The History of the Three Lions
The English National Football Team is the oldest in the world, officially established on November 30, 1872, with the first official match in history played against Scotland in Glasgow, ending 0-0. England represents the birthplace of modern football: the rules of the game and the first organized competitions originated on its territory, and English football has exported its passion and model worldwide. The white color of the jersey, with the famous three lions of the royal crest embroidered on the chest, is the identifying symbol of the team, hence the nickname "Three Lions." The English team's history reached its peak on July 30, 1966, when Sir Alf Ramsey's England won its first and only World Cup at home, beating West Germany 4-2 in extra time in the memorable Wembley final. That legendary team included champions like Bobby Moore (captain and eternal symbol), Bobby Charlton (1966 Ballon d'Or winner), Geoff Hurst (scorer of a hat-trick in the final, the only one in World Cup history), Gordon Banks, Nobby Stiles, Alan Ball, and Martin Peters. In subsequent years, the English have alternated between disappointments and moments of glory: the 1990 World Cup semi-final in Italy lost on penalties against Germany (with Paul Gascoigne in tears), the EURO 1996 semi-final at home also lost on penalties against the Germans, and recent strong performances under Gareth Southgate, with the 2018 World Cup semi-final and two consecutive EURO 2020 and EURO 2024 finals (both lost respectively to Italy on penalties at Wembley and to Spain). Among the great legends of the Three Lions are Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, Gordon Banks, Geoff Hurst, Stanley Matthews, Tom Finney, Gary Lineker, Paul Gascoigne, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Harry Kane (the national team's all-time top scorer), Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, and captain Harry Kane.
England Jerseys: autographed store, player issued, and match worn
The England jerseys available on MTM Memorabilia represent high-level collectible documentation of the Three Lions National Team. The catalog includes three distinct types of official jerseys. Autographed store jerseys are commercial versions signed by the protagonists of English history, from the 1966 World Cup champions to the greats of recent generations. Player issued jerseys are official examples assigned by the Federation to players for training, bench duty, or as reserves, identical to game-worn jerseys but not used in official matches. Match worn jerseys are actually worn on the field during official competitions, the rarest and most sought-after item by international collectors. Each jersey covers different tournaments and protagonists: from the historic Umbro years (historical technical supplier for over fifty years) to the Admiral, Nike, and Adidas eras of recent tournaments, up to the current Nike seasons. The provenance of each jersey is documented, and authenticity is verified by our experts.
Original England Autographs and Memorabilia on MTM Memorabilia
MTM Memorabilia is the benchmark in Italy for high-level collecting related to the English National Football Team. In addition to jerseys, on MTM you will find autographed photographs, signed footballs, framed legends, and collectible memorabilia dedicated to the protagonists of the Three Lions. Every piece of England memorabilia available on MTM is selected with rigorous criteria of provenance and authenticity by our experts. Every autographed item is always accompanied free of charge by the MTM Letter of Authenticity (LOA), a document issued by our experts that declares the provenance and veracity of the autograph according to our direct knowledge. Depending on the type and value of the item, MTM autographs can be accompanied by additional third-party certifications recognized internationally — including the COA-R issued by Associazione Autografia, or certificates from entities such as PSA and JSA — included in the price or purchasable separately.