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Futera

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Futera
Founded1989; 35 years ago (1989) in Dubai
HeadquartersDubai, UAE
ProductsTrading cards
Websitefutera.com

Futera is a trading card publisher founded in 1989. It is a privately owned company, its main markets being Asia, Europe, Australasia, US, with commercial and operational bases located in SE Asia, print and distribution facilities in UK/Europe and Asia-wide, and its headquarters in Dubai.

Futera has been producing several collections covering different topics, sports cards include association football, auto racing (F1), baseball, basketball, boxing, cricket, cycle sport (Tour de France), horse racing, rugby, and surfing.[1]

Non-sports cards by Futera include TV & film enteratinment series.[1]

Licences

Futera was established in 1989 and during its 30-year history has been the Official Trading Card Licensee for 12 English Premier League and Championship football clubs including Manchester United FC, Leeds United FC, Liverpool FC, Arsenal FC, Manchester City FC, West Ham United FC, Aston Villa FC, Newcastle FC, Middlesbrough FC, Derby County FC and Scottish Premier League club Celtic FC. Futera has also been the Official Trading Card Licensee for other sports spanning Formula 1, The Australian Cricket Board (Cricket Australia), World Cup Cricket, Australian National Basketball League (NBL), Australian Soccer, Australian Rugby Football Union, Australian Baseball Association, New Zealand Cricket Board, New Zealand Rugby League and Rugby Football Union, Tour de France, Horseracing, World Surfing Federation, Scandinavian Handball.

Futera's licences extended to stickers, phonecards and confectionery with some Clubs and in 2000 Futera created a licensed Confectionery line called 'Total Football' combining Futera's football cards from 10 English Premier League and Championship Football Clubs with Chupa Chups lollipops.

Futera's non-Sport Licences have included Mattel's "Barbie", BBC Television Sci-fi Series "Red Dwarf" in association with Grant Naylor Film Productions, and the feature film "Chicken Run" with Universal Studios, Aardman Animations & Pathé.

From 2015 Futera have been producing Officially Licensed high-end 'UNIQUE' Football/Soccer Card Collections for Liverpool FC, Arsenal FC and Manchester City Football Club featuring player autographs, game-used memorabilia and 24ct gold plated cards.

Products

Futera's history of world firsts

Futera has created several 'world firsts' for the Trading Card Hobby including the following:-

- In 2006 Futera created a 'Memorabilia Colour Grading' service for collectors to go online to see how rare their Memorabilia cards are from bar charts showing how many cards of each colour/colour combination had been released.

- In 2014 Futera created 'Code for Collectors' - collectors can go online and enter the unique code printed on the back of their Futera card to get information about their card's features and rarity, such as details about the game jersey featured on their Memorabilia Card; the date and location that their Autograph Card was signed by the player; how many cards of that type were actually released; what materials/special finishing processes were used; behind the scenes photographs/videos of the card and materials; and which provides a security feature for the card.

- Futera created individual numbering on Insert cards to help collectors understand how many cards had been released by the publisher and therefore how rare their card is;

- Futera created the world's first '1 of 1' autograph football card, meaning that only one of its type or design was produced and exists worldwide - the term '1 of 1' has since been adopted by the trading card industry.

- Futera created the first virtual Memorabilia football (soccer) cards

- Futera was the first Trading Card Publisher to create an online football card game.

Futera APP with interactive collector services

In 2019 Futera released its App providing an Online Album with free collector services inc. 'Code for Collectors' and ‘Memorabilia Card Grading’ giving useful info about a card's features & rarity, and with card and Portfolio Valuations based on actual card sales data from the secondary market (powered by PriceGuide.cards).[2][3]

Memorabilia, porcelain, gold plated and diamond insert cards

Futera collections include "insert" or special cards, some featuring pieces of player jersey and celebrity autographs. In the creation of Futera's cricket "Heritage Collection", an autograph for every living Test Cricketer for Australia had to be obtained, and it took several years to complete. The Cricketing Legend "Don Bradman" acted as a figurehead in the project and helped put the collection together. Futera's "Grand Prix" collections have included Michael Schumacher’s race worn overalls and pieces of Ayrton Senna’s car tyre.

24ct gold, silver and platinum plated cards, as well as Porcelain cards and cards studded with diamonds were introduced by Futera from the early 2000s. Futera cards normally feature bios or interesting facts about the subject together with statistics and often show photographs of the subject on both front and back of their cards, sometimes several photographs on one card.

Futera football/soccer card values

Single Futera cards have sold on eBay for as much as US$8,500; and a virtual (digital) Futera 'FWF Online' card (Futera code only, no printed card exists) sold for US$485.90 (August 2012).

For the twelve-month period up to June 2013 Futera averaged over 20,000 active listings on online auction sites at any one time. An average 74% of the top 100 highest valued football (soccer) cards produced by current soccer card Publishers listed on eBay.com were Futera cards (completed single card sales).

From 2015, Limited Edition 'Futera UNIQUE' Premium Card Collections have been released for English Premier League Clubs Arsenal FC and Manchester City FC, and from 2016 Liverpool FC featuring player autograph cards, game-used memorabilia cards and 24ct gold plated cards.

Up to January 2019 Futera UNIQUE collections have had the best box-break values (providing collectors with the best‘return on investment) from across the football/soccer card Publishers - Source: the world's top ranking online price guide PriceGuide.Cards where values are based on actual card sales from the market:[4]

Futera Virtual Sports Cards

In 2008 Futera took an innovative step by taking the traditional Football Card "online" and "interactive" with the launch of "Futera World Football Online", known as FWF Online, combining management skills with the hobby of trading printed and virtual cards to play in live tournaments online with other players around the world or with friends. Futera wanted to make the game accessible to everyone, and made it free to register with a free Starter Pack of virtual cards to open. Cards download into a virtual online album. By 2009 millions of games had been played by card collectors and gamers from over 100 countries.

Following Futera World Football Online football pack releases Series 1 and Series 2 where printed cards combined with virtual cards in an online interactive experience, Futera released FWF Online Series 3 as a totally Virtual (digital card) Football Card Collection with packs bought online for 49 cents (US$) for 10 virtual football cards.

Although packs in Series 3 were virtual, Futera retained its special Insert card features including actual 24ct gold plated Futera '1 of 1' Autograph Cards and cards with diamonds plus prize items to hunt for which, if they are found in a virtual pack, were claimed by redemption and posted to the customer.

In October 2013 Futera released FWF Online Series 4 as a Virtual Football Card Collection, and in November 2013 FWF Online was launched on iPAD, continuing with further Series on a non-supported basis to provide a fun activity for collectors and soccer fans.

eFUTERA - live Online Card Trading Market (2013) Futera launched a free live online card trading market called 'eFutera' where collectors around the world could buy, sell and swap their Futera cards.

Promotional partners

Brands including Exxon-Mobil, General Mills (GM Foods), 7-Eleven, Coca-Cola, Nestle, Carrefour, Unilever, Pokka, Maxis Telecom, Guinness Anchor, Etisalat have chosen Futera collectibles as premiums. In 2014/2015 Exxon Mobil ran a National promotion through Esso gas stations across Hong Kong and Thailand, and General Mills (GM Foods) distributed up to 100 million Futera soccer cards inside packs of 'Bugles' snacks throughout China.

'Futera FC' managed by fans

Futera made sports history with its unique football management method when Futera created a professional Football Team playing in a National League which was managed LIVE by fans from their computers.

In 2018, FOX SPORTS ran a 2-part report on Futera's unique football management method as the world's only professional club run by supporters :[5]

The Team was managed by fans from their computers around the world LIVE as their games were played out on the pitch.

Through an interactive platform broadcasting LIVE streaming of the game, fans from their computers vote live on tactics such as formation, playing style, what substitutes to bring on, etc. and those decisions are relayed to the Coach on the sidelines to communicate to the players on the pitch.

Futera FC Pundits communicated with the fans 'Virtual Managers' live online during games and included Scott Ollerenshaw, ASTRO TV Sports Pundit featuring on the Four Four Two programme, former Socceroos Australian International and twice winner of the Malaysian Golden Boot Award, Brad Maloney, former Australian International and Malaysian National Team Assistant Coach, Malaysian Goalkeeper Syed Adney, and footballing brothers Martin Sinclair (London Paralympics 2012) and Scott Sinclair of Manchester City (Team GB London Olympics 2012).

In 2009, Futera FC was formed as a real Football Team playing in a real League (London, UK) and which ran as a trial project over 3 seasons

In 2012, Futera FC entered the Professional Football arena in Asia competing in a SE Asian League where it reached 4th position.

'FUTERA TEAM' Sportswear

In 2019, Futera launched its private label ‘FUTERA TEAM’ - high performance sportswear designed by professional players drawing from their experience of sports clothing characteristics over their playing careers.[6]

Futera Football Academy associations & Technology in Sport

In 2019, FUTERA linked with ADELAIDE CITY FOOTBALL CLUB REPT ACADEMY, powered by Sports Analytics Leader PERNIX’, to explore ‘Technology in Sport’ through GPS data in the study of performance, health enhancement and injury prevention + Team strategy and position decision-making.

In 2013, PSW Futera Football Academy hosted over 300 children aged 6–16 years becoming one of the largest academies in Thailand and in SE Asia. Led by former Thailand International Pisal 'Den' Rumrai, the Academy had 13 students playing at International level, with awards of educational and training scholarships and providing opportunities for underprivileged children. Students gained basic maths, language and computer skills learning through Futera trading cards and the FWF Online game trialling in schools in Singapore and Thailand.

Stadium Tournaments

In 2018, Futera's soccer arm extended to International Stadium Tournaments for Women/Girls’ Football. With appearances from former Australian National Socceroos and World Cup level and current professional Players and full size Stadium games, Futera's Stadium Tournaments for Women/Girls’ Football launched in Thailand in 2018 with the Futera 'Bangkok Girls Football Cup' with participating teams from Australia and Thailand.[7]

Virtual Memorabilia Cards (2013)

Futera introduced another world 1st for the trading card Hobby with its 5-star Memostars Moments and Club & Country Virtual Card sets featuring legendary players with their game memorabilia from a special moment in their footballing history. The Memostars virtual cards feature one, two or three patches of memorabilia from jersey, boots and ball from the historic game featured on the card, are individually numbered, and state the rarity of the card.

'Code for Collectors'

In 2014, Futera created a free information service for collectors to go online and enter the code from the back of their Futera cards to get details about their cards' features, history and rarity such as the card's materials and finishing processes, how many cards were released, photos from behind the scenes, with certified on-card autograph card details giving the date and place where the player signed, and memorabilia card details including info like what game/date/season the card's memorabilia is from, and photos and videos from the jerseys and memorabilia and making the cards. Futera first introduced this service in 2014 through its Futera Unique 2014 World Football Card Collection and which continues ongoing.[8]

'Memorabilia Card Colour Grading'

In 2006, Futera created its Memorabilia Colour Grading service where collectors can go online to check how rare and how potentially valuable their cards are according to the number of colours, the rarity of the colours and combinations, and how rare that card is compared to others. The memorabilia cards are individually numbered and have a unique security code. The code also lets collectors access other data about their card. Futera have been producing Memorabilia Colour Grading charts for collectors since 2006.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b Futera checklist
  2. ^ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.efutera.football
  3. ^ https://itunes.apple.com/th/developer/futera-limited-reg/id1441288481
  4. ^ https://www.priceguide.cards/en/box-breaks
  5. ^ https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/881018/futera-seeker-fc-break-ground/
  6. ^ https://www.futerateam.com
  7. ^ https://www.bangkokgirlscup.com
  8. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAQCZ3pTx0M
  9. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAQCZ3pTx0M

Further reading

  • Don Bradman - Futera Cricket Collections - [1]
  • Futera 'Total Football' Checklist: Football Cards & Chupa Chups Lollipop Packs [2]
  • M. Hollyman & N. Neophitou, "The Futera File - The Complete Guide to Futera Sports Cards, 1998" [3]
  • Beckett Online Price Guide - Futera cards [4]
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