Got...got...need
May 6, 2014 8:49 AM Subscribe
The World Cup is on the way, and for many kids (and nostalgic adults) that means only one thing: stickers.
The biggest name in football stickerage is the Italian firm Panini, who is to UK schoolchildren what Topps is to those in North America - although the latter is now getting in the act. (Want Premier League albums? Then you want Merlin, and this Hemulen-esque tale of one man's attempt to complete his set..) Each World Cup and Euro year, a new album is produced - many have fond memories of collecting Mexico 86 or Italia 90. Even young Arsenal and Costa Rica player Joel Campbell is desperate tyo complete his album. However, this year, sponsorship has brought controversy to the noble pastime.
I've been struggling to find good scans of albums, but here's how England looked in 1986 and with some nice scans of individual players.
The biggest name in football stickerage is the Italian firm Panini, who is to UK schoolchildren what Topps is to those in North America - although the latter is now getting in the act. (Want Premier League albums? Then you want Merlin, and this Hemulen-esque tale of one man's attempt to complete his set..) Each World Cup and Euro year, a new album is produced - many have fond memories of collecting Mexico 86 or Italia 90. Even young Arsenal and Costa Rica player Joel Campbell is desperate tyo complete his album. However, this year, sponsorship has brought controversy to the noble pastime.
I've been struggling to find good scans of albums, but here's how England looked in 1986 and with some nice scans of individual players.
...that means only one thing: stickers vuvzela's. FTFY
posted by Confess, Fletch at 9:19 AM on May 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Confess, Fletch at 9:19 AM on May 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
I still have a vuvuzela app on my phone from the last World Cup. It still annoys the hell out of people.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 9:28 AM on May 6, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 9:28 AM on May 6, 2014 [4 favorites]
You need to be following @OldSchoolPanini
Occasionally a twitpic will send you on a nostalgic reverie normally conjured only by long lost aromas.
I have fond memories of Figurine Panini over '80-'84. They branched far beyond football; including the Buck Rogers collection and Dune, yes that Dune. Though that album is not the legend.. I present the Dune Activity Book!
posted by artaxerxes at 9:29 AM on May 6, 2014
Occasionally a twitpic will send you on a nostalgic reverie normally conjured only by long lost aromas.
I have fond memories of Figurine Panini over '80-'84. They branched far beyond football; including the Buck Rogers collection and Dune, yes that Dune. Though that album is not the legend.. I present the Dune Activity Book!
posted by artaxerxes at 9:29 AM on May 6, 2014
I still have a purple vuvuzela from the Ravens superbowl win and it still annoys the hell out of people. I love it.
posted by josher71 at 9:46 AM on May 6, 2014
posted by josher71 at 9:46 AM on May 6, 2014
Of course, the only correct place to store your doublers was down your sock (blazer pockets had things lurking, injurious to stickers, such as sour monkeys and snap-its). This resulted in a mad scramble should someone attempt playground athletics and forget to remove their sticker stash. Gentlemen would gather and return the scattered heroes; the worst fight I saw was with a cad who refused to give back a Trevor Francis he claimed to have found.
posted by scruss at 10:00 AM on May 6, 2014
posted by scruss at 10:00 AM on May 6, 2014
My first World Cup was Argentina '78 and I do remember the sticker madness somewhat leading up to the games, although there were other sticker collections competing at the same time though.
That being said, I have a distinct olfactory recall of Spain '82. Just opening the packs and smelling the stickers was probably my first true addiction.
posted by jsavimbi at 10:19 AM on May 6, 2014
That being said, I have a distinct olfactory recall of Spain '82. Just opening the packs and smelling the stickers was probably my first true addiction.
posted by jsavimbi at 10:19 AM on May 6, 2014
From the comments:
I'm lucky I have a 2 year old son now so I can justify buying them. I think the shop assistants know they're really for me. He would only stick them in the wrong place so it's only in his interests that I do it!
Way to stifle creativity!
I do kind of like the slightly off look of many of the pictures. Like the sticker companies could have had much more polished looking images but decided "what the heck; good enough."
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:01 AM on May 6, 2014
I'm lucky I have a 2 year old son now so I can justify buying them. I think the shop assistants know they're really for me. He would only stick them in the wrong place so it's only in his interests that I do it!
Way to stifle creativity!
I do kind of like the slightly off look of many of the pictures. Like the sticker companies could have had much more polished looking images but decided "what the heck; good enough."
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:01 AM on May 6, 2014
Presenting vuvuzela 2: caxirola, although they may be banned at the World Cup.
posted by marienbad at 11:03 AM on May 6, 2014
posted by marienbad at 11:03 AM on May 6, 2014
Hahaha, in my school the trend was to take your doubles, carefully cut out the facial features, and stick them onto a different sticker to make some kind of sinister Photofit.
posted by mippy at 11:45 AM on May 6, 2014
posted by mippy at 11:45 AM on May 6, 2014
Hahaha, in my school the trend was to take your doubles, carefully cut out the facial features, and stick them onto a different sticker to make some kind of sinister Photofit.
Hey, I thought I invented that!?
posted by popcassady at 11:48 AM on May 6, 2014
Hey, I thought I invented that!?
posted by popcassady at 11:48 AM on May 6, 2014
My nephew's 11th birthday is coming up. Do kids in North America collect these?
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:49 AM on May 6, 2014
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:49 AM on May 6, 2014
That being said, I have a distinct olfactory recall of Spain '82.
Pannini stickers and Star Wars toys. The only smell that comes close these days is the 'new Mac' smell.
posted by popcassady at 11:50 AM on May 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
Pannini stickers and Star Wars toys. The only smell that comes close these days is the 'new Mac' smell.
posted by popcassady at 11:50 AM on May 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
They can never beat the pure joy of the Mexico 70 Esso coins
posted by fallingbadgers at 1:19 PM on May 6, 2014
posted by fallingbadgers at 1:19 PM on May 6, 2014
I knew it would be Panini! Now I want the current year's...but as a grown-up there won't be so much opportunity to trade, I guess, except online.
posted by fiercecupcake at 1:21 PM on May 6, 2014
posted by fiercecupcake at 1:21 PM on May 6, 2014
As a fan of both soccer and collecting stickers, I have long wanted to give the Panini books a try, but from what I can tell the photos are consistently awful!
Hundreds of head shots? Really? People get excited for this? I do not understand why they don't have better pictures.
posted by NBelarski at 2:02 PM on May 6, 2014
Hundreds of head shots? Really? People get excited for this? I do not understand why they don't have better pictures.
posted by NBelarski at 2:02 PM on May 6, 2014
Mexico '86 was the golden one for me. I was 9, and I must have spent ages looking at my completed sticker book because eventually it fell to bits. Every break time at school would be spent swapping stickers, trying to fill the empty spots in the book. The most fun was when someone completed their book, gathered everyone round, and threw all their leftover spares up in the air ("SCRAMBLE!!"), setting off a mini playground riot as everyone climbed over each other to grab what they could. Good times!
posted by mmmmg at 2:46 PM on May 6, 2014
posted by mmmmg at 2:46 PM on May 6, 2014
My nephew's 11th birthday is coming up. Do kids in North America collect these?
Not to my knowledge.
posted by josher71 at 3:30 PM on May 6, 2014
Not to my knowledge.
posted by josher71 at 3:30 PM on May 6, 2014
I have such fond memories of swapping these (not just football, but Disney movies and tv shows) during recess in elementary school. Annnnd squandering my entire allowance (and then some!) on this shit.
I feel bad for American kids who only get baseball cards.
posted by lydhre at 6:06 PM on May 6, 2014
I feel bad for American kids who only get baseball cards.
posted by lydhre at 6:06 PM on May 6, 2014
I'm now 43 and I'm still opening packs and trading the cards within. The only difference is that now it's Magic: the Gathering instead of Panini football stickers.
Getting the shiny club badge felt much like opening a Planeswalker.
posted by salmacis at 7:14 AM on May 7, 2014
Getting the shiny club badge felt much like opening a Planeswalker.
posted by salmacis at 7:14 AM on May 7, 2014
Colombian teacher accused of stealing children's World Cup Panini stickers
posted by marienbad at 1:01 PM on May 8, 2014
posted by marienbad at 1:01 PM on May 8, 2014
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posted by mippy at 8:53 AM on May 6, 2014