The Rise of Women’s Football Cards: Investing, Community & Arsenal with Ronnie (Toploaded Podcast)
3rd Down PulledShow Notes
In this episode of 3rd Down Pulled, we are joined by Ronnie, host of the Top Loaded Podcast, to discuss the explosive growth of women's football cards. We dive into why the WSL card market offers incredible value compared to the men's game and how products like Topps Chrome have evolved. Ronnie shares his personal journey building a massive Arsenal Women’s collection, his experience at "The National" in Chicago, and his top tips for new collectors visiting UK card shows. From chasing Leah Williamson autos to spotting future stars like Olivia Smith, this episode covers it all. Topics: The boom in women's trading cards.
Topps Chrome value & hit rates.
Collecting Arsenal Women & WSL stars.
Navigating card shows for the first time.
🔗 Guest & Podcast Links The Toploaded Podcast (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@TheToploadedPodcast
Ronnie’s Instagram (for the "Just Women's Cards" Discord Invite): https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/rptradingcards (As mentioned in the episode, DM him for the Discord link).
🏟️ Card Shows Mentioned London Card Show: https://londoncardshow.co.uk
The National (NSCC Chicago): https://nsccshow.com
Dublin Card Show: https://www.dublincardshow.com
⚽ Products & Community Topps Chrome Women's Champions League: https://uk.topps.com/pages/topps-chrome-uwcl
She Scores Cards (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/shescorescards (Recommended follow for advice).
00:00 - Introduction & The Start of the JourneyWelcome to the show and introduction of the guest, Ronnie (Top Loaded Podcast). Discussing how he discovered the hobby, starting with basketball and transitioning into football cards. 02:55 - Diving into Women's Football CardsHow Ronnie shifted his focus from general collecting to Arsenal Women. The early days of the women's card market and how small the community was compared to now. 06:01 - The Explosion of the Women's GameDiscussing the rapid growth of women's football popularity and how it has impacted the card market. Seeing products on shelves in mainstream stores like ASDA and Tesco. 09:02 - Stickers, Chrome & Product EvolutionThe weird timeline of women's products (stickers first, then high-end, then back to basics). A review of the new Topps Chrome Women's set and the massive improvement in quality compared to last year. 12:04 - Incredible Value in Women’s BoxesWhy women's hobby boxes are the best value in the market right now. Comparing price points and hit rates (autos/numbered cards) versus the men's products. 15:06 - Chasing Arsenal Stars & Future RookiesRonnie’s personal collection goals (Leah Williamson, Katie McCabe). Discussing future stars to watch, including Olivia Smith, Lotte Wubben-Moy, and Michelle Agyemang. 18:02 - The Power of Community (Discord & Socials)How to find and join the "Just Women's Cards" community. The supportive nature of the women's card hobby and making friends across the globe (Australia, Germany, US). 21:04 - Advice for New CollectorsRonnie’s top tips for anyone entering the hobby. How to use social media to learn, who to follow (e.g., She Scores Cards), and avoiding rookie mistakes. 25:20 - The "Top Loaded Podcast" Origin StoryRonnie shares how he started his own podcast, overcoming the nerves of recording, and his favorite episodes (London Card Show specials). 32:16 - The "National" Experience (Chicago)A look at the sheer scale of the US card market compared to the UK. Ronnie shares his experience visiting the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago. 36:18 - The Boom of the UK Card SceneDiscussing the rapid rise of card shows in the UK since 2021. Why the UK scene is growing so fast and attracting attention from American collectors. 39:01 - Tips for Your First Card ShowEssential advice for attending a show: Don't buy at the first table, take your time, and most importantly—talk to people to build relationships. 43:00 - OutroFinal thoughts, where to find Ronnie and the Top Loaded Podcast.
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