Football is considered by many to be the most popular sport in the world. While this point may be arguable what is certain is that football fans show a devotion to their team, be it league or national that is unrivalled in any other sport. This is why Christmas or birthdays gifts related to a team or even the sport itself are extremely popular; so much so that an entire industry has been built up around supplying gifts to adoring footy fans. But what do you buy that football mad person in your life, be it a child, a loved one or a parent? With such a wide selection of gifts on offer it is a difficult decision, hopefully the following article will help consumers make this vital choice.

Naturally the first items that come to mind as gifts for an adoring fan are a replica shirts. These typically come in number of designs usually for home and away matches. They are the best way to give a fan a means of showing his support whenever they are out and about whilst also supplying them with a shirt that will make them think they are George Best or Geoff Hurst in the park. Replica shirts however can be expensive, especially if they are the most up to date variation. Ultimately however they are worth the money, granting hours of pleasure to the wearer.

But what else can you buy the footy fan should they already posses a replica shirt? In this instance a piece of team memorabilia can be one of the best gifts to give. Memorabilia varies greatly in quality and price. It is possible to obtain pieces of the actual shirts worn in cup finals as well as full signed strips, although these are more a collector's item than a piece of clothing. In addition it is normally possible to pick up vintage programmes from games long since passed. Or signed caps showing when particular players turned out for their country. At the highest end of the budget it is possible pick up gifts such as championship winner's medals, although these will normally cost a great deal of money.

For those at the bottom end of the budget however there are many gifts that will not break the bank. These gift ideas can be anything from a keychain with the preferred team's emblem placed upon it to a mug or even a bed sheet set. It is often possible to get these gifts as official merchandise affiliated to the football club itself. They are not all cheap however; with a little research it is possible to find items such as scale models of the team's stadium and even bronze figures of particular players.

Football today is a multi billion pound industry that not only makes a great deal of money from advertising and television deals but also the amount of affiliated merchandise that is sold. That is not to say that all football gifts must be related to a team, it could be a pair of slippers shaped like footballs or even an inflatable goal for the garden. The possibilities are literally infinite, they even cross over into other sports such as branded snooker cues and dart flights meaning that whoever is receiving the gift, it is a certainty that an item is found that suits their persona and club loyalty.