From Panini to the Premier League: The GSC Founder’s 40 Year Journey in Collecting.

If you had told 4 year old me back in 1984, walking up to Goodison Park hand in hand with my Dad that one day I’d be co-hosting the UK’s biggest sports card and memorabilia show at Brighton’s Amex Stadium, I’d have thought you were talking nonsense. But here we are.

That very first trip to watch Everton sparked something in me. The noise, the passion, the colours. Football was instantly everything. And like any good 80s kid, I didn’t just watch the game, I collected it.

Panini, World Cups and the Sound of Nostalgia

My childhood was defined by Panini stickers. The Top Flight of English Football albums, the iconic World Cup editions and the endless schoolyard swaps. And of course, Italia 90. That was my first World Cup I truly remember. To this day, the haunting beauty of Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma gives me goosebumps and brings me right back to that magical summer.

Football cards and stickers weren’t the only things I was collecting. Shirts were another obsession. Obviously I had my Everton kits and England strips but in the 90s I was drawn to the beautiful game beyond the British Isles. I proudly wore the green Ajax ABN Amro shirt (very rare to see back then) and the Barcelona kits too. It felt bold. It felt different. It felt like I was part of something other than British football.

Then Life Happened…

Like most collectors, I grew up. Became an adult. Got on with life. My collecting took different forms but the flame never really went out. And then one day, everything changed again.

The Day I Met ‘Uncle Fora’

Walking through Brighton one afternoon I spotted a shop with the word Fora and a football logo on the sign. Curious, I wandered in and within minutes was chatting to the man, the myth, the legend – Kev, AKA Uncle Fora.

If you were lucky enough to visit his shop, you’ll know it wasn’t just a shop. It was a museum. A temple of stickers and cards, from Pelé and Maradona to Valderrama and Garrincha. It was magic. Pure childhood bottled up. And for me, it was the beginning of a friendship and a partnership that would eventually lead to something quite incredible.

The Brighton Sports Card & Memorabilia Show Was Born

Yes, that same Kev and I now co-host the Brighton Sports Card & Memorabilia Show(@brightonsportscardshow) – the biggest sports event of its kind in the UK. Thousands of collectors, traders and fans walking through the doors of the Amex Stadium to celebrate their shared love of sports memorabilia, rare cards, signed shirts and more. But that deserves its own blog, so keep your eyes peeled.

Why I Launched Global Sports Collectibles

I’ve been collecting for 40 years. It’s been in my DNA since day one. From Panini stickers to signed boots, from match-worn shirts to rare cards and ticket stubs, I’ve always been drawn to the tangible magic of the game.

At one point, I bought the actual match ball that Wayne Rooney scored his first ever professional goal with against Arsenal. I held onto it for 12 months and sold it for 5x what I paid. That was the moment I realised this hobby was more than just nostalgia it has real value.

After years in the rat race and NHS life, I decided it was time to make a go of something I love. GSC isn’t just about selling cards and memorabilia. It’s about celebrating the stories, the memories, and the history of sport. It’s about connecting collectors across generations.

What’s Next?

The plan is simple but ambitious – to have over 2000 products listed by the end of 2025 and to travel far and wide to source the finest memorabilia the world has to offer. From Premier League shirts to World Cup treasures, I want Global Sports Collectibles to be your go to for the very best in the hobby.

There are so many stories and so many amazing people I’ve met along the way too many to name here but I’ll be sharing more every week.

Thanks for joining me on the journey.

Let’s make history together.

Graeme