3rd Down Pulled

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.

They discuss the growth of the card show scene in the UK and Europe, advice for collectors and vendors, the soccer card market, turning the hobby into a business, and the rise of Topps Chrome Disney. Luke also shares what he learned from some of the biggest shows in the US and what’s next for The Hobby Box.


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 Luke from The Hobby Box

00:05:30 — From UK Box Breaks to The Hobby Box

00:08:50 — £1 Starts and Growing on Whatnot

00:17:22 — Building The National’s International Pavilion

00:30:55 — CLA Cards and the Next Generation

00:34:35 — Comparing the Biggest Card Shows

00:48:50 — The European Card Show Scene

00:53:50 — Advice for Collectors and Vendors

00:58:12 — The Soccer Market After the World Cup

01:05:56 — Collecting, Investing and Hobby Education

01:10:52 — Turning the Hobby Into a Career

01:18:05 — The Rise of Topps Chrome Disney

01:50:13 — Quick Fire and What’s Next



📱 Follow us on Instagram: @3rddownuk

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 

📱 Follow us on Instagram: @3rddownuk 

EP 14 (3rd Down Pulled)

This week, Ben is joined by Gus / @Grails By Gus for a full preview of The National and a closer look at the growing presence of soccer cards in the US hobby scene.

Gus talks about the International Pavilion, what makes The National so different from UK card shows, and why it has become such an important event for collectors, vendors, and creators from around the world. He also shares advice for anyone attending for the first time, from planning your way around the show floor to making the most of trade nights, finding deals, and knowing when to buy or sell.

Ben and Gus also discuss the rise of soccer cards, World Cup hype, pricing rare cards, and why the US market can create big opportunities for collectors who know what they’re looking for. Later, GUS shares some of his favorite National memories, thoughts on Chicago, and the kind of random hobby moments that only happen at a show this big.

Drop a like, subscribe if you’re new, and let us know if you’re heading to The National this year!

⏱️ Episode Chapters:

00:00:00 — Introducing Angus White

00:03:00 — The International Pavilion

00:06:00 — Why The National Feels Different

00:09:00 — Meeting Collectors in Person

00:12:00 — First-Timer Tips

00:15:00 — The UK Hobby Presence

00:18:00 — Vending at The National

00:21:00 — Finding Soccer Card Deals

00:24:00 — Buying, Selling, and Negotiating

00:27:00 — Pricing Rare Cards

00:30:00 — Soccer at The National

00:33:00 — Why Soccer Needed Its Own Space

00:36:00 — Favorite National Stories

00:39:00 — Chicago, Food, and Trade Nights

00:42:00 — Random Hobby Moments 

📱 Follow us on Instagram: @3rddownuk 

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!

⏱️ Episode Chapters:

00:00:00 — Meet Harry from London Card Show

00:01:34 — From Collector to Event Founder

00:05:31 — Growing the London Card Show

00:08:22 — Moving to Excel London

00:15:08 — Vendors, Sponsors, and the Team

00:21:20 — TCG Fest and Sports Fest

00:24:31 — Supporting UK Content Creators

00:31:20 — Fanatics Fest and the National

00:35:45 — Bringing PSA and Goldin to the UK

00:41:21 — The Future of the UK Hobby

Card Shows:
London Card Show: Website | Instagram
Fanatics Fest: Website | Instagram
The National: Website | Instagram

📱 Follow us on Instagram: @3rddownuk

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.

The lads also dive into some big hobby conversations, including the Panini and Topps battle, Lamine Yamal’s massive card hype, Patrick Mahomes autos, Wemby’s market, and what really drives value when collectors are choosing between patches, case hits, autos, and rookies.

Later in the episode, Ben and Craig get into grading, PSA pricing, the future of UK grading, whether 9s deserve more respect, and why newer collectors need to do more research before submitting cards. They also talk about Pokémon demand, the reality of breaking as a business, hobby negativity, upcoming card shows, and the growth of eBay Live and Fanatics as selling platforms.

Drop a like, subscribe if you're new, and let us know in the comments what you think is the biggest change happening in the hobby right now!

⏱️ Episode Chapters:

00:00:00 — Catching Up

00:03:00 — Scotland Card Show Recap

00:09:00 — Panini, Topps, and the Market

00:15:00 — Lamine Yamal Hype

00:21:00 — Mahomes, Wemby, and Big Card Values

00:30:00 — What Makes a Card Valuable?

00:38:00 — Grading Talk

00:45:00 — PSA, Beckett, CGC, and UK Options

00:54:00 — Are 9s Underrated?

00:57:00 — Pokémon Demand

01:00:00 — Breaking as a Business

01:06:00 — Building a Brand in the Hobby

01:09:00 — Hobby Negativity

01:12:00 — PSA Frankfurt

01:15:00 — Upcoming Card Shows

01:18:00 — UK vs US Hobby Scene

01:21:00 — eBay Live and Fanatics 

Card Shows
The Sports Card Social: Website | Instagram
London Card Show: Website | Instagram

📱 Follow us on Instagram: @3rddownuk 

Welcome back to another episode of 3rd Down Pulled! This week, Ben is sitting down with Craig from Diamondback to tackle the elephant in the hobby: repacks.

As a UK card shop, we know the breaking scene can sometimes feel like the Wild West. Craig gives us a refreshingly candid look behind the curtain of high-end NFL card breaking, navigating Whatnot’s strict revenue thresholds, and what it actually takes to build a fully audited repack brand that collectors can trust.

We also get into the massive news of Topps making its long-awaited return to NFL trading cards—including the reality of their retail rollout—and what that means for Panini and the everyday collector. Plus, we vent about the current state of UK PSA middleman delays, the realities of running eBay Live streams, and, as always, take the mick out of Jack.

What we cover in this episode:

• The Repack Reality: Craig’s honest take on the Whatnot scene, avoiding scammers, and building Diamondback.

• Topps vs. Panini: The hype around Topps Chrome returning to the NFL and how it impacts the hobby landscape.

• The UK Collector's Struggle: Venting about PSA wait times, tariffs, and the headaches of grading overseas.

• Behind the Breaks: High-end collecting versus the everyday budget, and how we balance it all in the shop.

• Live Streaming: The chaotic reality of running baseball, football, and Pokémon breaks all on the same eBay Live stream.

If you enjoyed the chat, make sure to hit follow, leave us a rating, and drop by the shop or our next eBay Live!

Welcome back to another episode of 3rd Down Pulled! This week, we are still recovering from probably the craziest weekend of our lives. UFC legend and former lightweight champion Charles "Do Bronx" Oliveira actually came to Keighley to rip Pokemon cards with us! Umar and Ben break down the incredibly surreal experience, the massive crowd that turned up, dealing with the nerves, and Charles's hilarious reaction to pulling a Pikachu.

In Part 2, Chris joins Ben to recap the latest weekend card show at TGI's. We dive into the massive growth of the UK card scene—from small village halls to massive stadiums—discuss what's moving in the market right now (high-end liquid cards vs. bundle deals), and look ahead to the massive Excel London show.

Drop a like, subscribe if you're new, and let us know in the comments what you think Charles Oliveira's favourite Pokemon is!

⏱️ Episode Chapters:

• 0:00 - Intro: The Craziest Weekend Ever

• 2:20 - Who is Charles "Do Bronx" Oliveira?

• 5:28 - Trying to secure UFC fighters for the shop

• 8:00 - Charles rips Pokemon cards & the Pikachu pull!

• 11:40 - Part 2: Chris joins the pod!

• 12:10 - TGI's Card Show Recap & Vibes

• 13:15 - The evolution of UK Card Shows (Halls to Stadiums)

• 14:30 - What's selling right now? (Market Trends & Liquidity)

• 16:40 - Looking ahead to the Excel London Show

Card Shows

The Sports Card Social : Website | Instagram

London Card Show: Website | Instagram

📱 Follow us on Instagram: @3rddownuk / @3rddownBen @3rddownumar / @3rddownchris

In this episode of 3rd Down Pulled, Jordan is joined by a true heavyweight of the hobby: Jesse Gibson, co-host of Sports Cards Nonsense and host of Hobby Nonsense.Jesse brings his signature energy to discuss his upcoming trip to the UK for the London Card Show and his visit to the 3rd Down shop. We dive deep into the differences between the US and UK markets, why sticker culture is so huge in Britain, and the exploding popularity of Non-Sports cards (Star Wars, Disney, Marvel).Jesse also shares his incredible story of going from a TikTok clip to a contract with The Ringer, gives invaluable advice for anyone attending their first card show, and reveals the one card set he dreams of seeing produced (The Simpsons!). Plus, Ben joins the show at the end to warn Jesse about the perils of "Bradford Driving."Key Topics:🇺🇸 US vs. UK: Is the UK the next big market for trading cards?🎬 Non-Sports Deep Dive: Why nostalgia drives the market and what counts as "Non-Sports."💡 Collector Advice: Tips for your first card show, negotiating at tables, and avoiding FOMO.🎙️ Podcasting: How Jesse got his start and advice for new content creators.💎 The Big Hits: The story behind Jesse’s Walt Disney Superfractor pull.CHAPTERS(00:00) Intro: Ice storms and blowtorches in Tennessee(05:17) How Jesse connected with 3rd Down & The UK Market potential(11:13) Stickers vs. Cards: The European nostalgia factor(19:00) Advice for your first Card Show (Dublin & London)(24:55) The art of negotiating at a card table(29:42) What is a "Non-Sports" card? (Star Wars, Marvel, Pop Culture)(36:00) The "Urkel" effect: Rarity in Junk Wax Era non-sports(43:27) Dream Sets: The Office, The Simpsons & Undervalued Labubu(51:48) How Jesse got signed to The Ringer (Podcasting Journey)(01:06:30) Quickfire: Best products to rip & Allen & Ginter love(01:15:30) The $13k Walt Disney Superfractor story(01:23:40) Ben joins the show: The London Card Show plan(01:32:50) The warning about "Bradford Driving"Follow 3rd Down Trading Card Shop:Website:⁠ 3rdDown.co.uk⁠⁠Instagram:⁠ @3rddownukYouTube: 3⁠rd Down Trading Card Shop⁠Visit the Shop: ⁠Google Maps⁠Guest Links:Follow Jesse Gibson: ⁠@The_Sports_Boi⁠Sports Cards Nonsense: ⁠@sports_cards_nonsense⁠⁠Hobby Nonsense: ⁠@HobbyNonsense⁠Mentioned in this Episode:London Card Show: ⁠Website⁠Dublin Card Show: ⁠Website⁠

With Jordan stuck at Kwik Fit, Ben takes the driving seat for this episode!

He sits down with Joe, the founder of JJJ Cards, to discuss his leap from a corporate career in London to becoming one of the UK’s most prominent full-time card sellers.

We dive into the reality of running a card business (it's 90% packing orders!), his experience vending at international shows in Spain and Poland, and why he believes content creation is the next big wave for the UK hobby. Joe also shares his red flags for spotting scammers, the difference between the US and UK markets, and his advice for anyone looking to go full-time.

We discuss:

(00:00) Intro: Ben steps in as host (Jordan's car trouble!)

(00:50) Quitting the corporate 9-5 to sell cards full-time

(04:55) How eBay led to sponsoring AFC Wimbledon

(08:40) Protecting the "love for the hobby" when it pays the bills

(13:40) How to handle deals at card shows (Speed vs. Patience)

(22:25) Vending Internationally: Spain, Poland & The National (US)

(29:57) Red Flags: How to avoid being scammed in deals

(39:50) The US Market: Buying power & the culture shock of The National

(46:46) Why Content Creation is the next big wave for the UK

(51:00) The "Previous Guest Question": Changing the hobby for the better

(53:38) Future Plans: Scaling JJJ Cards and hiring a team

Links:

Follow JJJ Cards: @JJJCards & @thatcard_

Follow 3rd Down: @3rdDownUK

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