FOOTBALL fans gearing up for the Euros should keep an eye out for merch that could be worth up to £60,000 in future.
This year's Euros kicks off today in Germany, and fans will be forking out for memorabilia to commemorate the tournament.
But it's worth picking what you purchase carefully, as some items could be worth a small fortune one day.
David Convery, head of sporting memorabilia and collectables at Graham Budd auction house, said that the best investments to make from the tournament are match shirts.
The most valuable Euros shirts of all time have sold for tens of thousands of pounds.
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The highest value items are those that have been match worn and come directly from the player – and the more important the match, the higher the value, he said.
Shirts for those who have scored key goals in past matches have sold for anything between £10,000 and £60,000.
These are:
- Marco Van Basten (Netherlands, Euro 1988) – £40,000-60,000
- Paul Gascoigne (England, Euro 1996) – £30,000-50,000
- Davor Suker (Croatia, Euro 1996) – £10,000-20,000
- Ronnie Whelan (Ireland, Euro 1988) – £10,000-20,000
- Tomas Brolin (Sweden, Euro 1992) – £10,000-15,000
“The shirt and medal markets continue to be the sections that generate the most amount of interest in terms of cost and competitive bidding,” Mr Convery explained.
But, boots and balls are also valuable, while programmes and tickets may also be worth more down the line.
“Collectors might also focus on programmes and tickets, boots, balls, cigarette cards or trading cards. The appeal to collectors is often nostalgia, the need to complete a set or rarity – and sometimes one-upmanship," Mr Convery added.
"If your pocket can’t stretch that far, try to get your hands on a complete run of programmes or tickets.
"Plus, any quirky collectables may also fetch money in the future.
“And there are 10 host cities, so collecting a poster or relevant memorabilia from each of the cities would be advisable too.”
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Mr Convery added that any memorabilia will rocket in value if England – who play their first match against Serbia on Sunday – go on to lift the trophy in Berlin on July 14th – ditto if Scotland, who open the tournament against the host nation on Friday, win.
But less exclusive memorabilia can still bring extra money into your coffers too – and it doesn’t have to be from a historic event like the 1966 World Cup either.
“Regardless of how modern items are, eBay and similar sites show that there are potential buyers, including for programmes, tickets or ephemera relating to your favourite club,“ he explained.
“The most common items would be match programmes – and values vary vastly depending on age, popularity and rarity.”
The record for the biggest amount reached was a programme for the FA Cup Final between Old Etonians and Blackburn Rovers back in 1882 – it sold for a whopping £35,320 at auction.
It’s important to do your research to make sure you get the best price for your memorabilia - don't just accept the first price you're given.
“Speak with specialists, discuss estimates and, if you’re selling with an auction house, agree a reserve price,” David advised.
“If your item is specific to a tournament like the Euros, check to see if there is a special auction taking place to coincide with the item.”
Make sure you keep any certificates of authentication, when one applies, and note down the history of the item in case you are asked.
Online auction sites such as eBay can be worth looking at to sell your football valuables and there are also an array of websites dedicated to buying and selling particular items (especially programmes, cigarette cards and even used tickets) that can be found by a simple Google search.
For shirts and boots, try second-hand selling sites like Vinted or Depop, which have lower selling fees and work on more of a ‘buy it now’ principle than eBay.
David’s advice would be to use a reputable auction room if your collection is valuable.
“You will have peace of mind and can buy with confidence – and if there’s an issue with the sale then you would have some recourse.”
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