The global football merchandise industry is evolving rapidly in 2026, and one Scottish company is becoming a major player in the premium sports collectibles market. Based in the coastal town of Lochgilphead, Argyll, Midton has unveiled an innovative football memorabilia collection for Wrexham AFC — the historic Welsh football club owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

The collaboration highlights a growing trend in licensed sports merchandise: giving supporters authentic physical connections to their favorite clubs through limited edition collectibles made from genuine stadium materials.

Wrexham AFC Launches “Own a Piece of History” Collection

Wrexham AFC’s latest fan merchandise range, titled Own a Piece of History, allows supporters to own real sections of the club’s legendary STōK Cae Ras pitch.

Using advanced acrylic casting technology, Midton embedded authentic turf, pitch grass cuttings, and goal net fragments into premium retail memorabilia products. The collection celebrates Wrexham AFC’s remarkable rise following three consecutive promotions and the club’s expanding international fanbase driven by the success of the documentary series Welcome to Wrexham.

The launch also coincides with the opening of Wrexham AFC’s new superstore, further strengthening the club’s growing retail presence in the global football market.

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Premium Football Memorabilia Made with Real Stadium Materials

The new Wrexham AFC collection includes several exclusive football collectibles designed for passionate supporters and memorabilia collectors.

Limited Edition Turf Cube

The centerpiece of the collection is the 1864 Limited Edition Turf Cube, containing genuine turf from the centre circle of the STōK Cae Ras stadium — widely recognized as the world’s oldest international football ground.

Each acrylic cube includes:

• Authentic Wrexham AFC pitch turf
• Certificate of authenticity
• Hand-numbered presentation stand
• Gold-etched Wrexham AFC crest
• Premium presentation box

Only 1,864 units were produced, symbolizing the club’s historic foundation year.

Goal Net Acrylic Cube

Another standout product is the Goal Net Cube, featuring real goal netting used during Wrexham AFC’s historic promotion seasons.

Encased in crystal-clear acrylic, every piece captures a genuine part of the club’s recent football history and offers supporters a unique collectible tied directly to iconic matchday moments.

Turf Medals and Keyrings

Midton also created smaller everyday keepsakes including:

• Turf medals
• Turf keyrings
• Acrylic football accessories featuring authentic pitch grass

These affordable fan merchandise products allow supporters to carry a piece of the stadium with them wherever they go.

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Midton’s Advanced Acrylic Manufacturing Technology

What makes Midton unique within the sports memorabilia industry is its highly specialized acrylic casting process.

The Lochgilphead-based foundry is currently one of the few manufacturers in the world producing large-scale cast acrylic products using advanced industrial techniques. The company combines traditional craftsmanship with state-of-the-art machinery to create bespoke luxury retail items for international brands and sports organizations.

A major factor behind Midton’s expansion in 2026 is its investment in a new industrial autoclave machine. This technology allows the company to manufacture:

• Larger acrylic castings
• Complex sports memorabilia products
• Premium retail displays
• High-quality bespoke collectibles
• Luxury branded installations

The investment positions Midton strongly within the rapidly growing global licensed sports merchandise market.

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Football Clubs Increasingly Invest in Premium Fan Merchandise

The success of the Wrexham AFC collaboration reflects a larger trend across modern football retail.

Football clubs are moving beyond traditional scarves and jerseys, focusing instead on exclusive memorabilia products that create emotional connections with supporters.

Midton has already worked with several major football organizations, including Manchester United. One notable project involved embedding sections of Old Trafford turf into collectible acrylic cubes tied to specific historic moments at the stadium.

Using GPS tracking technology, fans could purchase memorabilia connected to exact locations where iconic goals, free kicks, and tribute matches occurred.

This innovative approach to football collectibles is generating strong commercial interest among elite clubs worldwide.

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Global Sports Merchandise Market Continues Rapid Growth

According to industry estimates, the global licensed sports merchandise market exceeded £28 billion in 2025 and is projected to surpass £45 billion over the next decade.

This growth is being driven by several key factors:

• International football fandom
• Social media engagement
• Documentary-style sports content
• Limited edition collectibles
• Premium stadium experiences
• Personalized fan merchandise

Clubs like Wrexham AFC are capitalizing on this momentum by creating emotionally driven products that strengthen supporter loyalty while opening new revenue streams.

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Midton Expands Into International Sports Retail

Following the successful Wrexham AFC launch, Midton is reportedly in advanced discussions with additional international football clubs interested in developing custom memorabilia collections.

The company’s expertise in acrylic casting, sports collectibles, and bespoke retail manufacturing makes it particularly attractive to clubs seeking premium fan engagement products.

With football increasingly blending entertainment, storytelling, and global branding, collectible merchandise containing authentic match-used materials is becoming one of the fastest-growing sectors in sports retail.

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Why Authentic Football Memorabilia Matters to Fans

Modern football supporters increasingly seek products with genuine emotional and historical value.

Unlike mass-produced merchandise, authentic memorabilia featuring real pitch turf, goal netting, or stadium materials creates a direct connection between fans and their club’s identity.

For Wrexham AFC supporters, owning a piece of the STōK Cae Ras pitch represents more than just a collectible — it symbolizes participation in one of football’s most remarkable modern success stories.

As football culture continues evolving globally, innovative manufacturers like Midton are helping redefine what sports memorabilia can become in the digital age.