Collecting Football (soccer) autographs

[inkystu]

Hi all.
I don't live particularly close to any half-decent football clubs so the few genuine signatures in my collection are either ttm (which can be a bit hit-and-miss) or have been purchased.

If I wanted to increase the size of my collection should I stick to ttm?
Or should I go to a few matches - if so, where should I need to position myself in the stadium to get some signings? Or could I position myself outside the stadium somewhere to guarantee coming across some footballers?

Is it worth visiting training grounds? If so, are any better than others? I'd be happy to travel more or less anywhere if I thought it was worth it!

There must be some footie experts on the forum so any info or informative stories would be very welcome.

Cheers,
Inky.

[cb1892]

I used to go to Celtic Park in Glasgow around about lunch-time because I knew that the team trained across the street and returned to the stadium for showers. (they now have showers and a new training ground so don't do it now)

I'd hang about outside the training grounds if I were you, most of them are there everyday - I don't think too many people will be hanging around so they might sign for you.

[CrazyClum]

I stand outside Ibrox Stadium after a match - although time is difficult as I travel from the Midlands up to Glasgow.
The big players such as Kris Boyd and Ferguson tend to sneak out of the side exit as there is a big line of fans at the main entrance - so I stand there and see them just about each week.

Do your research whilst going to a match, or arrive THREE hours before the match and stand outside the main entrance.

Hope this helps

[sblfc3]

the training grounds are gettting more popular now like liverpools training ground. There is a sign saying that the players do not sign but some the players still do tho.

Hope this helps

Sean

[chocolatelee]

Training Ground is a good choice.

[autographfanno1]

I'd say Stadiums on a match-day - arrive FOUR HOURS before kick-off if you can get them pre-match (ie Fulham, Spurs if you're in the right seats, Southampton, Reading, Crystal Palace etc.) and sometimes players will sign during their warm-up and at half time.
After the matches the gates where the players park are open so you can easily get them at most stadiums post-match.
Add to that you get a great game of football, so it's a good deal IMO.

[scouser#1]

Hi all.
I don't live particularly close to any half-decent football clubs so the few genuine signatures in my collection are either ttm (which can be a bit hit-and-miss) or have been purchased.

If I wanted to increase the size of my collection should I stick to ttm?
Or should I go to a few matches - if so, where should I need to position myself in the stadium to get some signings? Or could I position myself outside the stadium somewhere to guarantee coming across some footballers?

Is it worth visiting training grounds? If so, are any better than others? I'd be happy to travel more or less anywhere if I thought it was worth it!

There must be some footie experts on the forum so any info or informative stories would be very welcome.

Cheers,
Inky.

Hi,
You could go to the grounds after matche's to try and get player's autograph's although not all player's will sign (depending on the team and the player etc..) the best place to wait is outside the player's entrance but to get a good spot you would have to be there around 30 minutes + because most fans wait after football matche's nowdays trying to get autograph's.
As for training grounds it really does depend on the player's and which football club it is (manchester united are bad for signing at their training ground as the club do not allow the player's to sign some clubs do have a policy like this) some will stop and sign others will simply drive past and ignore everyone so its best to do some research to see whether or not the player's sign after training it save's you making journey thats just going to be wasted.
The only training ground i have been to is Aston Villa but the player's are fantastic for signing for the fans and take time to chat, take pictures etc..
All the big teams like Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man United etc i wouldn't expect to sign so those clubs would be a waste of time, the less high profile clubs would be the best to try at the training grounds.
It's completely upto you if you want to continue writing ttm, but you could write, travel to training grounds and wait after matche's if you wanted to, you would probably get more autograph's that way.

Hope This Helps
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