In a recent survey Manchester United came out on top as the world’s most searched for football shirt according to Google trends. This is also true of signed Manchester United memorabilia, with sales of genuine signed items from the likes of Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, and other teammates soaring, alongside heritage players like Ronaldo, Beckham, Best and Charlton. It come as no surprise as the Reds maintain their position as the biggest British football club in the world. It has the largest global fanbase by far and has boasted some of the biggest names in football history passing through the ranks.
Sales of signed sports memorabilia has soared in recent years with incredible prices being achieved for the most coveted items. Historic memorabilia such as medals and match worn shirts have gone for the highest sums, with George Best’s 1968 European Cup winders medal selling for £156,000 at auction. Busby Babe Duncan Edward’s England cap sold for £20,000 in 2012, dwarfing the £15 a week he was paid playing for the club, and Ryan Giggs match-worn1999 FA Cup semi-final shirt going for £29,000 in 2017.
By far the most expensive piece of Red’s memorabilia ever sold was David Beckham’s Champions League winner’s medal, awarded in the treble-winning season of 1999, which went for an astonishing £478,000 in 2021. Prices for heritage items are soaring, but not everyone has access to rarest, (imagine finding one in your loft!), that’s where sports memorabilia stores come in. For a fairly modest sum you can be the proud owner of a genuine autograph or signed photographic display. Buying from online auctions will always be a risky business, as you really don’t know if the item is authentic or not, and because of their very nature there are a lot of fakes around! That’s why it’s far better to buy from a specialist online retailer.
One such company is Firma Stella, whose owner Peter Johnson set up shop ten years ago autograph hunting outside the world’s biggest stadiums. Selling a range of signed items from Football, Rugby, Cricket, and Tennis, to Snooker, Film, TV, Darts, and other minority sports, they have the biggest selection of signed Manchester United shirts in the world, many of which are pre-framed. They also have a broad selection of unsigned shirts which are cheaper. You just need to find a reliable framer so you can get the shirt on your wall. They can do that for you of course, for a modest fee. Every item comes with a holographic certificate of authenticity, which means that there is a numbered hologram on the shirt which matches that on the shirt. The company also offers a lifetime guarantee, giving you the comfort that it’s 100% genuine.
So why would you buy signed memorabilia? It’s that connection with the team, the player, the moment, which can magically transport you back in time. The famous solo Giggs’ goal against Arsenal in the 1999 FA cup semi-final, Beckhams pass, loped over to Teddy Sheringham who glanced it to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who stuck out his leg to secure the game and the 1999 Treble in the last minute! Those golden moments are frozen in time with that special piece of memorabilia – a permanent memento of a glorious event.
These items not only look great but they are increasing in value as the years tick by. Prices for some of the rarest items have soared in recent years. Players inevitably pass away and those that are playing are signing fewer items outside of a limited number of private signings, so existing memorabilia gets more expensive! From signed Man Utd shirts to footballs, boots, goalkeeper gloves and captain armbands to simple photo montages, the options are endless, and all can be framed for display!
