Collectors App FAQs

Section 1: About Showboat

What is Showboat?

Showboat is a specialist platform created to become the global index for football collectibles. Our mission is to provide collectors with a single source of truth for valuation, authenticity, knowledge and culture. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting out, Showboat is designed to help you collate your collection and understand its worth, authenticate your items, and engage with the history behind each piece. Beyond the data, we’re also building a community through content, interviews and shared stories, so that the heritage of football shirts and other memorabilia is celebrated and preserved for generations to come.

Section 2: Collection Management

Can I edit or delete items from my collection later?

Yes. You can edit details, update valuations or delete items at any time, giving you full flexibility in how you manage your collection. We’re also introducing the ability to add additional photos to each shirt, so you can capture close-ups of tags, stitching or wear and tear to provide a clearer record of condition. As Showboat grows, managing your collection will become even more streamlined with bulk upload options, advanced filters and automated value tracking.

I can showcase my collection publicly. Can I make it private?

Not at the moment, but a private feature is firmly on our roadmap. Our vision is to give collectors complete control: you’ll be able to choose between public, private or “friends-only” modes depending on how much visibility you want.

I want to share my collection but there don’t seem to be any sharing options.

You can now share your collection directly from within the app. Simply generate a link to your profile or individual uploads and share it across social media or messaging platforms like WhatsApp.

Sharing is a big part of how collectors connect on Showboat, and this is just the first step, we’ll continue improving how your collection is presented when shared externally.

Why can I only upload one photo per shirt?

Free users can upload one photo per shirt, while Premium users can add multiple images. This allows you to capture key details like tags, stitching and condition more accurately. Image storage comes at a cost, so multi-photo uploads are part of the Premium tier as we build a more sustainable platform.

Categories Explained – How Do I Classify My Collection?

When you upload a shirt to Showboat, we ask for key details. These are the building blocks of the world’s most reliable index for football shirts. By structuring this information, we help collectors (and the wider community) compare, value and authenticate shirts more accurately.

Here’s what each category means:

  • Team – Club or national team (e.g. FC Barcelona, Italy).

  • Start/End Season – The exact seasons worn (e.g. 1998–99 vs 1999–2000).

  • Size – Shirt size; rare sizes (XS, XXL) can add value.

  • Condition – Mint, Excellent, Good, Worn or Damaged. A key driver of value.

  • Player Name & Number – Namesets matter (e.g. Beckham 7, Messi 10).

  • Shirt Type – Replica, Authentic, Match-Issued, Match-Worn, Reissue, Prototype  or Unknown.

  • Authenticity – Evidence such as certificates or auction provenance.

  • Edition – Special versions (e.g. Champions League, Finals, Centenary).

  • Price Paid – Private to you; tracks profit/loss and powers valuations.

  • Manufacturer – The brand (Nike, Adidas, Umbro, etc.).

  • Sponsor – Nostalgic detail (e.g. Sharp, JVC, OPEL).

Why it matters: These details give every shirt its unique fingerprint in our database. For collectors, this means your shirts are properly recorded and valued. For the wider community, it means Showboat can build the most trustworthy source of truth for football shirts, a living, searchable index of the game’s culture.

The Vision Ahead: Autofill is rolling out now - start typing a team, season or sponsor and we’ll suggest the right match. Soon, as the dataset becomes more robust and consistent, we’ll move towards image recognition and AI-assisted classification. Imagine snapping a photo and having Showboat automatically detect the shirt’s season, team and edition,  a seamless experience that makes uploading quicker and more accurate for everyone.

How do I know what type of shirt I have in terms of authenticity?

Understanding what kind of shirt you own is one of the biggest challenges in football shirt collecting. Subtle differences in fabric, stitching or even printing style can be the difference between a £50 replica and a £500 authentic or match-worn piece. Here’s our guide to help you:

Replica (Most Common)

The standard fan version, sold in shops and online club stores. Cheaper, lighter and simpler than player shirts.

Replicas are the most common type and the default on Showboat.

If you bought yours directly from a retailer in normal adult sizes (S–XXL), without extras like heat-pressed player tags, it’s almost certainly a replica.

Match-Worn

These are the crown jewels of collecting: shirts actually worn by players during an official match. They often show signs of use — grass stains, minor damage or stretched fabric — that make them unique.

Provenance is critical: a match-worn shirt is only as valuable as the proof that accompanies it, whether from the club itself, charity auctions or highly trusted sources.

If your shirt came directly from a match, shows clear evidence of wear, and includes certificates of authenticity or auction documentation, it belongs in this category.

Match-Issued (also Match-Prepared)

Match-Issued shirts are identical to those worn on the pitch but may never have been used. They are typically printed with player names, squad numbers, sleeve patches and sometimes even personalised details such as size modifications.

Many collectors see these as the next-best thing to match-worn, as they are usually made to the same technical specification.

If your shirt carries all the player details and match preparation — such as namesets and competition patches — but shows no signs of actual wear, it is likely match-issued.

Match Collection (Authentic)

Also known as player issue or authentic retail, these are shirts made to the exact specifications of those worn by players but sold in limited numbers to the public. They are generally of higher quality than replicas, often featuring heat-bonded seams, ventilation panels or a more fitted cut.

While they don’t have the same provenance as match-worn or match-issued shirts, they remain highly collectible.

If you bought a shirt labelled “Authentic” or “Player Issue” at a higher retail price point, it belongs in this category.

Reissue

Reissues are modern reproductions of classic shirts, officially released by clubs or brands. They are usually marketed as retro collections and can be great for nostalgia, though they are not originals.

Their value is generally lower than that of a true vintage piece, but certain limited reissues — such as anniversary editions — can still attract strong demand.

If your shirt was purchased recently but celebrates a past era (for example, an ’89 kit released in 2020), it is a reissue.

Unknown

Not sure what you have? Select Unknown. The community can help verify, and it keeps fakes out of the system.

Rule of thumb: if you don’t know, it’s probably a replica.

Important note on “Authentic” vs. “Replica”

One of the most common mistakes we see is collectors tagging standard replica shirts as ‘Authentic’. To keep the Showboat index accurate, we have automatically reset those entries to ‘Replica’. If your shirt is genuinely Match Collection (Authentic), please edit the entry in-app to reflect this. Accuracy here is essential - it builds trust and helps make Showboat the go-to global index for football shirts.

Can I edit or reclassify shirts I’ve uploaded?

Yes. You can return to your collection at any time and update fields such as shirt type, player name or season if you’ve made a mistake or uncovered new information. As Showboat develops, we’ll add tools to make this process even smoother.

Section 3: Valuation & Analytics

How do you value signed shirts?

Signatures add complexity and volatility, so, for now, we value shirts as if they were unsigned. The “signature premium” depends on many factors we can’t yet standardise reliably (authenticity of the autograph, player significance, personalisation, placement/ink, smudging, number of signatures, provenance).

What you can do:

  • Upload the shirt as normal and tick “Signed” in the notes.

  • If you have proof (club/brand COA, event photos, purchase receipts), add this to your item notes or images.

  • Our estimate will reflect the base market value of the shirt; any autograph premium is excluded until our signature model launches.

    Roadmap: we’re building a provenance layer that will incorporate COAs, event metadata, and image verification to price signatures more accurately.

How much information do you need to value shirts?

The more structured data we have, the more accurate your valuation. At a minimum, we can’t value without:

  • Team/Club or Nation

  • Start & End Season (e.g., 1998–99)

  • Size (men’s/women’s/youth + tag size)

  • Type (Replica, Authentic/Match Collection, Match-Issued, Match-Worn, Reissue, Unknown)

  • Condition (with a short note: “mint,” “good—loose thread on cuff,” etc.)

Highly recommended extras (improves accuracy):

  • Player name/number (official vs. aftermarket print)

  • Competition patches (league vs. European)

  • Manufacturer & sponsor (and sponsor variant if it changed mid-season)

  • Product code / SKU (often on the care label)

  • Photos: front, back, tags/labels, close-ups of badges, stitching, flaws, and nameset

  • Provenance: receipts, order emails, COAs, event details

  • Price paid (private to you; helps our model learn over time)

If you’re unsure on any field, select “Unknown” and add a note—our moderators and community can help classify it. As our autofill and image-assist features roll out, more of these fields will populate automatically from your photos to keep the index consistent and valuations sharper.

Is the price I paid for my collection visible to others?

No. The Price Paid field is completely private and only visible to you. It allows you to track profit and loss while keeping your personal data confidential. Other users can view the estimated market value of shirts, but not what you’ve personally spent.

Over time, we’ll introduce advanced privacy controls so you can decide exactly what to share and what to keep private.

What analytics do I get about my collection?

At present, you can track your estimated market value, number of shirts and personal spend. But this is only the beginning. Our vision is to build a robust analytics suite that allows you to track value growth over time, break down your collection by team, brand or rarity, and benchmark your portfolio against the wider Showboat community.

Think of it as turning your collection into a living, trackable asset.

What affects the value of a shirt (condition, size, player name)?
Valuation is driven by several factors, including condition (mint vs worn), rarity of size, player namesets (with iconic players often commanding premiums), shirt type (replica, authentic or match-worn) and scarcity in the marketplace.

Our AI model combines historical sales data, live market trends and in-app behaviour to generate fair market valuations. As more collectors use Showboat and contribute first-party data, these valuations will only become more accurate.

How do you derive estimated value on your shirts?

Valuation is at the core of Showboat’s mission, and we’re continually refining it to be as accurate and transparent as possible. Our current system considers:

  • Condition – Mint, lightly worn or visibly flawed.

  • Size – Certain sizes are more in demand, with rarer or more wearable sizes attracting higher premiums.

  • Namesets – Iconic or popular players significantly increase value.

  • Type – Replica, Authentic, Match-Issued, Match-Worn or Reissue, each with different levels of scarcity.

  • Scarcity – The overall supply and availability in the current marketplace.

Our AI-powered model combines historical sales data, live market trends, verified retailer benchmarks and in-app behavioural data to generate fair market values. As more collectors upload and engage with Showboat, the system becomes smarter, creating a continuously evolving index that aims to set the global standard for sportswear valuation.

Section 4: Authentication & Trust

Can I request expert authentication for high-value items?
Yes — our verifiers can authenticate rare or high-value shirts by checking stitching, tags, printing and provenance. Tailored packages are available, with pricing based on the item and level of detail required.

I don’t like my imagery compared to others. What can I do?
Great photography is one of the things that makes collections stand out. We recommend experimenting with lighting, backdrops and styles until you find an approach that suits your taste.

To help collectors showcase their items, we also offer a consultancy service that can arrange professional shoots to produce high-quality, stock-style images. This service has already been used by collectors and suppliers who want their shirts to shine in a crowded market.

I think I’ve spotted a fake shirt on the platform, what do I do?

If you see something that looks suspicious, report it directly in the app. We take provenance and credibility very seriously and are grateful when the community helps us flag potential issues.

Section 5: Community & Social Features

Can I follow other collectors and see their collections?
Not yet, but this is one of the most exciting features coming ahead of public launch. The ability to follow, explore and connect with other collectors is central to what we’re building.

How does Showboat highlight featured collectors?
Each week, our team curates a Featured Showboaters carousel to spotlight collectors from around the world. Selection is based on image quality, the uniqueness of a collection and positive engagement. Our aim is to give as many collectors as possible the chance to be featured.

If we identify fakes or suspicious items, those accounts are removed from the carousel. You can also nominate other collectors for the spotlight by emailing us or sending a DM on social media.

Section 6: Marketplace

How do I become a supplier on Showboat?

We currently only allow verified sellers to sell on Showboat, and have a rigorous application process. The reason for this is to ensure the stock for sale on Showboat is of the highest provenance.

How does the Showboat Store work?

Showboat brings together shirts from Showboat itself, independent sellers, and trusted retail partners, all in one place. Every product page tells you exactly who you’re buying from.

How do I know if it’s a Showboat item or a seller/retailer item?

Easy, the product page will say. If it’s sold by Showboat, you’ll see it. If it’s from a seller or a partner store, we’ll make that clear too.

What happens after I make a purchase?

Orders are fulfilled directly by the supplier. You will receive confirmation and shipping details from them, and any delivery timelines will be outlined at the point of purchase.

What about shipping and returns?

Shipping and returns policies are set by each individual supplier. These details are available on the product page, so we recommend reviewing them before purchasing.

Can I Track My Order?

Most of the time, yes. Sellers usually provide tracking once your item has been dispatched.

What Is Your Returns Policy?

If you bought from Showboat directly, our standard returns policy applies. If it’s from a marketplace seller or retailer, their policy applies. You’ll always find this info on the product page.

My Order Arrived Damaged Or Not As Described - What Should I Do?

For marketplace items, contact the seller first. If you don’t get a response, we can step in to help. If it’s a Showboat item, reach out to our support team and we’ll sort it out.

How Do You Ensure Shirts Are Authentic?

We have some very high-end and reputable sellers on the platform, so we expect all sellers to list genuine items only. We use a mix of verification tools, community insight, and manual checks — but ultimately, each seller is responsible for their listings.