Imagine owning the very shirt worn by your favourite player during a historic match, a tangible piece of the game’s legacy.
MatchWornShirt (MWS) transforms this dream into reality, offering clubs, foundations, and charities a powerful fundraising tool while giving fans the chance to get their hands on authentic match-worn memorabilia.
In this exclusive Q&A, Naivasha Oakes, Head of Partnerships at MatchWornShirt, delves into the intricate process of bringing these shirts to auction, the challenges and triumphs of securing women’s football memorabilia, and the exciting trajectory of this rapidly expanding market on International Women’s Day.
How does MatchWornShirts work with partners and ultimately get the shirts from player to auction?
We work with over 300 partners around the world, enlisting the help of kit men and women to ensure match-worn shirts are collected in the dressing room straight after the game and signed by the players. The auctions go live from kick-off, giving fans and collectors a chance to start bidding while the shirt is still on the player’s back.
We go live with digital mock-ups from kick-off. Once we receive the shirts, they are carefully authenticated by our team before we update the listing with high-quality photos, allowing fans to see the important details like mud stains and signatures.
This process includes integration with Fabricks, an innovative NFC technology that provides the shirt with a digital certificate of authenticity.
Once the auctions have finished, we deliver these collector’s items to winners all around the world and we’re really proud that MatchWornShirt provides fans with unrivalled opportunities to own pieces of history from their favourite teams and players.
What are some of the most iconic shirts that have been auctioned?
The current record women’s auctions at MatchWornShirt are:
- Sophia Smith, Portland Thorns FC – €9,523: Portland Thorns FC vs. Kansas City*
- Alessia Russo, Arsenal – €6,526: Leicester City Women vs. Arsenal
- Leah Williamson, Arsenal – €5,251: Arsenal vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
- Vivianne Miedema, Arsenal – €4,866: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal
- Kim Little, Arsenal – €4,857: Arsenal vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
We hope an auction from this month’s International Women’s Day campaign can sneak its way into the top 5!
*From the 2022 NWSL Final, in which Smith scored the opening goal!
What challenges exist in securing match-worn women’s shirts, and how is MWS addressing them?
Women’s teams generally have a smaller shirt allocation than men’s teams, which has made it more challenging to find opportunities to host auctions. Together with the teams, we’re constantly looking to find the right moments to provide fans with opportunities to own unique items from their favourite players and clubs.
As we see the sport growing in popularity, we want to contribute to that growth by making more and more match-worn and signed shirts available to the wider football community. In this way, we hope to allow more fans and collectors to own a piece of women’s football history.
Why is IWD an important moment for MWS, and how does the brand plan to support it?
Although we run auctions with our women’s teams throughout the year, we see International Women’s Day as a great additional opportunity to offer as many women’s shirts as possible to fans and collectors.
We see International Women’s Day as an important moment in time for us to recognise and celebrate achievements in the women’s game. We began our support in 2024 with 32 auctions as part of the campaign, and we’re delighted to have raised that number to more than 70 in 2025.
How does MWS contribute to increasing visibility for women’s football through its auctions?
We’re committed to increasing the visibility of women’s football, and the record-breaking amount of auctions this year are a prime example of this. By offering fans the chance to own match-worn shirts from top players and clubs, we’re not only celebrating these athletes but also helping to develop the world of women’s football collectibles.
What trends are emerging in the women’s football memorabilia market?
The women’s football memorabilia market is rapidly expanding. This surge in popularity was clearly visible in our annual Poppy Appeal campaign for the Royal British Legion, where Arsenal Women ranked as the 7th highest-team in terms of proceeds raised – outperforming many top men’s teams across 60+ UK clubs. The numbers speak for themselves: women’s football is thriving. It’s a pleasure to be part of that!
Where do you see the growth of women’s football collectibles in the next five years?
As the sport continues to gain visibility and attract global attention, we expect demand for memorabilia, especially match-worn and signed shirts, to surge.
We recently sold the shirt of Indiana Dos Santos – a highly talented 17-year-old from Australia – for €4141. Collectors already are betting on future classics in the women’s game and we expect this to continue over the coming years.
With the rise of women’s football leagues, including the Barclays Women’s Super League and UEFA Women’s Champions League, more fans will be eager to connect with their favourite players through unique memorabilia.
We anticipate a broader audience, including both collectors and casual fans, driving the market. With the growing recognition of women’s football stars and the expanding presence of women’s sports in the media, the next five years could see women’s football collectibles becoming a key part of the wider sports memorabilia world.
Thanks for reading this International Women’s Day special with Naivasha Oakes from MatchWornShirt! Join over 2,400 sport professionals who receive our weekly newsletter here.
