Match Attax
Encyclopedia
Topps Match Attax is a collectible card game
published by Topps
, based on the English Premier League.
Launched in 2007, it has been the biggest selling collectible card game in the UK for the previous two years and has estimated sales totalling £32.2 million in the UK and Ireland. The £750,000 launch of the third year in 2009 had retail chains reporting increased sales of up to 71 percent following advertising campaigns in The Sun
and the News of the World
.
The final of the 2008 season game was held at Fulham F.C.
's ground Craven Cottage
in June 2009 and the game is now frequently referenced in news articles. In 2008, Hull City
's Dean Windass
noted that "being in the latest kids' Match Attax collection" was one of the notable differences now that his club was in the Premier League, whilst a Daily Telegraph article on "unsung heroes in the Premier League" made the point that such a player "isn't everyone's "must-have" Match Attax Footy Card". Just prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup
, former Arsenal
and England defender Martin Keown
stated that Match Attax is "a good family game" that he plays with his younger son often. Shay Given
, Theo Walcott
, Kolo Touré
, Cesc Fabregas
and Rio Ferdinand
have signed their "Man of the Match" or "Hundred Club" cards.
A pack of six cards (7 cards in the Tesco
packs of Match Attax England) retails typically for 50 pence in the UK although in 07/08, they sold for 35p before a 5p increase in 08/09 then they settled on 50p. There is also a tin, a binder and a collector binder on sale that contain limited edition cards. Cards include Manager (Introduced 2009/ 10), i-card (Only in 2009/ 10), "Star Player" (Replaced by "I-Cards" for one season in 09/10), "Star Signing" (Introduced 10/11), "Showboat" (Introduced 10/11), "Offside Trap and Counter Attack" (Introduced 11/12). Man of the Match and the rarer Hundred Club (Officially introduced 2008/ 9). Harder to find Limited Editions are found in various merchandise, certain shops and even magazines.
Exclusively for the 11/12 season "Golden Moment Cards" were introduced to celebrate 20 years official years of the English Premier League.
Usually during March a new collection comes out called Match Attax Extra. This collection includes: "Squad Updates", "New Signings", "Club Captain", "Fans Favourite" (Stopped for the 09/10 season), "Player Of The Month" (Only in 07/08 season), "Hat-Trick Hero". There is usually a Starter Pack (containing a Collector Binder and Collector Guide) and a Tin (although there was no tin for 09/10) released.
The 101 101 card has been passed on for past seasons:
Collectible card game
thumb|Players and their decksA collectible card game , also called a trading card game or customizable card game, is a game played using specially designed sets of playing cards...
published by Topps
Topps
The Topps Company, Inc., manufactures chewing gum, candy and collectibles. Based in New York, New York, Topps is best known as a leading producer of baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, hockey cards and other sports and non-sports themed trading cards.-Company history:Topps itself was...
, based on the English Premier League.
Launched in 2007, it has been the biggest selling collectible card game in the UK for the previous two years and has estimated sales totalling £32.2 million in the UK and Ireland. The £750,000 launch of the third year in 2009 had retail chains reporting increased sales of up to 71 percent following advertising campaigns in The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
and the News of the World
News of the World
The News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
.
The final of the 2008 season game was held at Fulham F.C.
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
's ground Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
in June 2009 and the game is now frequently referenced in news articles. In 2008, Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
's Dean Windass
Dean Windass
Dean Windass is an English footballer, who predominantly played as a striker, and is known for his spells at Bradford City and his hometown team Hull City...
noted that "being in the latest kids' Match Attax collection" was one of the notable differences now that his club was in the Premier League, whilst a Daily Telegraph article on "unsung heroes in the Premier League" made the point that such a player "isn't everyone's "must-have" Match Attax Footy Card". Just prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, former Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and England defender Martin Keown
Martin Keown
Martin Raymond Keown is a former English footballer. Widely regarded as one of the best man-markers of his generation, Keown played for six different football clubs during his career but it was with Arsenal that he will be best remembered. Keown made over three hundred appearances for Arsenal...
stated that Match Attax is "a good family game" that he plays with his younger son often. Shay Given
Shay Given
Séamus John James "Shay" Given is an Irish footballer who plays for Aston Villa and the Republic of Ireland national team as a goalkeeper. He won the PFA's Player of the Year in 2002....
, Theo Walcott
Theo Walcott
Theo James Walcott is an English footballer of Jamaican descent who plays for Arsenal and the England national team. Walcott is a product of the Southampton F.C. Academy. He is a striker who is usually deployed on the right wing as a wide forward to exploit his speed...
, Kolo Touré
Kolo Touré
Kolo Habib Touré is an Ivorian footballer who plays for Manchester City and Ivory Coast. Touré is a central defender. He is the elder brother of Manchester City team-mate Yaya Touré and Makasa's Ibrahim Touré.-Arsenal:...
, Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fàbregas
Francesc "Cesc" Fàbregas i Soler is a Spanish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club FC Barcelona.Fàbregas started his career as a trainee with Barcelona but was signed by Premier League side Arsenal in September 2003 at the age of 16...
and Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand
Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team...
have signed their "Man of the Match" or "Hundred Club" cards.
A pack of six cards (7 cards in the Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
packs of Match Attax England) retails typically for 50 pence in the UK although in 07/08, they sold for 35p before a 5p increase in 08/09 then they settled on 50p. There is also a tin, a binder and a collector binder on sale that contain limited edition cards. Cards include Manager (Introduced 2009/ 10), i-card (Only in 2009/ 10), "Star Player" (Replaced by "I-Cards" for one season in 09/10), "Star Signing" (Introduced 10/11), "Showboat" (Introduced 10/11), "Offside Trap and Counter Attack" (Introduced 11/12). Man of the Match and the rarer Hundred Club (Officially introduced 2008/ 9). Harder to find Limited Editions are found in various merchandise, certain shops and even magazines.
Exclusively for the 11/12 season "Golden Moment Cards" were introduced to celebrate 20 years official years of the English Premier League.
Usually during March a new collection comes out called Match Attax Extra. This collection includes: "Squad Updates", "New Signings", "Club Captain", "Fans Favourite" (Stopped for the 09/10 season), "Player Of The Month" (Only in 07/08 season), "Hat-Trick Hero". There is usually a Starter Pack (containing a Collector Binder and Collector Guide) and a Tin (although there was no tin for 09/10) released.
The 101 101 card has been passed on for past seasons:
- Steven GerrardSteven GerrardSteven George Gerrard MBE is an English footballer who plays for and captains Premier League club Liverpool. He also has 89 caps for the England national team. He has played much of his career in a centre midfielder role, but he has also been used as a second striker and right winger...
, LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
07/08 (Unofficial) - Cristiano RonaldoCristiano RonaldoCristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, OIH, , commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and is the captain of the Portuguese national team...
, Manchester United 08/09 - Fernando TorresFernando TorresFernando José Torres Sanz , nicknamed , is a Spanish footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Spain national team as a striker....
, LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
09/10 - Lionel MessiLionel MessiLionel Andrés "Leo" Messi is an Argentine footballer who plays for FC Barcelona and captains the Argentina national team, mainly as a striker. Messi received several Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21, and won in 2009 and 2010...
, ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
England/World Stars - PeléPeléHowever, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
, BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
International Legends - Wayne RooneyWayne RooneyWayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
, Manchester United 10/11 - Gareth BaleGareth BaleGareth Frank Bale is a Welsh footballer who plays for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Wales national team. Bale began his professional career with Southampton in 2005 and was transferred to Tottenham two years later...
, Tottenham Hotspur 11/12