Like a lot of young kids my first experience of footy cards was at school.
I’m almost sure it was the fad between Yo-Yo’s and Marbles, but for me footy cards we’re just that little bit more exciting.
I loved watching the footy on TV and at every opportunity I would nag my parents to take me to the games (NRL games as I grew up in Canberra).
This was back in the days when you could still run out on to the field after the game (without getting a $5000 fine), and there was no bigger thrill than patting your favourite player on the back for a job well done.
Occasionally I was allowed to wait by the dressing room exit for the players to leave after the game.
Up close and personal with these gigantic stars of the game I would eek out a polite request for an autograph. Handing them a copy of their footy card and any felt pen I could find… I’d watch in anticipation as they signed the card and quickly handed it back to me.
What a thrill. No Yo-Yo or Marble in the world has ever made me feel so good. For the next week I’d be showing the card off at school along with a slightly exaggerated story of what my heroes said to me as they signed the card.
Of course back then, I kept my cards together with a large red rubber band. No top loaders, no 9 pocket pages, no deck protectors… just one large red rubber band and lots of cards with rounded corners.
Classic!
Today, I’m a grown man with a child of my own. I’m still a huge fan of footy cards and I still enjoy watching the games (on TV and live). Unfortunately, I no longer have the cards I collected as a kid; thanks to my over-zealous mum who “cleaned up my room and threw away some old junk” just after I left home to go to Uni.
Mum, if you’re reading this “I forgive you“.
“Finally” she says!
And to all the other parents out there who read this don’t worry… when you throw away (or put through the wash) your child’s footy cards… They will be upset for a while — but they too will forgive you in the end! Even if it takes another decade or two. 
Thanks to my very understanding wife (Emma) I’ve gotten right back into footy card collecting over the last few years. With a large and valuable collection, I spotted the opportunity to turn my hobby; something I love, into a part-time business.
As a frustrated collector I was surprised how difficult it was to find and buy the cards I wanted on the web. Sure eBay auctions are exciting and there are loads of cards available, but there was nowhere to buy just the cards I wanted without all the fuss of eBay.
I was lucky enough for a short while to find Rae Harvey’s JustFootball site but before long she decided to close down. I was disappointed to see her go — as I’m sure you were if you had ever purchased cards from her — but her high levels of service encouraged me to pick up where she left off (you may have noticed that I now own the JustFootball.com.au domain name as well as the FootyStars.com.au domain name).
I started preparing the FootyStars site with you, the collector in mind.
I know you want simplicity, I know you want to see what you’re buying, I know you want great prices, and fast delivery, and great prices!
I know because this is what I want. I’m a collector just like you and these things are all important to me.
Things like the condition of the card — crisp, mint condition — should be automatic and at www.FootyStars.com.au they are. Well packaged cards that are fully protected and promptly posted are also high on our agenda.
Payment options of Cash, Cheque, Money Order, Bank Transfer, PayPal or secure Credit Card transactions too. When I’m buying cards I want to pay the way I want to pay, not the way someone else forces me to! Which is why you have all those choices with us — whatever your preference… the choice is yours!
But all that stuff focuses only on today. I wanted to focus on the future as well. To encourage kids, of all ages to get involved in the hobby. I want to see more kids in the playground talking about footy card collecting.
I want them to experience the thrill of opening a pack of cards and finding a signature card inside!
The buzz, the excitement, the ecstasy… how special that moment is for a child. Just put yourself in their shoes for a moment and think what it would be like.
That’s why on our site you’ll find short articles discussing the card collecting hobby. That’s why we take the time to explain why a card is valuable — rather than just give the insert ratio per pack, and that’s why we take the time to write this newsletter.
Footy card collecting is fun and the more kids we can encourage to take up the hobby the stronger our hobby will be.
If you’re a parent, I encourage you to take the time to educate your child about footy card collecting. It’s a great hobby that’s safe and relatively inexpensive, and it’s something they can continue for the rest of their life.
If your a kid, take a minute, visit our site at www.FootyStars.com.au and read some of the short articles about footy cards… because card collecting is fun and you can do it for the rest of your life.
I sincerely look forward to writing to you each month as I publish this newsletter. I hope you find the information interesting, educational and maybe even a little entertaining.
Yours in card collecting,
Ian Thatcher
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