In short
- The best England football gifts for kids put them in the shirt, not just in front of the telly.
- England’s story runs from the first ever international in 1872 to the Lionesses winning back-to-back Euros in 2022 and 2025.
- In our England storybook, your child wears their own shirt number, scores the winning goal and lifts the cup.
- It works for boys and girls: you choose the character’s gender, hair, skin tone and eye colour.
- Every illustration is hand-drawn by a real artist. No AI, ever. The book is not officially licensed.
England football gifts are everywhere when a tournament comes round, and then they vanish from the shelves. But a child who loves the Three Lions (or the Lionesses) loves them all year, not just for a summer.
This guide covers England football gifts for kids aged 5-12, from matchday bits to a present that makes them the star. It’s for parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles alike.
What are the best England football gifts for kids?
The best England football gifts for kids mix something they’ll wear on matchday with something that’s all about them. Here’s where to start:
- The shirt. The home shirt is the classic England football present. Add their name and favourite number on the back and it’s theirs.
- Matchday extras. A flag for the window, a scarf, a bucket hat for summer tournaments.
- Something to play with. A size 4 ball for the garden, or a mini goal so they can practise their penalties.
- A wall chart. Perfect for a tournament summer: they fill in every score as it happens.
- A storybook starring them. Where they pull on the England shirt and score the winner.
The first four are great as extras. The last one is the present they’ll still have when the next tournament comes round.
The Three Lions’ story, in brief
England have been part of football history from the very beginning. On 30 November 1872 they played Scotland in Glasgow in the first international football match ever played. It finished 0-0.
The most famous day came in 1966, when England beat West Germany 4-2 after extra time at Wembley to win the World Cup, with Geoff Hurst scoring a hat-trick. More recently, the men’s team reached back-to-back European Championship finals in 2021 and 2024.
And the Lionesses have gone one better. They beat Germany 2-1 after extra time at Wembley to win Euro 2022, England’s first major trophy since 1966, then defended the title in 2025 by beating Spain on penalties. That was the first time an England team had won a major tournament away from home.
That’s a lot of heroes for a young fan to look up to. The best present lets them imagine being the next one.
Why is a personalised England football gift different?
A personalised England football gift is different because the child isn’t watching the hero, they are the hero.
In our England storybook, your child pulls on an England shirt with their own number on the back, scores the winning goal and lifts the cup at the end. You choose their name and surname, their shirt number (1 to 99), their hair colour, skin tone and eye colour, so the player on the page looks like them.
They’re not reading about the star player. They ARE the star player.
You also write a personal message for the inside cover. It could mark a birthday, a first tournament they’ve followed or the summer they learned every player’s name.
England football gifts for girls and Lionesses fans
For a lot of young fans, the Lionesses are England. Two European titles in a row will do that. So England football gifts for girls shouldn’t be an afterthought.
You choose the character’s gender in our England storybook, so your daughter, granddaughter or niece can be the one scoring for her country. For more ideas built around the women’s game, see our guide to a Lionesses gift for a girl.
Which England gift suits which age?
Match the gift to how they follow England, not just their age:
- Aged 5-6: keep it visual and fun. A flag, a ball and a storybook read together at bedtime, where they spot themselves on every page.
- Aged 7-9: this is peak sticker-album and wall-chart age. Pair a tournament extra with their own story to read on their own.
- Aged 10-12: they know the squad and have opinions on the line-up. Go for a shirt with their name on it, a proper football history book or a personalised story with a message that means something.
Our guide to football books by age covers reading levels in more detail.
When do England football presents make most sense?
England football presents make most sense in three moments: before a tournament, on a birthday and at Christmas.
Before a tournament. A present that arrives just before kick-off gets used all summer. The storybook makes a lovely bedtime read during a tournament, when they’re already dreaming about scoring for England.
Birthdays. Use the inside-cover message to mention their age, their favourite player or the goal they’ll never forget watching.
Christmas. It’s the one time of year England fans can’t count on a tournament, so a present that puts them in the shirt fills the gap nicely. Every book is printed to order and packed by us, in-house, so order in good time. Our guide to personalised Christmas gifts has more festive ideas.
Is the England storybook official?
No. Our England storybook is not officially licensed and doesn’t carry any official crest. It’s a personalised football story in England colours, created for young fans, and every illustration is hand-drawn by a real artist. No AI, ever.
If you’re after official team merchandise, look for licensed retailers. If you want a present where your child is the hero, that’s what we make.
Frequently asked questions
What’s inside the book? Around 28 pages, hand-illustrated throughout, with your child as the hero, a personalised cover and your own message printed inside.
Can siblings have one each? Yes, and they don’t have to support the same team. We cover every league, not just the big six, plus England and Wales.
Do you do club books too? Yes. If they support a club as well as England, browse the full range of personalised football books to find theirs.