There really isn’t much better in this world than a well-produced pop-up store. And the guys at The Soccer Archive are no exception, in fact – they’re a testament to that fact.
In the interest of fairness, I must admit that I’m writing this after being invited to their most recent London pop-up store and their hospitality and quality collection is still right at the forefront of my mind. But it would be just as true and to the point if I were writing this when I’d first heard of them.
What is The Soccer Archive?
The Soccer Archive is an original football shirt and garments seller.
I’ve been following them for the best part of a year now, and the difference between then and now is almost night and day – and all in a good way. Hehe, that rhymed.
I’m a poet… and I didn’t even know that I was rhyming those words.
The website (check it out here) has completely changed, and there appears to be new additions with each passing day, but the quality of the listings and the items themselves don’t diminish.
If you ask me, their prices for the garments (factoring in their rarity and condition among other things) is quite reasonable in this ‘give me that shirt, I’ll pay anything’ age. Especially when marked against some of their larger competitors (in terms of market share) in the retro football shirt space.
Another thing to note is that they’re all original. From their classic shirts, to the occasional sweatshirt, track top and fan-licensed tee. They’re just well-preserved and freshly washed.
But it’s one thing to make a fledgling website and another to get it into a physical store.
Their London Pop-Up Store
The first step is to find a good location, and they couldn’t have done much better. When they do come to London, they’ve nailed down a place equidistant between Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Circus tube stations. Right opposite Zara. Quite literally impossible to miss.
The space itself, as one might expect due to the precious nature of the location, is quite small. So it can get quite busy when they’re here on the weekends.
Honestly though, who cares? When you have so many awesome pieces to look at.
I’ll confess myself a skeptic; thinking that it would be nothing like the likes of Classic Football Shirts (whose London store we’ve reviewed before – you can find it here), and while they haven’t got the luxury of a larger retail space with the time to make it feel like a true home for The Soccer Archive, they’re chocked full of a great depth of pieces to keep the football fan engaged.
The Soccer Archive Collection
I really could’ve stayed on the Soccer Archive for hours.
Actually, I did – two to be exact.
Like everybody else, my immediate interest sprung to the Henry-14 name set on the O2-sponsored Arsenal shirt from the early 2000’s, just as much as the various Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo football shirts that peppered their displays.
Personally, my attention went more towards their personal legends rail, where cult hero names like Jay-Jay Okocha and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink tempted me to reach into my pockets. As we showed in our article on players like these, we love a good cult hero here at Hobby FC.
There were plenty of other solid league and international team shirts to delve into, all of them in very good condition and in a fair price depending on rarity and demand in today’s market.
I also loved their £40 and under rail in the centre of the floor, where I was able to pick myself up a grey Nike x PSG polo shirt from the early 2000’s. I’ve worn it twice already. In the past two days.
Summary
Businesses like the Soccer Archive is the reason why Hobby FC exists.
Kind, humble people with a desire to fulfil the desires of football fans worldwide, while also (somewhat inadvertently) educating us on retro football players, stories and teams.
The prices are fair. The people are friendly. Everything is really nice to look at.
What’s not to love!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is The Soccer Archive expensive?
In my opinion, their prices are fair and aligned with market rate.
Their £40 and under rail (and selection on the website) contained a few gems that I felt were underpriced to be honest. They even have a 10% offer online for new customers. So…
Are The Soccer Archive jerseys in good condition?
Most of them definitely are, but they’re always honest and it reflects in the price.
For example, I saw a perfectly good David Beckham England jersey for about £70, meanwhile a crewneck FC Bayern sweatshirt with some colour bleeding issues was about half of that.
When is their next London pop-up?
They will be returning to London in November and December.
Stay tuned via their Instagram page here so you don’t miss an update!
The Soccer Archive or Classic Football Shirts?
Let’s just get along, shall we!
Will Hobby FC ever partner with The Soccer Archive?
A man can dream!