Christmas Candy - Barratt Footballers

George Bassett loved candy. Little did he know when he began that starting in the 1930's his confectionery sweets would be associated with soccer cards.  The company subdivided into Barratt Candy which issued some of the only English cards from the 1970's to the 1990's.

 

As a collector of certain players, I was able to check off a few of these with a recent purchase.

 

1986 Barratt # 34 - Shilton

 

My collection of PETER SHILTON cards stands somewhere around 40 to 50 issues. (I need to make a Master List for him).

1995 Barratt # 2 - Giggs

 

You cannot go wrong with the only player to play and score in EVERY Premier League season since it began in 1992. Manchester United's RYAN GIGGS is that Record holder.

1995 Barratt # 1 - Cantona

 

Probably my favorite Manchester United legend ever, other than George Best, is ERIC CANTONA. If you want to see a great soccer movie, check out "LOOKING FOR ERIC".

1986 Barratt # 39 - Dalglish

 

I probably don't collect any modern  retired player as frequently as "King Kenny" DALGLISH. The Liverpool legend appears on this card in a Scotland jersey.

1986 Barratt # 14 - Aldridge

 

Another Liverpool and Ireland star before he joined the Anfield club - JOHN ALDRIDGE.

1985 Barratt # 2 - Heath

 

A star from the "blue" side of Liverpool, was Everton's ADRIAN HEATH. Heath has been the Manager here of Orlando City - winning two 3rd Division Championships. The team will begin playing in MLS in 2015.

 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS and HAPPY NEW YEAR !

 

Getting Nostalgic With the 90's - Shiney Magic Merlin

[above - 1996 MERLIN'S International Masters of The Game - Alan Shearer]

After selling off my entire collection of NFL football cards last week, I have become more focused on filling the gaps in my soccer card collection. As much as I enjoyed the other sports cards growing up, I always wanted more soccer material to be produced in the USA. Unfortunately, it never happened. Now, with Upper Deck spitting out their sub-standard product - and  MLS being complacent with it, it looks like nothing much has changed. Thank Buddah for the internet, and cable TV.

Now, I do look at my rebirth into collecting when the wonderful products became available in the 1990's though internet trades - namely, MERLIN'S PREMIER LEAGUE  trading cards.

[above- 1998 MERLIN'S Rainbow foil Golden Moment - Alan Shearer]

There are several reasons why these card sets appeal to me. First of all, they were very managable sizes. Most were under 200 cards. Next, they had small and well designed chase cards inserted in the packs. Both the front and the reverse were guilded in shiney color and gloss. But more importantly, they had good information.

[above - 1999 MERLIN'S Gold - Michael Owen]

Lastly, they were acoompanied by binder books - complete with plastic pages and room for all the base cards and the inserts. The binders featured fantastic photos of the stars and a checklist to track your progress.

[above - 1998 MERLIN'S Permier League Hotshots - Robbie Fowler]

While the inserts were dominated by Manchester United players, it had a good mix of stars that have stood up with time - Alan Shearer, Robbie Fowler and Micheal Owen - all 100 goal scorers in the Premier League.

[above - 1996 MERLIN'S International Masters of The Game - Ryan Giggs]

There were a good number of foreign players that were beginning to star in the Premier league on a regular basis. They soon became fan favorites like - Eric Cantona (France), Ruud Gullit Holland), Giunluca Vialli (Italy), Peter Schmeichel (Denmark) and Faustino Asprilla (Colombia).

This was the start to the Premier League evolving into the "World's Best League". Although they are still relatively affordable ($5-10 range), these inserts are becoming increasingly harder to find as global collectors search for super looking super star cards.