Top football trading card game wins apparel and stationery deals

Bulldog Licensing, the independent licensing agency representing top football trading card game Match Attax®, has announced two new licensing agreements for the brand.

Blues Group, a leading name in licensed kids’ apparel is planning a range of children’s daywear and nightwear. RMS, a leading supplier of toys, games and arts and crafts products, is planning a range of kids’ stationery and accessories.

Aimed at the older primary boys’ age group, the Blues Group range will include a t-shirt, a football outfit and pyjamas, all illustrated with the instantly recognisable Match Attax logo and its popular football and striker images. The first products will be available from spring/summer 2026, perfect timing for the summer of football ahead.

The RMS core range will include a pen set, a stationery set, a football diary set, a water bottle, a keychain and much more, again making strong use of the Match Attax logo and football and striker images but using striking and powerful black and white images and silhouettes alongside colourful lettering, also launching in time for the big footballing event of 2026. RMS are also developing an exclusive novelty range including fidget spinner, LED bouncy ball, water game and pinball game, plus more.

Match Attax from trading cards giant Topps® is a best-selling sport trading card game series and the UK’s top children’s football brand. Nearly half of all boys in the UK collect Match Attax and it is a massive playground craze, with live swapping events held across the country and strong support from the many parents who buy Match Attax cards for their kids.

Over recent seasons in the UK, Match Attax has been widely distributed across the UK and Ireland, with sales reaching hundreds of millions of packets through a large retail footprint. The brand also has a massive online presence, including over 400,000 followers on Topps Social channels, and partnerships with the biggest and most prestigious names in world football, including the UEFA Champions League and the Bundesliga, as well as many of the biggest names in world football.

“With tremendous sales, Match Attax has the kind of reach and awareness that even some of the world’s biggest football clubs would find impressive,” says Bulldog MD Rob Corney. “That massive appeal and its association with the world’s most popular sport also make it ideal for multi-category Iicensing, a fact that has clearly made the brand a winner for Blues Group and RMS – two leading names in their fields.”

Sarah Salmon, Sales & Design Manager, Blues Group, says: “The appeal of the Match Attax brand is hard to overestimate, with strong visibility across multiple channels and continuing trading card strength in the market, not to mention a highly recognisable name and associations that makes the brand ideal for licensing to its devoted fanbase. We’re delighted to be working with Bulldog and Topps on this wonderful new range of daywear and nightwear.”

Rebecca Law, Head of Licensed Product, RMS, says: “At a time when football has a vast – and growing – following, working with a leader in the trading card market whose imagery and name are known by millions is an opportunity we don’t want to miss. We’re sure this new stationery and accessories range will be a winner with Match Attax fans everywhere.”

Collection developed by Aykroyd and Sons

Launch coincides with new KIDZ BOP album ‘KIDZ BOP 52’ Out 9 January

KIDZ BOP, the number one music brand for kids, and Bulldog Licensing, the brand’s European licensing partner, announced the launch of KIDZ BOP’s first UK fashion line, exclusively with Character.com, UK’s biggest retailer of licensed kids’ clothing. The kids collection will consist of KIDZ BOP t-shirts, sweatshirts and jackets for every little fan ready to live their pop star dreams.

The line, developed by apparel licensee Aykroyd and Sons, will launch in stores and online at Character.com in January 2026, to coincide with the release of the KIDZ BOP’s new album ‘KIDZ BOP 52’ on 9 January. The collection will be featured in KIDZ BOP “Tears” music videos and album video content. Fans can celebrate the launch in select stores with guest appearances by the KIDZ BOP Kids early this year. Shop the KIDZ BOP collection at Character.com Collection Page.

The collection comes on the heels of KIDZ BOP’s first theatrical release, KIDZ BOP LIVE: The Concert Movie and follows their massively successful global concert tour performing to hundreds of thousands of kids and families. KIDZ BOP has more than 12 billion streams and more than six billion YouTube views globally. KIDZ BOP is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year.

In the UK, the brand has achieved sustained national visibility through appearances on Good Morning Britain, the BAFTA Children’s Awards, CBBC Blue Peter, Saturday Mash-Up, BBC Children in Need, and Loose Women. The KIDZ BOP Kids have also attended film premieres and served as red carpet correspondents, interviewing A list talent. The KIDZ BOP Kids have performed at Wembley Arena and set the Guinness World Record for the youngest music ensemble to headline an arena show.

Jackie Turner, Marketing SVP, KIDZ BOP says, “KIDZ BOP is all about confidence, self-expression and fun. These new styles let kids bring that pop star feeling into their everyday lives.”

Emma Wilkins, Brand Manager, Character.com, says: ‘KIDZ BOP is a brand bursting with fun, confidence and energy—qualities we know our customers love. We’re incredibly excited to be the exclusive home of this fun new apparel range and to help bring the launch of KIDZ BOP’s latest album release to life with our in-store events and bespoke digital content. At Character.com, we’re all about celebrating the things kids are passionate about, and this partnership is the perfect match.’

Robyn Cowling, Head of Licensing, Aykroyds, says: “The continuing success of the KIDZ BOP brand has made awareness higher than ever across multiple markets and, of course, the UK is one of the biggest. That’s why we’re thrilled to be taking the brand to market on a fabulous new clothing range alongside a major name in Character apparel retail as the buzz builds around the new album.”

Laury Howat, Retail Licensing Manager, Bulldog Licensing, says: “This exclusive range of distinctive, high-quality KIDZ BOP t-shirts, hoodies and jackets promises to be wildly popular – not least as part of the showcase for KIDZ BOP’s new album. From our first meeting in Swansea, it was clear that the Character.com team were as excited about this opportunity as we are, and they have backed it to the hilt. We’re thrilled to have market leaders Aykroyds and Character.com on board to bring the magic of KIDZ BOP into UK children’s wardrobes. This isn’t just an apparel launch – it’s an event!”

Building on the brand’s success, Bulldog is targeting a wide range of categories for the brand in the UK, including apparel, video games, gifts, toys and accessories, with a target market of both girls and boys aged from five upwards.