A Sticker's Worth 500 Words

298: Steve Bruce, Manchester United, Merlin’s Premier League 95 Sticker Collection Every March schools and nurseries across the UK and Ireland celebrate World Book Day. As well as providing children and young pe...

Finally it's time to pay tribute to the greatest footballing author of all time: Steve Bruce.

The former #GillinghamFC #NCFC and #MUFC defender may be the best crime writer since Conan Doyle.

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2020/05/298-...

139: Sergio Ramos, Spain, FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, Panini Official Licensed Sticker Album Bastards hold a special place in our history. From William the Conqueror to Eva Peron via every senior officer in the Napoleonic Wars accor...

Bastards in literature have always provided drama and intrigue.

Who can hold a candle to the Bastard's Bastard Sergio Ramos and his career for #Spain, #RealMadrid and #Sevilla?

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17: Terry Butcher, England, Match 2000 Millennium Collection “I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, straining upon the start. The game’s afoot; follow your spirit, and upon this charge cry ‘God...

The captain's armband can similarly weigh heavy on the arms of #England skippers.

Terry Butcher, however, harnessed his inner Henry V to get the #ThreeLions to the #WorldCup.

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2021/03/17-t...

39: Ulises de la Cruz, Aston Villa, Merlin’s F.A. Premier League 05 Official Sticker Album, Autograph Edition Emlyn Jones brings us a truly epic tale today which leans heavily on the work of Homer and liberal use of the strikethrough function. In the...

It's a big old burden when your folks give you a literary name.

Thankfully Ulises de la Cruz more than lived up to his on his journey from #Ecuador to #AVFC via #Hibs.

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2021/06/39-u...

57: Lars Leese, Barnsley, Merlin’s Premier League 98 Official Sticker Collection It’s been over seventeen years since my GCSE English Literature exam and I have to confess I have little to no memory of it. I do remember t...

Some footballers write poetry. Some inspire it.

Lars Leese of #BarnsleyFC got the creative juices going when he arrived at Oakwell (sort of) from #BayerLeverkusen

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2021/12/57-l...

14: Theo Walcott, Arsenal, Topps Match Attax Trading Card Game, 2009/10 Shortly before the birth of our son my wife and I were told by a number of helpful friends and family members that we would find lots of tim...

In the world of children's literature there are plenty of questionable #football stories.

Former #SaintsFC, #Arsenal and #EvertonFC forward Theo Walcott got a bit autobiographical in his offerings.

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2022/08/14-t...

396: Dave Kitson, Reading, Merlin’s F.A. Premier League Official Sticker Collection 2006/07 Our third post to celebrate our fourth anniversary comes from Emlyn Shepherdson-Jones (yes, he got married and went all Gary Taylor-Fletche...

It was recently revealed that former #ReadingFC, #SCFC, #Pompey and #CUFC striker was 'The Secret Footballer'.

Some of us were suspicious a while back...

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2024/04/396-...

151: Clint Dempsey, Fulham, Topps Match Attax Trading Card Game, 2009/10 Since October 2023 Joey Barton has had a fair amount of time on his hands. Never one to shy away from sharing his views the former Fleetwood...

Today is #WorldBookDay so it seems right to celebrate some of football's authors and literary inspirations.

Starting first with #USMNT and #FulhamFC hero Clint Dempsey - playmaker and poet.

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2024/06/151-...

163: Robert Rosario, Norwich City, Pro Set English League 1990/91 Today Richard Allinson takes on a request post on behalf of the ever-friendly landlord at Twitter’s excellent Football Tavern . The pub’s ma...

Happy Birthday to Robert Rosario - hope he has a good one!

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Rich Allinson on making a name for yourself.

#NCFC #Wolves #PUSB #NFFC #CarolinaDynamo #CharlestonBattery #EFL #PL #USISL #MLS #football #soccer

If someone could invent a time machine, travel back and just pick him first for one playground kickabout we might be spared any more of his effluent.

David Squires on … Gianni Infantino’s accomplishments in 10 years as Fifa supremo Our cartoonist on a decade of magic moments in the big job for world football’s leading ‘man of the people’ * Buy a cartoon | David’s favourite work of 2025 * And his latest book, Chaos in the Box: get it now Continue reading...

David Squires on … Gianni Infantino’s accomplishments in 10 years as Fifa supremo

Ivarov wouldn't save the fifth pen of a shootout before scoring the winner in the Masters Cup. Kelsen dealt in drama.

71: Damien Duff, Blackburn Rovers, Merlin’s Premier League 99 Official Sticker Album In the face of growing scientific evidence that smoking might be bad for you back in the 1930s the moneymen at Wix Cigarettes decided that d...

Happy Birthday to Damien Duff - hope he has a (pretty) good one!

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2021/11/71-d...

Manny Hawks on the power of advertising.

#BRFC #ChelseaFC #NUFC #FulhamFC #MelbourneCity #SRFC #Shelbourne #EFL #PL #ALeague #LeagueofIreland #Ireland #WorldCup #football

229: Toby Alderweireld, Belgium, Panini UEFA Euro 2020 Kick Off, Adrenalyn XL Among the many things in our lives that we have little to no control over the time we are born has to be pretty high up the list. As the fat...

Happy Birthday to Toby Alderweireld - hope he has a good one!

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Manny Hawks on a golden generation.

#Ajax #Atletico #SaintsFC #THFC #AlDuhail #RoyalAntwerp #Eredivisie #LaLiga #PL #QSL #ProLeague #Belgium #WorldCup #Euros #football

91: Josh McEachran, Chelsea, Panini Adrenalyn XL Champions League 11/12 Mat Jolin-Beech steps away from his usual hunting ground of the Old Trafford circus to head south to the, arguably, even more farcical scene...

Happy Birthday to Josh McEachran - hope he has a good one!

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2024/09/91-j...

Mat Jolin-Beech on the West London revolving door policy.

#ChelseaFC #CFC #SCAFC #Boro #WatfordFC #WAFC #Vitesse #BrentfordFC #MKDons #OUFC #BRFC #PL #EFL #Eredivisie #football

359: Barry Bannan, Sheffield Wednesday, Panini EFL 2025/26 Sticker Collection Our 399th post comes from Mat Jolin-Beech and goes some way to explain his absence from our upcoming 400th post. In the past Mat has given u...

Our new post from Mat Jolin-Beech on mercy dashes, ruptured tendons and Barry Bannan (a bit).

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2026/02/359-...

Clearly big in Taiwan.

#AVFC #DCFC #BlackpoolFC #LUFC #CPFC #BWFC #SWFC #MillwallFC #EFL #PL #Scotland #football

176: Lee Carsley, Derby County, Merlin’s Premier League 99 Official Sticker Album Today Mat Jolin-Beech takes a look at a midfield stalwart who more than made up for his lack of hair with his commitment on the pitch. Rathe...

Happy Birthday to Lee Carsley - hope he has a good one!

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2022/03/176-...

Mat Jolin-Beech on midfield steel.

#DCFC #BRFC #PUSB #EvertonFC #BCFC #EFL #PL #Ireland #WorldCup #football

500: Paulo Futre, West Ham United, Merlin’s Premier League 97 Official Sticker Collection There are lots of things that spring to mind when one thinks of Harry Redknapp. Some might think of his early days at AFC Bournemouth where ...

Happy Birthday to Paulo Futre - hope he has a good one!

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2020/07/500-...

Manny Hawks on wheeling, dealing and squad numbers.

#SportingCP #Porto #Benfica #PrimeiraLiga #Atletico #LaLiga #Marseille #Ligue1 #Reggiana #ACMilan #SerieA #WHUFC #PL #UCL #football

108: Joe Allen, Wales, Panini UEFA Euro 2020 Official Licensed Sticker Album, Tournament Edition Prior to the Reformation the number of holy days, or holidays, in Britain is believed to have numbered somewhere between forty and sixty per...

#ICYMI: A last push for Manny Hawks on Joe Allen.

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Featuring the Reformation, industrialisation and some chickens and eggs.

#SCAFC #LFC #SCFC #EFL #PL #Wales #Cymru #Euros #WorldCup #football

211: Emmanuel Adebayor, Manchester City, Topps Match Attax Trading Card Game, 2009/10 The return of fans to football stadiums was a sight to behold on the opening weekends of August and there is no doubt that the added edge of...

Happy Birthday to Emmanuel Adebayor - hope he has a good one!

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Manny Hawks on celebrating in style.

#Metz #Monaco #Ligue1 #Arsenal #MCFC #THFC #CPFC #PL #RealMadrid #LaLiga #IstanbulBasaksehir #Kayserispor #SuperLig #Togo #WorldCup #AFCON

Beats going to Turkey.

267: Shaun Goater, Manchester City, Merlin’s F.A. Premier League 2001 Official Sticker Collection Whatever field you work in you’ll find that you now use so many acronyms that you might have even forgotten what they stand for. When, for e...

Happy Birthday to Shaun Goater - hope he's had a good one!

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2022/05/267-...

Manny Hawks on the GOAT.

#RUFC #BCFC #MCFC #ReadingFC #SUFC #EFL #PL #Bermuda #football #GOAT

15: Eduardo, Arsenal, Topps Match Attax Trading Card Game, 2009/10 Social media is an ever-evolving behemoth. New platforms seem to emerge on a weekly basis and it’s no surprise that is has become such an al...

Happy Birthday to Eduardo - hope he's had a good one!

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2020/12/15-e...

Manny Hawks on broken bones and social media.

#ArsenalFC #Arsenal #Gunners #PL #DinamoZagreb #Shakhtar #UCL #Croatia #football

U1: Gareth Barry, Aston Villa, Merlin’s Premier League 99 Official Sticker Collection, Transfer Update Edition During one of my recent forays into actual social contact (we’ll see how long that lasts) my friend Stu asked me “if you were to have any pl...

Happy Birthday to Gareth Barry - hope he's had a good one!

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2020/08/u1-g...

Manny Hawks on a career to be proud of.

#AVFC #MCFC #EvertonFC #WBA #PL #England #ThreeLions #football

This would probably be considerably more watchable than this weekend's top flight offerings.

321: Juninho, Middlesbrough, Merlin’s Premier League 97 Official Sticker Collection This week Richard Allinson takes a look at a Premier League icon who lit up the Riverside on two separate occasions and well and truly won t...

Happy Birthday to Juninho - hope he has a good one!

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2022/11/321-...

Rich Allinson on triumph and turbulence on Teesside.

#Boro #EFL #PL #SaoPaulo #Atletico #Flamengo #VascoDaGama #CelticFC #Palmeiras #SydneyFC #SerieA #LaLiga #SPL #ALeague #Brazil #football

581: Phil Jones, England, FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, Panini Official Licensed Sticker Album Mat Jolin-Beech takes a look today at a man who has taken the phrase “express yourself” very literally during his time representing Blackbur...

Happy Birthday to Phil Jones - hope he has a good one!

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2021/01/581-...

Mat Jolin-Beech on the face of football's international exploits.

#BRFC #MUFC #PL #FACup #UEL #England #ThreeLions #WorldCup #football

Palace have had plenty of managers who haven't been good enough. Kind of respect the honesty.

120: David Speedie, Liverpool, Merlin Shooting Stars 1991/92 Today marks the second anniversary of this particular corner of the internet. What started as a response to lockdown and boxes of unpacked s...

Happy Birthday to David Speedie - hope he has a good one!

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2022/03/120-...

The face of our 2nd anniversary tribute to some wonderful football kits.

#LiverpoolFC #LFC #Juventus #Juve #Italia #Italy #NUFC #EFL #PL #SerieA #WorldCup #football

120: David Speedie, Liverpool, Merlin Shooting Stars 1991/92 Today marks the second anniversary of this particular corner of the internet. What started as a response to lockdown and boxes of unpacked s...

Happy Birthday to David Speedie - hope he has a good one!

astickersworth500words.blogspot.com/2022/03/120-...

The face of our 2nd anniversary tribute to some wonderful football kits.

#LiverpoolFC #LFC #Juventus #Juve #Italia #Italy #NUFC #EFL #PL #SerieA #WorldCup #football