How to Collect Soccer Memorabilia

Soccer is an international sport that is widely popular, with many fans young and old. Soccer was once considered a primarily European sport until the soccer craze hit the U.S. a few decades back and caused a spike in the sports collecting market.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Purchase a set of soccer cards sold in boxes with many different packs inside. Get several different sets of cards covering teams in the U.S. and overseas. Get a few issues of a soccer magazine to get a feel for the sport and look up more stats for the players illustrated on the cards.

2. Collect memorabilia portraying those players who are just making their mark in soccer. Not everyone becomes a David Beckham, but they have to start somewhere. Keep abreast of which players are showing improvement and creating a buzz.

3. Collect official game jerseys from the various soccer teams around the world. This sport is well known for the pride of the players and their fans, as symbolized by the colorful uniforms and flags displayed at games.

4. Gather classic photos of players in their environments. Get the famous photo of David Beckham and Michael Owens at the England National goal celebration. Another all-time great moment in soccer is from the 1999 Women's World Cup championship, an event that inspired classic images of players Brandi Chastain and Mia Hamm.

5. Get to know the respected memorabilia companies in the U.S. and abroad to ensure that every item you purchase is guaranteed authentic.

6. Snag a signed official Wilson soccer ball. A ball signed by a soccer pro is quite a piece of classic memorabilia. Collect cards to place alongside your soccer ball. Any game-used items will also prove extra-special and valuable.

7. Find a well-made league display highlighting a particular season in soccer. You can look for terms such as "limited release" and items that have a limited number of signed copies. This will make the plaque more valuable. Consider a commemorative collage containing a signed jersey and team photo for a special piece of soccer memorabilia.

Tips & Warnings

• You might see the term "football" on websites when you search for soccer memorabilia. In Europe, soccer is typically referred to as football.
• When you buy memorabilia, check the company's history for returning merchandise. Make sure any memorabilia you buy can be fully refunded in case the authenticity of an autograph or other item comes into question.

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on 4/28/2008 Check out www.number1sports.com for soccer memorabilia. There is so much stuff there.