Yes, when my children were mascots they were allowed in the changing room and there was a table there with loads of cards footballs etc and each player signed the cards etc when they came in. The Club has the names addresses and dates of birth of the youngsters who have season tickets - not a massive job for the Club to send each youngster a birthday card (free) from the club - treat them well and today's young ST holders will be tomorrow's adult ST holders!
There have been videos of them doing this before actually, I remember seeing Hammell signing all of the stuff.
Pre signed available birthday cards should be a given. Signing sessions are not unusual. When running out (haven't a clue how many they normally get through in a week or so?) Get another batch done. Or in some cases copied. Cost reduced.
Far too sensible. I much prefer @Jay's version of Maureen's World. As well as being funnier, it explains why we're so poor at set pieces. I'm looking forward to one of Duff's frank and honest interviews where he says, "Yes, our set pieces do need improving, but every time we think we're getting somewhere on the training pitch, along comes bloody Maureen with another card for us all to sign."
About 20 or more years ago I had a framing shop in Lincoln and a local artist sold some of his motor racing prints through me. The main man at the time was Michael Schumacher and to get his limited edition prints signed the artist had to pay several hundred pounds EACH for the "priviledge" of getting the signature, which was nothing but a scrawl, illegible and to my mind a waste of money. But he sold the prints so it was worth while I suppose.
it's the way of the world now unfortunatly. Even the lowest of "z" listers charge to scribble their name on something, and most start at about £25 and up(so having the full squad for that price isn't bad in relation). I collect autographs(actors mostly, horror actors to be more precise), and with the rise of the convention scene putting a price on everyone's 'graph has really taken the fun and out of it. When i first started, I got some huge names just by writing to them(granted, a few turned out to be auto=pen and "secretarial", but most were the real deal). i got George Lucas and all the main stars of the Star Wars films this way, when now you are looking at nearly £800 for Harrison Ford alone. Long and short though, it's the autograph traders that ruined it for people. Case in point is John Goodman. He was known as being amazing with his fans and would sign for anyone that asks. Word got out and he was receiving packages with 30+ photos in asking him to sign them(that then ended up on ebay). He lost it big time with a well known trader who turned up at a theatre he was performing at with a load of posters, and I can't blame him. I know the 2022/23 BFC squad are not exactly superstars, but I guarantee from knowing the business that if word got out that by buying a £3 card the whole squad would buy it, traders would be on it like a shot and take the piss...
Can't see point in having the autograph unless there is a memory to go with it. Otherwise it's just a bit of meaningless scribble.
Each to their own. They all mean a lot to me, but a huge part of that is because of my personal journey...
Don't really get it really. Players have no idea who they are signing cards for so there is no sentiment to be gained, they are effectively just putting their sig on a piece of card. I'd go down the route of asking who is his favourite player and trying to the get that 1 player to sign the card, far more personalised.
Then I get it in your case. It's the mindless signature accumulations I don't get. For instance I got Nardiello, Shuker's and Hassell's autographs amongst others at Bobby Hassell's testimonial v Mansfield in 2015. I had my picture taken with them all and had a chat with them. That meant sumat.
Know what you mean - I still have an autograph book from my younger days and I look at the names of school friends and older relatives with fondness. How do people who buy autographs on say e-bay know it's the real deal? (Evidently when the Beatles were asked for their autographs they would often sign each others names.). Also are unreadable autographs worth anything - I think most BFC players include their squad number alongside their often indecipherable scribble?
There are third-party authentification services (Becketts, for example) that for a small fee will certify it "original", but sometimes it's not an exact science. I've done it a long time, so iI can usually spot an auto-penned or secretarial signature, and have the experience to do a the research to spot the difference between a forgery and the real deal. If you are buying off e-bay, go VERY careful as I estimate there is roughly 3 forgeries to every legitimate autograph(if anyone needs any help, send me a PM and I'll have a look and give an honest opinion). As for unreadable 'graphs, most stars have 2 or 3 different autographs. Their full 'graph, which is usually nice and neat, a shorter version for things like books and a street 'graph, which is just a quick "squigle". Stallone is a prime example, as you either get "Sly", "Sly Stallone" or "Sylvester Stallone", depending on his mood, and how much you are paying him(expect to pay over £1000 for an 8x10 phot with full signature, and up to £3000 for posters or boxing gloves, etc). As for football, unless they are a top name it's difficult to sell them for more than maybe a tenner at most.
I guess if this is justified, then its ok for every fan to charge the club a fee for each photo that they are featured in when used by the clubs media dept. Following the logic here, I guess £5 per head per pic is good value for money in this day and age. But buying a photo rights season ticket at £100 is ok too.