The inaugural Essex Retro Football Show proved a hit with local football fans.

Around a hundred visitors flocked to The Loughton Club to wallow in the football nostalgia provided by stallholders specialising in football programmes, shirts, stickers/cards, Subbuteo, books, magazines, badges and plenty more besides.

The free gift, kindly donated by Panini for the first 30 people through the door, were especially popular as they were all snapped up inside the first 15 minutes.

“As a first attempt I couldn’t have expected the day to have gone any better," said Essex Retro Football Show event organiser Greg Lansdowne, a writer who specialises in football nostalgia.

"The Loughton Club is a great venue for such an event and the wide mix of memorabilia on display from the stallholders proved very popular with all those who came along.

"Thanks a lot to everyone who supported the day. I’m looking forward to planning the next one already!”

There will be a second Essex Retro Football Show on Sunday December 10, also at The Loughton Club, with more details to follow on the Essex Retro Football Show Facebook page or email essexretroshow@greglansdowne.co.uk.