Meet the Grainger Market Traders: Football Devotion

What inspired you to set up Football Devotion?

Football Devotion came from our love of football culture and a passion for design and illustration.

We’re Hartlepool United fans who grew up in the golden era of Italia 90, Football Italia, Sensible Soccer, Subbuteo and checking the scores on Teletext. The shirts were iconic, the players were unforgettable and there was something really special about football at that time.

We wanted to create a brand that captures a bit of that feeling.

You’ve had ten successful years as an online store. What made you decide to move to a brick-and-mortar space and why did you choose Grainger Market?

We’d often talked about having our own space – somewhere people could walk in, see the designs up close and enjoy a bit of football nostalgia.

The Grainger Market was the obvious choice. We’ve been coming here for years and have always loved its mix of history and character. It’s full of independent businesses doing their own thing, so it felt like the perfect home for Football Devotion.

What sort of products can people expect to find at your Grainger Market stall?

We’re kicking off with the classics – t-shirts, prints, mugs and coasters.

There’s plenty for Toon fans to get stuck into, but as we settle in, we’ll be bringing more of the full Football Devotion range into the shop. The aim is to have something for supporters of all clubs, whether it’s a shirt, player or era that takes them straight back.

What’s your favourite ever classic football kit?

It’s a popular choice, but the 1990 West Germany home shirt is unbeatable. We’ll soon be introducing a new design featuring this iconic shirt too.

What’s your own personal favourite Football Devotion design? And which ones are bestsellers?

We’ve created hundreds of designs over the years, but the one that really stands out is our 90s UK Football Shirt Map.

It’s a hand-drawn map of the UK filled with shirts from clubs across the country. It took around six months to complete and has become one of our most recognisable pieces.

It’s a bestseller online and one of the biggest talking points in the shop too. People love stopping to take it all in and spotting the shirts they remember.

And lastly, as we ask all traders, what’s your favourite thing about being a part of the Grainger Market community?

The people. Everyone’s been genuinely welcoming and supportive since we arrived.

There’s a proper community feel in the Grainger Market. Traders look out for each other, there’s always someone around for a chat or to lend a hand, and it’s great to be part of a place with so many brilliant independent businesses under one roof.

Football Devotion is located in Unit 68-69 on Alley 2 in Grainger Market. For more information visit www.footballdevotion.com.

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