The Football Association (FA) has partnered with Italian collectible brand Panini to create the first ever Women’s Super League (WSL) sticker collection in December. The introduction of the WSL sticker collection marks a significant moment in women’s football history, following a record-breaking 2022-23 season that witnessed a staggering 170% increase in match day attendances.
Panini, renowned for its collectibles, and The FA have come together to celebrate the success of the Barclays Women’s Super League. This momentous partnership will introduce the UK’s first domestic football sticker collection dedicated to women’s football. The collection is set to feature nearly 350 stickers, showcasing players and icons from all 12 Barclays WSL teams in the English top flight.
Who's up for some swapsies? 😅
The Women's Super League is set for its first-ever sticker album collection. #BBCFootball #WSL
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) October 4, 2023
The Panini brothers, Benito and Giuseppe, introduced the idea in their hometown of Modena in the early 1960s, beginning the company’s illustrious history that spans six decades. In Italy and other European nations, the albums became an immediate hit, and the UK quickly caught on to the trend. Terms like ‘swapsies’, ‘got’, ‘need’, and ‘shinies’ were commonly used amongst collectors. Panini has gained significant popularity with their World Cup and European Championship albums, their 2014 World Cup album being their largest to date. Today, investors and collectors covet stickers of current players as well as those from past generations, demonstrating the timeless appeal of Panini stickers.
Football enthusiasts and collectors will have the opportunity to embark on their sticker collection journey with a starter pack, comprising an album and five packets of stickers. The collection will also include 12 special foil sticker ‘shinies’, adding an extra layer of excitement for collectors.
Katie Gritt, Head of Marketing for Sport at Panini, expressed her enthusiasm for this momentous milestone, underlining the significance of recognizing and celebrating the growth of the women’s game through this groundbreaking initiative. Panini’s long-standing relationship with The FA and its tradition of commemorating iconic moments through collectible albums make them a fitting partner for this historic collection.
Baroness Sue Campbell, The FA’s Director of Women’s Football, also voiced her delight at the collaboration, emphasizing Panini’s global association with football. She expressed her happiness that fans of the Barclays WSL will now have the opportunity to collect and trade stickers featuring their favorite players.
The first EVER Barclays Women’s Super League Official Sticker Collection is on its way!
Available December! More details coming soon!https://t.co/T4slAk4X5e@BarclaysWSL pic.twitter.com/yhZ1DK42I2— Panini UK & Ireland (@OfficialPanini) October 4, 2023
The 2022-23 season witnessed an extraordinary surge in match day attendances, and the league became the most represented professional league at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. This exciting partnership and the launch of the WSL sticker collection aims to celebrate the remarkable growth and success of women’s football in the UK, and further fuel the popularity and expansion of the women’s game.