Over the years I have added quite a bit of football memorabilia into my collection, especially since moving out I have added a fair but however, I have also managed to save some bits from whilst I was growing up too which I am very grateful for. It was rare that I ever got rid of my shirts and I would also pick up bits from attending games, online events and I would also receive things as gifts from family. As I have got older my love for the sport has only grown so I have added more and more pieces to my collection, especially since earning my own money and since moving into our own home we have added more to create a football theme around the house which is only getting better and better with every piece we add. With every addition though it seems to bring a new favourite however, there are some items that are solid favourites and these are...

Signed Bradford City Training Shirt

This was a gift from my parents at Christmas a few years ago and it is one of my most prized possessions. This training (warm up shirt) is signed by the Bradford City 18/19 squad and is printed with Darby 2 printed on the back. Stephen Darby is one of my all time favourite City players and I think he always will be so to have this shirt and know that the money went to the Darby Rimmer MND foundation which is a fantastic cause. I really wanted one of these and kept hinting to the family and honestly I don't know how they managed to keep it a surprise until Christmas day, now it is hung proudly at the top of the stairs for everyone to see. 

Lucy Bronze Shirt

It is quite funny that this is actually on the list as the Manchester City shirt was actually purchased for just £4 at our nearest Nike outlet years ago, I never intended to get it printed but a few weeks later I changed my mind and ended up getting Bronze 2 printed on the back from our local DW Sports store. A few weeks later Bradford City Women were having an event which was a Q&A with Lucy and you got to meet her too so of course we ended up with tickets and I took my shirt along to be signed. Now this is hung next to my Darby shirt at the top of the stairs and I don't plan on moving it anytime soon unless it is to get it framed. 

Keyring From Fiorentina 

When I was younger my dad worked as a steward at Bradford City so me and my mum went to plenty of games. One of my favourite moments growing up though was when we went to see Bradford City vs Fiorentina back in 2000. I was only 5/6 at this point and whilst waiting for my dad after the game we ended up meeting the Fiorentina players and they were fantastic they gave us merchandise and even food that they had left over from after the game, they were just lovely and it is an interaction I will always remember. I still have the keyring they gave us that day and even though it is an item that doesn't even say Fiorentina on it, the keyring will always remind me of that day and those interactions. It is thanks to this Fiorentina are one of my favourite teams abroad too they definitely left a lasting impression. 

Bradford City Captains Armband

This armband was actually a present for Liam but I guess seen as we live together now it is something in my collection too or at least that was the aim when buying it. I purchased this armband which is signed by James Vaughan from the Bradford City Christmas market back in 2019 and honestly I only got this due to running out of ideas of what to get Liam for Christmas that year. I am so glad I did though as Vaughan ended up going out of loan so was no longer our captain plus it is from the season that was never completed for the club so I guess you could say it is a little memory from a moment in history. I would love to add more things like this into our collection too over time as the presentation from the club in displaying this is fantastic and it looks great hung on our wall. 

Manchester United vs Benfica Programme from 1968

This was a gift from my grandparents for my 16th or 18th birthday and I love it. Unfortunately though at the moment this programme is round at my parents being kept safe until our house is fully redecorated as this is so old I don't want to risk it getting damaged after me looking after it so long, plus I don't want to store it somewhere in the house where I may end up misplacing it. They actually got me this programme from a flea market at a town local too us and it is the original from the game. For years I had this proudly on display in my room as it is a little piece of Manchester United history and as soon as the house is fully redecorated I will have this on display with the rest of our football items. 

My 1st Bradford City Shirt

This could very easily be my overall favourite from this post as it is one of the very first football items I owned and it is even signed making it even more special. I am so glad my parents kept hold of this one for me and that I still have it today as it is definitely one of those items where you just look back and think 'well I guess this is where it all began'. I think once the hallway is redecorated this might also end up being framed and hung up in the hallway/ staircase with the rest of our football items as it is that special.

So those are my favourite pieces of football memorabilia that I have got over the years, I know that I will be continuing to buy pieces for years to come and no doubt our house will be over run with pieces soon enough but this is definitely something I love as there are some great pieces out there to be purchased. What is your favourite piece of footballing memorabilia that you own?   

When I was younger I loved going to football and rugby games and purchasing a programme but I slowly changed that as I got a bit older and I started to only purchase programmes from games that were big games or ones I definitely wanted to remember due to something in them such as interviews or even posters back in the day. Sometimes it was even a case of a programme having my favourite player on the front and that is all it took for me to make the purchase. 

So here are the programmes I have managed to find in my collection...

Then we have my current collection of Bradford City Women's programmes. These are definitely going to be my prized possessions as they have articles in that we wrote specifically for them. Never did I think I would be writing for their programme so this is a huge achievement for me and one I am certainly always going to remember. 

Now this is a programme I am questioning as I don't have a clue why I have it. This programme is from the Community Shield game back in 2004 between Arsenal & Manchester United. I know I certainly didn't go to this game so I can only imagine that my dad or grandad had a friend who went and brought me a programme back. I am glad I have this though as there is something about it I love. 

I have a small selection of Manchester United programmes which I have gained from the few games I have managed to go to. I have definitely been to more games than I have programmes for but the one with Phil Neville on is from my first United game so that holds a lot of memories for me. I also have one from years ago which I picked up from a market a while back. I would love to add more Man Utd programmes into my collection. 

One of my favourite programmes in my collection has to be this one from my first trip to Wembley. It is a shame that first trip had to end in defeat but of course the occasion had to be marked with me picking up a programme. It seems to have become a great place for me to store the tickets from that game too.

I don't have as many Bradford City programmes as I would like to be honest but the ones I do have are brilliant as I even have the Bradford vs Chelsea one somewhere, I just wish I knew where. I have a memorial programme to mark the anniversary of the fire, I have one with my favourite Kai Bruenker on it, one from after the Chelsea win and most importantly I have one from the game vs Leeds which we ended up winning.  I know I definitely have plenty more Bradford programmes dotted around my parents house so maybe it is time I went to find them. 

It wasn't just football matches I picked up programmes for as I went to lot of rugby matches when I was younger too. To be honest as I got older I started to only buy the ones for those important matches I went to and these are the only ones I kept hold of as they are from a few of the Grand Final's I went to. I also have a Bradford Bulls one somewhere in the house that I am actually in so I may have to try find that out, if I do I will post a picture of it on Instagram.

So there you have it those are some of my prized possessions also known as my programme collection. I honestly wish I kept hold of or could find some of my missing programmes as there are some from some great games that have disappeared. I think my favourites are the ones from Bradford City Women where we are printed in them and also the Leeds vs Arsenal Women's FA Cup programme. I also have a Manchester United 1968 Champions League final programme somewhere which I really need to find.  

What are your favourite programmes in your collection? 

Normally writing this post would be easy for me as I usually get instant favourites when it comes to Bradford City however, this year it is really difficult as the players haven't consistently been performing anywhere near how they should be in League 2 and honestly it has been painful watching games on iFollow most weekends as you just know what is going to happen before kick off. Since they let go of McCall things have improved but with us yet to play in 2021 it does make you wonder if the lack of game time is going to revert players back to the start of the season performances. There are a few players that do seem to be making more of an effort and doing well with what they have around them and to be honest they are my current favourites as they are showing they want to play and get the results for the fans. It is funny as two of these players would never normally have made it on to the list however, they are really beginning to prove themselves. So here are those few current favourites...

Connor Wood 

To me Connor has been a stand out player for a while now. He works so hard on that left wing it is just a shame that others aren't on the end of the brilliant crosses he puts into the box. You always see him on the break then trying his hardest to get back into that defensive line to help out the rest of his defense as no one else seems to track back as much. He has provided plenty of chances but the rest of the team just don't seem to be able to keep up or get in the right positions to actually finish the chances. 

Anthony O'Connor

 Surprisingly Anthony O'Connor has made it onto the list as I feel he has really improved as a player and is really showing just how much he wants to be in the starting 11 week in week out.  There have been a few times when O'Connor has been playing out of his position this season but I really do believe that he has stepped up and helped up in conceding less goals than we already have. A few seasons ago his name would be nowhere near this but now I think he is really starting to show improvement. 

Billy Clarke

3rd time lucky for Billy I guess, honestly I have never really been his biggest fan but this season I find that he is doing better than previously and is really trying his best to turn things around get the results we should be getting. Billy is another player who hasn't really been in his preferred position for most of this season but he is doing well with what he has been given. Let's hope any new manager we get can help him achieve his full potential and help him get on the score sheet more often & help City out of the trouble they are in. 

Lets hope that when the team continue playing as they should be and actually start looking like they are going to continue to win games instead of the same story week after week that City fans have become used to. Who knows then some players may end up redeeming themselves and making it onto this list. 

Over the years that I have been supporting Bradford City we have had some great players but also had some massive flops too. My earliest memories are of watching Bradford playing in the Premiership with some fantastic names that really stood out then as I grew old and the teams changed there were plenty more names that stood out and in my opinion made an impact. So here are those players who made it onto my list of favourite past Bradford City players, I have to admit these were definitely easy picks as these are always the names that stand out to me when anyone asked who my favourites have been over the years. 

Stuart McCall

Current Bradford City manager Stuart McCall is a Bradford City legend in my eyes, he was a fantastic player in the midfield for City over the years and made a definite impact. He's also been back to manage the team and is currently trying his best to get the current side back in form like he did in his last stint at the club when they reached the League 1 play off final. There is also that fantastic moment where he is celebrating on top of the car with a can of beer and falls off which makes me laugh every time. 

Dean Windass

I don't know what it is about Windass but he has always been a player I have loved for City. Bagging himself 75 goals in his two stints at the club in my eyes he was fantastic it was great growing up having a player like him on the team I watched. Plus that goal he scored for Hull to win them promotion you just can't beat it. 

Rory McArdle

I would happily have Rory back at the club any day as he was a player I loved to watch play. A real no nonsense defender who put in some brilliant challenge and provided some great goals in his 183 appearances for the club between 2012 & 2017. I am sure he often mistook being a defender for being a wrestler with some of the challenges he made but he always made the defence that little bit safer when he was playing. 

 

Stephen Darby

It is actually thanks to Darby I ended up following Man City women but that is a story for another day. Darby was a great player at right back for the club and to be honest it shows just how good he was for the club when you look at how that position has declined since he left the club to head to Bolton. For me Darby was a great captain and was really influential in the clubs success during the time he was playing for the club.  

Benito Carbone 

Benito Carbone is a name I think I am always going to remember. Carbone was at the club just as I was really enjoying the game with my mum, he is probably the first big name (well big for Bradford)  I ever picked up on and although he wasn't at City for long he is always going to be one of my favourites. I do believe if he stayed at the club a little longer and I was a bit older to appreciate the game at the time he was with us he may be even further up my favourites list.

David Wetherall 

The hero that kept us in the Premier League for another year. This for me made Wetherall one of my favourite players in its own right as that goal against Liverpool kept us in the league. Unfortunately he was hit with plenty of injuries whilst at the club but he still went on to make 304 appearances for the club in just under a 10 year period which for any player is a great achievement. 

If you follow or have watched Bradford City who would make your list of favourite past players who have worn that Bradford City shirt? 

 Manchester United haven't had the best start the best start to the season at all and something needs to start turning around in their favour soon. As many of you will know Manchester United have been a team I have followed closely for a long time now and I still do so seeing them in the state they are currently in isn't fun at all. However, although they are on a bad run now I still have favourite players who I think make a difference in the games they play in and if only the rest of the team worked like them, well maybe then results will turn around and they will start getting 3 points for a change. So here are my favourite Manchester United players currently... 

McTominay 

Scott McTominay is one of those players who at just a young age is already starting to show a lot of potential. I think if he gets the support and guidance needed from the club and the older midfielders at the club he could really become a household name and a world class midfielder. He isn't afraid to put in a challenge and is great at creating & being a part of any attacks too. He could really be a key midfielder for Man Utd in the next few seasons. 

Fernandes

Bruno Fernandes is a player I have been really looking forward to seeing play and to be honest he hasn't disappointed me. Fernandes is certainly a play maker and if he could just get the rest of the team on the same wave length and they could be dominating in attacks once again. I just hope he doesn't get frustrated with the rest of the team as that could see his performance slip. 

Martial 

Last season Martial really impressed me, when Rashford was injured he really stepped up and made a positive impact and really helped United get back into those Champions League spots. I think with the right delivery and amount of game time this season he could certainly be a very influential player for United and how they turn their season around. 

Williams

Just like with McTominay, Brandon Williams is another player who is just a young age but already starting to show progress and how good of a player he can be. In the 19/20 season he played some fantastic games and really showed what he was made of. Give him guidance and support and I think we could soon enough see the academy graduate become a permanent name on the United team sheet as the world sees his potential. 

Rashford

Marcus Rashford isn't just an influential figure on the pitch he is also one off the pitch too. Honestly with all the press on him at the moment I was a little worried that he may buckle under the pressure and his performance on the field may suffer but that hasn't been the case at all. Towards the end of last season he was doing really well after returning from injury and he has started this season off pretty well too, he just needs the team around him to perk up too and we might start seeing more goals from him and some results. 

Shaw

I never thought Luke Shaw would make it onto my favourite players list as I have never really been a fan of his. However, I think he has shown a bit of progress this season and been able to get United into some good positions with no one unable to offer him the support he needs when he has made a break down the left. I would definitely say he has been one of those standout players in an otherwise shocking defensive line which certainly needs work. He seems to be more confident attacking this season too and tracking back so his fitness must have certainly improved. 

Obviously this list changes on a season basis as the seasons progress and players come and go so I am sure you will see plenty of updated versions of this post in the future but for now these are my top 6 players in the United team from the 19/20 & 20/21 seasons. Who are you enjoying watching play for Manchester United these days if anyone? 

I never thought I would see the day that football and other sports were cancelled but that is what 2020 held for us. Competitions were either put on hold or cancelled all together which was crazy as who would ever expect that? When the leagues did eventually return fans weren't allowed back in the grounds so games were behind closed doors which was a very strange atmosphere whilst watching it on the TV, it just didn't feel the same. Fans were eventually allowed to return to the grounds but only in small numbers and the rules kept on changing meaning no one actually knew where they stood and clubs weren't bringing in the revenue that they usually would. It was certainly challenging times for clubs especially those lower league ones. It definitely was a strange year not going to as many games as I usually would but I know we will be back properly hopefully in the near future.

Even though there weren't many games to report on we still managed to adapt and create other content that helped us see the blog and social media channels grow. To say we have only been going for just over a year it is crazy to see the progress we have made already. We even got asked if we would like to work with Bradford City Women again which was absolutely fantastic as it has been great writing the articles for them and working with them. We even managed to sponsor a player which was fantastic as that was one of the main goals for the year and we ticked that off. 

The love for football shirts definitely grew through the year too as most of the time was spent looking at them on Instagram, twitter and YouTube my collection didn't grow too much but I did make a few new additions with more I want to add in the very near future, writing about shirts definitely helped reignite that love. 

Now that we are in the new year lets hope that some normality returns so we can get back to reporting on games, working on more content out of the house and getting on those stadium tours we hope to do. I am looking forward to seeing where 2021 takes us. 

 So we have had my favourite overseas shirts from the home and away selection. So now we have my favourite 3rd shirts from overseas. It was certainly a difficult decision when narrowing down my selection but here are the shirts that stand out to me the most...

Red Bull Leipzig 

Inter Milan

Juventus 

Barcelona

Ajax

Just like the Barcelona away shirt the Ajax shirt is a nice simple black shirt with gold on and a bit of grey down the side of the black. As I said with the Barcelona away shirt I love the black and gold colourway but I love how Adidas have incorporated that bit of grey to add a little extra to this shirt. Adidas have brought out some fantastic shirts this season and this is no exception. 

So there you have it those are my favourite 3rd shirts for this season from overseas there are quite a few of these that I want to add to my collection but which would you pick?