Nestled between rails of Boro artefacts and classic football tops sits probably the happiest man in Middlesbrough.
Mark Bythway opened ASB Football Shirts in the Dundas Shopping Centre in January and has already been blown away by the response he’s had.
The 39-year-old has had an interest in retro tops for years, amassing a huge personal collection which included rare and match-worn shirts.
He’s now turned his passion into his business, with football fans from across the area already making the pilgrimage to bag a slice of memorabilia.
But Mark has another reason to be happy – the time his new venture gives him with family, wife Andrea, young son Albie and Hugo the dog.
“Collecting shirts is something I’ve always done, but I don’t think I’d realised how big my collection had got. There’s been a market for the right type of shirts for a few years, so the time felt right,” said Mark, from Acklam.
“It gave me the chance to do something I love, and I also get to spend more time with Albie and my family.
“We actually used his initials to name the shop, as we came up with loads of other ideas and none of them seemed to fit. His middle name is Stephen after my late father in law, so the shop honours both of them.”
Among the most popular items on sale so far has been a 90s Brazil-themed yellow Boro shirt, complete with ‘Juninho 10’ on the back, while a 1979 Racing Club Lens shirt – which “felt like it was made out of velvet”, according to Mark – was probably the rarest he’s had in stock so far.
“We’ve had a lot of people come forward to sell shirts, loads of people have them in a box in the loft or hanging round the back of the wardrobe,” he continued.
“I’m a big believer in trying to help people and I’ve met some brilliant people through the business so far.”
An explosion in the popularity of classic football tops among young people means Mark has welcomed as many college students as nostalgic old Boro fans into his shop, and has traded an array of shirts from different clubs, countries and eras.
But what would be Mark’s holy grail item?
“For my dad, I’d love to get an original John Hickton shirt as a gift,” he said.
“But I’ve already got my holy grail – the 18/19 Boro away shirt. That’s what I was wearing the day Albie was born, the first time I held him, so it has a personal meaning to me. That’s one that won’t be going on the rails.”
