As the UEFA European Football Championship finals - to give “the Euros” their full name - get under way, now is a great time to examine football collectibles and memorabilia.
Whether you believe this is still “the peoples game” or not, it remains the world’s greatest sporting passion.
FIFA, the world governing body, had 205 member associations representing 300,000 clubs and around 240 million players a few years ago.
And that’s the official game. No park kickabouts or five-a-sides included.
And football’s a huge business.
And a huge collectibles business.
Here are five angles you can run as you consider collecting football memorabilia.
1 - Shirts
This Barcelona shirt is elevated by Lionel Messi's signature.
Shirts are the best performing area of the football memorabilia market.
And, it’s becoming so obvious that even players (who earn millions just for playing) are starting to control their sale.
We can see that in the sale of Lionel Messi’s Qatar World Cup shirts last year.
The set of six Argentina shirts realised $7.8 million at auction last year.
The shirt portfolio hadn’t been put together by an intrepid collector but were marketed by the player, while he’s still playing and remarkably close to their appearance on the world stage.
Match-worn shirts signed by a player and associated with a great moment in their career are the most valuable.
Like those Messi shirts or Maradona’s “Hand of God” shirt. That made £7.1 million at auction in 2022.
Even replica shirts with a signature can become valuable. The more the better.
For example, an England 1966 World Cup replica shirt with the single signature of Geoff Hurst on it can be found online for under £100.
One with 10 of the team on it is closer to £1,000.
If you want to collect shirts make sure you know how to look after, display and store them safely. Don't wash signed shirts!
2 - Autographs
There's no mistaking that name, and the context gives it even more meaning.
Autographs are the classic celebrity collectible.
They’re extremely personal, but can be collected relatively easily.
Footballers sign a lot of things: photos, programmes, body parts…
Their autographs are unlikely to be extremely valuable just on their own.
Though some historic examples may be if they are rare enough.
A signature on the right document or item will certainly add value.
David Beckham’s signature?
Depending on presentation and condition and the paper on which it’s signed it could be yours for 10s of pounds or into low three figures.
David Beckham’s signature on a commemorative ball?
Well over £1,000.
The dream for collectors of course is to spot a Beckham when he’s a youth, thrilled to sign anything and build a collection from there.
You can do this. But remember, for the best prices you’ll need to not just spot a future star but secure their signature with some context added - a debut game, a first goal.
3 - History
Programmes are only one way football generates huge amounts of published historical material.
Bill Shankly is supposed to have said that football was “more important” than a matter of life and death.
He probably never said that.
But football is intertwined with social history and the everyday lives of countless millions of people.
It’s also produced a rich documentary history of its own.
Among the most valuable pieces of football memorabilia ever sold isn’t a shirt or a signature.
It’s a rule book.
The Sheffield Rules made nearly £900,000 back in 2011.
All leagues, clubs and associations produce mountains of paperwork.
Fans are famous for hoarding programmes. And some can be valuable (signed if possible).
Much of it is dull to all but the most obsessed fan, but football history is real history, and you can tell a compelling story around your favourite club or your hometown from football documents.
One of the biggest football sales of recent years was a napkin. It happened to be the informal version of the agreement that took Lionel Messi to Barcelona, but it wasn’t even signed by Leo himself. It realised £760,000 at auction.
You can also branch out into the world’s football has touched: books, art, films, mountains of memorabilia.
Mass produced items rarely achieve very high values, but they can be a rewarding collecting experience despite that.
Football may not be more important than life and death but it’s part of it.
4 - Prizes
Nobby Styles on his way to a medal that proved to be worth around £200,000.
Danny Blanchflower’s Spurs played the Glory Game.
They won, and they won in style.
But ultimately football is about winning. Piling up goals, then points, titles, silverware.
And you can buy some of it for yourself.
Players were not always paid as generously as they are today.
Some of the greatest players of all time put their medals up for sale after retirement.
Nobby Styles won the World Cup with England in 1966.
And the European Cup with Manchester United two years later.
Both medals were sold for a total of £250,000. The buyers? Manchester United, who put the gongs in the club museum. They are unlikely to be sold again.
Other 1966 medals have sold for comparable fees.
George Best’s 1968 European Cup medal made over £150,000.
Even cups can be auctioned.
An early version of the FA Cup has been sold for around £750,000 - up from under £500,000 in just a few years.
5 - Club, country, player
Bobby Charlton's school bible. Charlton as a player, the Charlton brothers, Manchester United, England, or North East footballers could all be a wonderful focus for a collection.
How are you going to order or theme your collection?
I’d urge you to do that if you can.
The most rewarding collections are those that matter to us.
While I love football, my heart belongs to Leeds United and the Wales national team.
My football collecting, modest though it is, is true to those passions.
If you’re not a team fan then you can still pick a region, a time period, a tournament or some other theme.
Your collection will be better for it. And probably easier to sell in the long run.
Buy rare football memorabilia today
You can buy rare football memorabilia here.
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