Yesterday I was messing around online looking for a few missing stickers to my old Panini collections. One of the four that I'm missing for my Panini Football 78 collection is the Chelsea team.

Last night I dreamt that I had the sticker, but that it was a little bit torn at the edge. The big question - would it come off its backing in one piece and look presentable in the album? Lo and behold, it did!

Then, horror of horrors, as I realised that the sticker I'd put in was the Chelsea team sticker from the Panini Football 79 collection.

This weekend, I'd like you to think about whether you've ever heard of anything sadder than a 42-year-old man having an anxiety dream about a 30-year-old football sticker (and then writing about it on the internet).

Have you got Panini 83, Imp? If so, could you check for me whether one of the Swansea players in it is barefoot whilst another (quite possibly Alan Curtis) is wearing slippers?

I kind of need confirmation that I didn't dream this.

When I was 9, I had a dream that I got a parcel in the post containing a complete set of 1976/77 Topps bubblegum cards.

Convinced that this was a premonition, every morning I asked my Mum whether anything had come in the post for me, and every morning I was disappointed to hear that the football card fairy hadn't come.

As my hopes waned, so did the careless folly of childhood.

But sometimes, when the UPS man arrives with yet another box of mail order clothes for my missus, a little voice inside me wonders if that elusive Gerry Francis Shoot! Goal All Stars card might be in it.

Is anyone collecting the Euro 2008 stickers?

We are. I was thinking of starting a swapsies thread on the Euro 2008 forum, if there is enough interest.

Imp, is your collection the source of the fabulous stickers featured in the Weekly Howl? Where did you/they get a late 70s Yugoslav collection?

I actually only have four albums, all from 77-79, and all incomplete. I believe it's known as a 'phase'. Now I must be having phase relapse, or something.

So no, I'm not the source for the admirable Stickipedia feature in Howl, and I can't help 200% on the barefoot Swansea players' question.

The quest continues.

Hmmmmm.

Is this the team photo, or did the English stickers go beyond head shots?

In any case, everyone seems to be properly shod (Patrick, I'd guess) in the Shoot! team photo from that season.

QUOTE:
Have you got Panini 83, Imp? If so, could you check for me whether one of the Swansea players in it is barefoot whilst another (quite possibly Alan Curtis) is wearing slippers?

I would have thought there were a few players wearing slippers if I remember that season. I doubt it was 'Curt the shirt' though. You can rule out him and Robbie James, otherwise take your pick. Have you got a copy of the photo and I'll be able to tell you.

twohundredpercent wrote:

QUOTE:
Have you got Panini 83, Imp? If so, could you check for me whether one of the Swansea players in it is barefoot whilst another (quite possibly Alan Curtis) is wearing slippers?

I kind of need confirmation that I didn't dream this.

I can confirm that Alan Curtis is in slippers. Nobody is strictly barefoot although Bob Latchford and Colin Irwin are both in stockinged feet only. I should confess however that I am missing Ray Kennedy, Leighton James and Jeremy Charles, so any of these could be your miscreant.

I will scan later, if I can be bothered...

You've made an old man very happy.

Pretend Best Friend wrote:

QUOTE:
Is anyone collecting the Euro 2008 stickers?

I have started collecting the Euro 2008. Got around 50 so far and have Angelos Charisteas and Miroslav Klose action shots as swaps so far.

Have not done a Panini album since 1978 but still got excited when I got a silver team badge sticker (Spain by the way). Of course Mrs Chasbo has mocked me but i am using the excuse they are for my newborn son to enjoy in the future

Put me down for some Euro 08 action - up to the 200 mark but a scarily high amounts of swaps already. Already got three Makalele and two of the top right corner of the German team in the surplus swaps pile.
Ursus - we could pretend that its Ursus Minor and Cubillas Junior who are rabid collectors but please feel free to PM if you want to re-establish our WC2006 agreement.