgow rivals, Celtic and Rangers, as well as
leading English Premiership sides, such as Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and
Newcastle United. But, any club will have fans keen to buy mementoes of its
greatest achievements.
For example, around the 1950s, Wolves were the most successful club of the day.
As well as winning the League three times and the FA Cup twice, they laid the foundations for European club competition by playing a series of games known as 'floodlit friendlies' against top overseas sides, such as Honved of Budapest. Memorabilia associated with these matches can be valuable.
For example, around the 1950s, Wolves were the most successful club of the day.
As well as winning the League three times and the FA Cup twice, they laid the foundations for European club competition by playing a series of games known as 'floodlit friendlies' against top overseas sides, such as Honved of Budapest. Memorabilia associated with these matches can be valuable.
At the other end of the scale, programmes and other
memorabilia involving clubs that have slipped out of the top four divisions, or
even folded, will be worth a little more than if they had remained successful.
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| Football ,Memorabilia |
Even with a limited budget, you can still build up a collection from the wide array of items on offer. Choose from tickets and programmes, medals, badges, collecting cards and stickers, mugs, scarves, shirts, autographed pieces, team sheets (which are still produced for press and VIPs), magazines, club handbooks, and scrapbooks.
Match clothing, particularly if worn by a star player, is
especially desirable
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a pair of boots worn
by David Beckham can reach an astonishing £14,000. Kit issued to players but
not actually worn is next in popularity and value (an unworn Beckham England
shirt has been known to sell for £2,280), with replica kit at the lowest end of
the price scale.
Medals often fetch the highest prices
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| Football ,Memorabilia |
Programmes are keenly collected. Pick a theme: either a
specific team or a competition, such as the FA Cup.
Prices for Cup Final programmes range from a few pounds up
to the £11,500 paid for one from the 1915 'Khaki' Cup Final between Chelsea and
Sheffield United (so called because many of the crowd were soldiers on leave or
about to set off for the World War I trenches).
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| Football ,Memorabilia |
It's worth remembering that mint- condition programmes or
teamsheets are more valuable if they do not have the final score and the goal
scorers written on them by an ecstatic or despondent spectator.
As well as age, historical significance adds value to
pieces. For example, a programme from the 1912 Spurs v Woolwich Arsenal match
held in aid of victims of the Titanic disaster
sold for ±4,600. But a programme for England's triumphant 1966 World Cup Final
against West Germany can be found for a more modest £50: this is due to the
fact that so many have been kept in good condition.
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| Football ,Memorabilia |
Autographs are always popular and will increase the worth
of any sporting memorabilia,
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| Football ,Memorabilia |
Another good collecting focus is scrapbooks, especially
those that evoke a particular era and contain a good selection of newspaper
match reports and other football stories.
In recent
years, many clubs - Manchester City, for example - have moved to a new stadium.
When they do so, they often auction off parts of their old ground, such as
squares of turf and seats from the grandstand. If your team is planning to move
and holds such an event, take the opportunity to get hold of a unique piece of Football Memorabilia.
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