Football Finds x Footy Am Byth
Welcome back to The Football Finds Blog. Today, we’re shining a light on Conor Mercer, known online as @footy_am_byth. A collector shaped by family influence, travel, and storytelling through design, Conor’s collection is a reflection of where he’s been, the people who introduced him to football, and the memories that have stayed with him along the way.
Like many collectors, Conor’s journey began with a shirt tied to family. The first football shirt he ever owned was the 2004/05 yellow third shirt from Tottenham Hotspur, gifted by his dad, a lifelong Spurs supporter eager to introduce him to the club early. Growing up, football allegiances in the household were split, with his brother supporting Chelsea, leading to regular trips to both White Hart Lane and Stamford Bridge. Despite those early influences, Conor ultimately found his own path, becoming a supporter of Brentford. Even so, those early shirts still hold significance, representing his first experiences of football, family connections, and time spent at matches.
For a long time, football shirts came and went, but collecting truly began to take shape through travel. Growing up, Conor spent most summers in France, and no trip felt complete without a visit to a local Intersport. Football shirts quickly became his go-to souvenir, and his early collection filled with shirts from clubs like Nantes, Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Lyon, alongside various national team kits. Over time, this developed into a personal goal: to own a football shirt from everywhere he’s travelled to.
That idea of memory and place continues to define Conor’s collection today. Now also passionate about photography, he enjoys sharing his shirts through his travels, pairing kits with landscapes and locations that add further context and meaning to each piece.
When asked to choose a favourite shirt, Conor’s answer is immediate. It’s the Norway 20/21 away shirt. Having lived and studied in Norway for a period of time, every Norway shirt carries a strong sense of nostalgia, but the 20/21 away stands out both emotionally and aesthetically. For him, it’s the perfect balance of personal memory and standout design.
There are also shirts in his collection that he never expected to own. Being born in 1997, Conor never felt a strong connection to 1990s football shirts, and the high prices attached to them often felt unjustifiable. That changed with the arrival of a 1995/96 Rapid Wien away shirt. Now living just outside Vienna, the shirt feels personal rather than historical, showing how context can create meaning even without childhood nostalgia.
That same philosophy runs through how Conor defines a “good” football shirt. The designs that resonate most are those that clearly represent the history or culture of a club, city, region, or nation. Cultural references, artistic motifs, and nods to local heritage elevate a shirt beyond its function, turning it into something that tells a story.
Looking ahead, Conor’s ultimate grail shirts are rooted firmly in memory. The 2003/04 home shirts worn by Manchester City and The New Saints hold deep significance. The first football match his dad ever took him to was TNS versus Manchester City in Cardiff, a Europa League qualifier that City won 0–2. That match marked the moment he truly fell in love with football, and owning both shirts from that night would be incredibly special.
When it comes to advice for new collectors, Conor keeps it simple. Don’t chase trends. It’s easy to be drawn in by the latest releases or what’s popular online, but that often leads to owning shirts without any real personal connection. Instead, collect what makes you happy, whether that’s tied to travel, memory, or a design that genuinely speaks to you.
Conor Mercer’s collection is a reminder that football shirts are far more than just kits worn on matchday. They’re souvenirs, stories, and reflections of personal journeys. From early family influences to travel-inspired collecting and deeply meaningful grails, his approach perfectly captures what Football Finds is all about — collecting with intention and appreciation for the stories behind every shirt.