Many people are now purchasing signed football shirts as either part of a personal collection or as a gift for a friend or loved one. There are many things to take into consideration before purchasing as the sports memorabilia market has taken some major criticism in recent years. The important thing is not to let this put you off as there are many very reputable companies out there presently and they are selling 100% authentic memorabilia.
Now is a great time to purchase a signed football shirt as well as various other sports memorabilia items as the sports world is currently full of world class stars who have become very famous outside of the sporting arena. You only have to take a look at the Premier League to see the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard, Robinho, Fernando Torres and Wayne Rooney.
Firstly it is important to decide exactly why you want to purchase a signed football shirt. Is it going to be part of a personal collection or is it a gift for someone else? You may be purchasing it because it is your favourite player or team or your primary concern could be the items investment potential? If you want your shirt to increase in value then choose very carefully which player or team you want. Obviously signatures of the tops stars like Ronaldo and Gerrard are going to increase in value, but if the market is saturated by these particular players then this is going to have a negative effect.
Once you have decided what exactly you want then be very careful choosing the company you purchase from. Feel free to ask them as many questions as you like before making a decision. If they are genuine then they will be happy to answer pretty much anything. Don’t be fooled by ridiculously cheap items! If something is that cheap then it is more than likely FAKE. A shirt signed by the likes of Fernando Torres or Wayne Rooney should cost you in the region of 139 – 175. There is no point in buying a piece of signed sports memorabilia if it isn’t authentic. If you want the real thing then you will need to pay what it is worth.
Another important part of collecting sports memorabilia and something that is often not taken seriously is how you display it. Many people spend serious amounts of money putting together a great collection and then display it poorly. There is no point buying a beautiful Lionel Messi signed FC Barcelona shirt and then displaying it in a cheap wooden frame. A cheap frame or display case can make an expensive piece of memorabilia look very ordinary! Take as much time in finding and choosing your method of displaying your memorabilia as you do in purchasing the item itself.
In summary please follow these steps:-
Take time to decide exactly which piece of sporting memorabilia you want.
Research different sports memorabilia companies and ask as many questions as you like before making a decision.
Don’t go for the cheapest items as the chances are they may be fake.
Spend as much time on deciding how you are going to display the item as you do buying it.