Collecting Football Memorabilia
How times have changed in the world of collecting football memorabilia! It used to be a case of going to the various grounds, buying your program, enjoying the match and keeping your program as a memory of a good time.
Today however, those programmes could now be the targets for many football memorabilia collectors all over the world.
If you are a football memorabilia collector or want to become one, then auction houses are a great way to obtain "job lots" in which you may just find a great bargain.
Imagine stumbling across a 1925 FA Cup Final programme with a probable value today of about £1000; or one from 1921 which was sold for £1650! It is something we dream of and can happen anytime in the world of football memorabilia.
However, it is important not to become over optimistic and start visiting auction houses and buying bundles of programmes or any other pieces of memorabilia you can get your hands on as this could end up being a waste of your time and money.
The football memorabilia industry can be a hard one to learn and become a part of, especially if you are looking to make a profit.
For those who just love their football and want to keep memories of good times, or bad if your team lost, collecting football memorabilia really can be a fascinating, exciting hobby that can involve the whole family.
The football memorabilia industry has such a massive global following that you don't have to confine yourself just to collecting football programmes, in fact you can collect whatever memorabilia you want! Nowadays, the internet and television have meant that we can catch all the great moments of the game wherever we are and the interest in football has grown massively.
International competitions have stimulated the collection of football memorabilia all over the world and now there are many highly collectable items available ranging pieces worth thousands of pounds to smaller items that have more emotional than financial value.
Collectors of football memorabilia will find there is a small difference between collectable items of today and those classified as "antique".
Serious interest is in not only programs, but also the shirts, shorts and boots worn by football stars in recent seasons.
The overall market trend shows prices are rising, for example a pair of David Beckham's football boots can now be sold by Christie's for £14,000.
The downside however, is that the rising cost of obtaining football memorabilia is now limiting collectors in terms of what they can buy.
It is also creating a specialist marketplace for items such as programmes, medals and shirts, from the different historic periods of football.
Many collectors will remember the football cigarette cards which really established a presence in the late 1920's and early 1930's.
Several companies produced cigarette cards, among them were John Player, Ogden's and Lambert & Butler.
Today, these small cards, once the playthings of schoolchildren, are among the highest collectibles of all vintage merchandise.
The game of football is from every aspect is big business, with thousands of items of football memorabilia going on auction or sale every month.
Joining forums and collectors clubs will ensure that you keep up-to-date with any specialist auctions held by established auction houses.
Generally, you will not find items that will make you rich however, you will find memorabilia of interest and maybe even some that will bring back memories if you are a player or fan of the game.
Today however, those programmes could now be the targets for many football memorabilia collectors all over the world.
If you are a football memorabilia collector or want to become one, then auction houses are a great way to obtain "job lots" in which you may just find a great bargain.
Imagine stumbling across a 1925 FA Cup Final programme with a probable value today of about £1000; or one from 1921 which was sold for £1650! It is something we dream of and can happen anytime in the world of football memorabilia.
However, it is important not to become over optimistic and start visiting auction houses and buying bundles of programmes or any other pieces of memorabilia you can get your hands on as this could end up being a waste of your time and money.
The football memorabilia industry can be a hard one to learn and become a part of, especially if you are looking to make a profit.
For those who just love their football and want to keep memories of good times, or bad if your team lost, collecting football memorabilia really can be a fascinating, exciting hobby that can involve the whole family.
The football memorabilia industry has such a massive global following that you don't have to confine yourself just to collecting football programmes, in fact you can collect whatever memorabilia you want! Nowadays, the internet and television have meant that we can catch all the great moments of the game wherever we are and the interest in football has grown massively.
International competitions have stimulated the collection of football memorabilia all over the world and now there are many highly collectable items available ranging pieces worth thousands of pounds to smaller items that have more emotional than financial value.
Collectors of football memorabilia will find there is a small difference between collectable items of today and those classified as "antique".
Serious interest is in not only programs, but also the shirts, shorts and boots worn by football stars in recent seasons.
The overall market trend shows prices are rising, for example a pair of David Beckham's football boots can now be sold by Christie's for £14,000.
The downside however, is that the rising cost of obtaining football memorabilia is now limiting collectors in terms of what they can buy.
It is also creating a specialist marketplace for items such as programmes, medals and shirts, from the different historic periods of football.
Many collectors will remember the football cigarette cards which really established a presence in the late 1920's and early 1930's.
Several companies produced cigarette cards, among them were John Player, Ogden's and Lambert & Butler.
Today, these small cards, once the playthings of schoolchildren, are among the highest collectibles of all vintage merchandise.
The game of football is from every aspect is big business, with thousands of items of football memorabilia going on auction or sale every month.
Joining forums and collectors clubs will ensure that you keep up-to-date with any specialist auctions held by established auction houses.
Generally, you will not find items that will make you rich however, you will find memorabilia of interest and maybe even some that will bring back memories if you are a player or fan of the game.