Show Notes
Ben, the founder of Manchester Card Con, joins us to discuss the massive move to a new venue in January 2026 and his predictions for the future of the UK hobby. If you are a collector—whether you chase high-end sports cards or love the £10 bargain bins—this episode is for you. We cover the reality of organizing a major show, why inclusivity beats exclusivity, and Ben's hot takes on Cooper Flagg and One Piece. GET TICKETS HERE: manchestercardcon.com TIMESTAMPS:(00:25) How running clubs inspired the MCC culture(15:00) The risks & excitement of the 2026 Venue Move(18:59) Catering to all budgets: Pokemon, Sports & One Piece(27:37) Why Trade Nights should always be FREE(36:14) 2026 Predictions: Cards becoming Pop Culture LINKS:Instagram: @manchestercardconFollow 3rd Down: @3rddownuk
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This week, Ben is joined by Luke from The Hobby Box, to talk about his journey from breaking cards in the UK to building The Hobby Box and helping create the International Pavilion at The National.
This week, Ben is joined by the father-and-son team behind CLA Cards to talk about how a paper round, a few small card purchases, and a love for the NFL grew into their card business. They talk through the early days of collecting, learning how to buy and trade at shows, and what they look for when deciding whether a card is worth picking up. They also get into what makes unusual cards stand out, selling online versus in person, dealing with repackers, and all the work that goes on behind the scenes to keep inventory organized and ready for shows. They share how they prepared for their first time vending at the biggest card show in the US, what they’re hoping to trade for, and some of the cards they’re taking with them. Later, they discuss the growth of the UK NFL hobby, overrated players and sets, favorite cards, deals they wish they could take back, grading a Tom Brady rookie auto, and what could be next for CLA Cards as they look towards more international shows and growing their online presence. Drop a like, subscribe if you’re new, and let us know what card you’d be hunting for at The National! ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00:00 — Meet CLA Cards 00:06:00 — From Collecting to Vending 00:13:30 — Selling Online vs In Person 00:18:00 — Learning From Bad Buys 00:22:10 — Preparing for The National 00:30:10 — Repacks and Moving Inventory 00:36:25 — The Growth of the UK NFL Hobby 00:42:20 — Card Sets and Player Markets 00:52:20 — Managing Inventory 00:55:10 — Advice for New Collectors 01:02:00 — The Future of CLA Cards 01:09:55 — Grading a Tom Brady Rookie Auto
EP 14 (3rd Down Pulled)
This week, Ben is joined by Harry, CEO of the London Card Show, for a behind-the-scenes look at how the event became one of the biggest card shows in Europe. Harry talks about returning to the hobby during Covid, recognizing the potential of the UK card scene, and growing the show from a small gathering into a major event at Excel London. He shares the challenges that came with each stage of that growth, the pressure of organizing an event on such a large scale, and the moments that made it all worthwhile. Ben and Harry also discuss the team behind the London Card Show, working with vendors and sponsors, supporting UK content creators, and launching dedicated events for TCG and sports cards. Later, Harry shares his thoughts on Fanatics Fest, the National, bringing companies such as PSA and Goldin to the UK, and what the future could look like for the hobby. Drop a like, subscribe if you’re new, and let us know which card show you’d love to attend!
Welcome back to another episode of 3rd Down Pulled! This week, Ben is back after a busy run of card shows, he’s Joined by Craig from Diamondback starting with a full recap of Scotland and the nonstop growth of the UK card scene. They talk through the show atmosphere, what collectors were looking for, why card protection still matters, and how the market feels right now across sports cards, TCG, and Pokémon.