Fans dressed as Santa Claus at a football game (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
With Christmas just around the corner, there’s no better time than now to consider the perfect gifts for the holiday season. What better way than to take a peek into the booming football memorabilia collecting market?
With less than two months until the big event, sports memorabilia companies are filling shelves to accommodate the crowds. Many of the most exclusive items will be gone quickly, so it’s important to get them early. Of course, you don’t have to spend a fortune to make your loved one happy. Depending on the user’s interests, it offers a huge collection of autographed sports memorabilia from famous players and teams. You don’t have to spend the earth buying things that form connections (though it’s easy to do so).
Of course, the ultimate collection is the shirts of the game’s biggest stars, from Maradona and Pelé to Gerrard, Beckham or the divine Cristiano Ronaldo. Why Ronaldo? Because when it comes to the collector’s market, he’s become something of a savior, with his shirts, balls, and autographed boots fetching some of the highest prices we’ve ever seen. The prices for some of these big stars are prohibitive and out of reach for the average collector, so we tend to start with more accessible memorabilia, such as autographed football photos, autographs, and autographed programs, and gradually work our way up to larger items. No one will be able to afford Maradona’s 1986 World Cup final ‘Hand of God’ jersey, which sold for more than £7 million.
The important lesson here is to buy what you like and buy it right. There is a huge rivalry between Manchester United and Manchester City fans and of course the Liverpool and Manchester teams. No fan of either team would be seen dead wearing a uniform signed by a player from the other team. So be careful when parting with your earned cash. Needless to say, you’d be surprised how often people make mistakes when buying Christmas presents. Most people would kindly smile and leave it alone, but not soccer fans.
Autographed soccer memorabilia is a lasting reminder of a team, player or moment, creating a lasting and special connection between the purchaser and the product.
Let’s take a look at some of the best pick-me-up items on the soccer memorabilia market right now. Look at items at the lower end of the spectrum.
£10 – £250
Melvin Mallard Man United signed shirt £149.99, Joey Barton signed photo £19.99, Ashley Young Football signed £39.99, Aaron Cresswell signed framed boots £99.99 (Courtesy of Firma Stella)
It’s amazing what you can find at the lowest price point, with an incredible amount of autographed photos of high-profile players. You can score a bargain, especially if you’re new to soccer memorabilia collecting. Check out some of the items below. You can also buy autographed soccer shirts at affordable prices. The trick is to find up-and-coming players who have yet to reach their full potential. The next Ronaldo, Pele or David Beckham! From autographed soccer balls to soccer cleats, programs and even books. There are many choices. Make sure your partner is a fan.
£251 – £1000
David Beckham framed display shirt £299.99, signed Dennis Law shirt £299.99, signed Ryan Giggs shirt £449.99, signed Frank Lampard & Steven Gerrard framed shirt £999.99. (Provided by Pharma Stella)
Spending a little more money gives you more options and more options. One of the current trends is to have multiple shirts in one frame. These may belong to the same player, with the home and away shirts appearing in the same frame, or they may actually belong to two separate players from the same club. Looks great hanging on the wall in your home or office.
Over £1001
Fernandes & Cantona signed shirt £1299.99, Salah & Haaland signed shirt £2999.99, Ronaldo signed shirt £1999.99, framed Pele & Diego Maradona signed shirt £3999.99 (provided by Firma Stella)
At the highest end of the scale, the sky is the limit. Some of the larger combinations can fetch up to £4,000 or £5,000. No wonder the biggest stars in the game are the most expensive, with Cristiano Ronaldo at the top. International superstars like Pele and Maradona also command big deals. The duo frame version below combines the two into one frame for the ultimate soccer memorabilia collection. Of course, neither of them have anything signed anymore, so the value of these shirt frames is expected to rise over time.
From stocking up to big purchases. There’s something for everyone when it comes to collecting autographed football memorabilia. You just need to know where to look.
