About Toby

Toby Jackson has been producing quality, enamel badges for football clubs, supporters clubs, and other associations for over 45 years.  The quality of his designs has twice won him the coveted Association of Football Badge Collectors "Badge of the Year" award seen below in "History of Lapels".  As well as his own productions, he offers an amazing array of badges from around the world, including every English and Scottish league club, and a mass of Non-League badges, his main interest.  Peruse the site using the links above, and email Toby direct should you have any questions not found on the FAQs link. Happy collecting!

History of Lapels

I developed a taste for football at an early age alternating between the delights of Johnny Haynes, George Cohen and an up-and-coming Rodney Marsh at Fulham, and the local Non-League scene. When I moved to the Harrow area in 1965 I took a look at all the nearby clubs and was immediately taken with the passion and humour on the terraces, not to mention the considerable talent on the pitch, at Wealdstone FC. Lower Mead Stadium, Wealdstone's home, had the added advantage of being within walking distance for a boy keen to escape the confines of a rugby-playing school on Saturday afternoons.

Within a year I had seen my new team lift the F.A. Amateur Cup at Wembley Stadium as well as witnessing what still remains the most exciting game I have ever attended, the F.A. Cup victory over Stevenage when the "Stones" turned a 5-3 deficit with some 10 minutes remaining into an unforgettable 6-5 victory. I was hooked for life !

In 1973 I set up a Programme Shop at Lower Mead to dispose of my collection and to raise funds for the club. When the Stones played away I was accompanied on the Supporters coach by "Mick" my mischievous but loveable black and white mongrel. "Mick", resplendent in his Royal Blue coat and Wealdstone scarf , soon became a familiar sight around the Southern League and then Alliance (now Conference) grounds up and down the country. As we travel led around I got in the habit of purchasing an enamel badge for Mick's coat. Within a few seasons his legs began to buckle under the weight of dozens of badges adorning that coat! It was those badges years later that made up the first "Lapels" display in the Wealdstone Club Shop.

It was in 1973 that I also sought the services of Mike Woolnough, a badge producer and member of the British Badge Collectors Association (BBCA) to assist with the design and production of an enamel badge for Wealdstone. The badge was much admired by visiting clubs and Boston United asked if I could design a similar badge for them. With Mike's help the Lincolnshire club became my first customer and "Lapels" was launched.

Since those early days over 300 clubs have benefitted from Lapels' services. Lapels has twice won the coveted Badge of the Year title for the best badge produced in the country by clubs of any level. Members of the Association of Football Badge Collectors (AFBC) introduced the award in 1985. As can be seen from regular appearances in the top placings table (left), Lapels has developed a reputation for quality productions and eye-catching designs.

As badges grew in popularity in the Wealdstone Club Shop, stocks were also purchased from and exchanged with other clubs to increase variety. Thus the Lapels mail order selection arose which has now grown into a twice-yearly 12 page catalogue. All English and all the Scottish League clubs, all Champions League group stage clubs, and extensive Non-League stocks are featured together with the badges of the top clubs from around the world, again the best selection in England.

Today, the very latest catalogue can be viewed online, and ordering is easy.  Use the printable order form for mail order, or simply buy online with our secure, padlocked shopping facility.I look forward to hearing from you. Also take a look at the Wealdstone Megastore on www.wfcmegastore.co.uk where some of my badges are also viewable, and on EBay where over 500 badges are listed (seller: badgered53).

Toby.