A football enthusiast from Modbury, Devon, has spent over a decade amassing a remarkable collection of Mitre footballs that now fills his home like a private museum. Simon Francis, 44, owns 84 balls in total, with 79 currently on display, each one a piece of the brand's history stretching back decades.
Francis began his collection 12 years ago, drawing inspiration from the set design of the Sky TV show Soccer AM, which famously displayed footballs and boots behind its presenters and guests. For Francis, though, there was only one brand worth pursuing.
"It's all about that design for me because that was the football of my childhood," he said, referring to Mitre's distinctive multiple-arrow logo. He explained that his love affair with the sport began at the same time as the Premier League itself. "I was 10 years old when the Premier League was born in 1992 and my friends and I just fell in love with football at that point," Francis said. "We were always having to buy the cheaper balls but as I matured and you get a little bit more spending money, I decided to start collecting the balls I could never afford as a child."
A supporter of both Norwich City and Plymouth Argyle, Francis said he had been struck by the sheer variety of designs Mitre had produced over the years, and that discovery fuelled his growing obsession. "It snowballed from there," he said.
Mitre has been manufacturing footballs for more than two centuries and holds a special place in English football history, having supplied the official match ball for 40 consecutive FA Cup Finals. Francis has sourced his collection from a mix of online auction sites, charity shops and collectors' fairs, building what he describes as a gathering of overlooked treasures. "This is a collection of footballs that nobody else really wanted, hence why they now live in my home with me," he said.
Asked why he remained loyal to the Mitre brand specifically, Francis pointed to the tactile memories shared by an entire generation of players. "Any person of my age, between say 35 and 50, who has used one of these balls and caught it on the half volley and buried it in the top corner, knows there was no better ball to play football with," he explained.
Among his prized possessions are two standout pieces: the Mitre Pro-Max, which served as the official ball during the Premier League's inaugural 1992 season, and the Mitre Elite - the very first football he ever owned. That particular ball holds sentimental value, having been given to him as a mascot gift during a Norwich City match against Torquay United in 1996, complete with signatures from the players and manager.
Francis estimates he typically pays around £50 per ball, though prices have ranged from as little as £10 to as much as £100 for rarer items. He insists, however, that the true worth of his collection lies elsewhere. "That's not where the value is - the value comes from the time it's taken to amass the collection," he said.
The collection's growing reputation has even attracted commercial interest. Francis revealed he was left stunned when a buyer offered him £12,000 for the entire set. "Did it make me think for a minute? Yes, it did, but I was concerned that I had a decision to make," he admitted.
Despite the tempting offer, Francis has no intention of parting with his footballs or slowing down his search for new additions. "I don't feel like my collection is finished, I certainly still enjoy collecting and I'm looking forward to seeing what else is still out there," he said.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.