How to Sell a Damaged Football

Can you sell a football that is damaged?

Yes. Damaged stock has its own buyers: people who repair and restore, people who want the material rather than the object, and people who want a cheaper one and do not mind a flaw. Nobody should be surprised when it arrives.

The damage buyers look for on footballs

These are the flaws that move a football down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:

• Balls that will not hold pressure
• Split or delaminating panels
• Faded and scuffed surfaces
• Training balls, worth very little

Grading it honestly

Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £4 to £16. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £2 to £9. Grades are seller-declared and nobody inspects them for you, so grading up does not raise what you get — it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. All five grades explained.

Working out what you actually have

Establish the flaw properly rather than guessing at it:

1. Inflate it and check it holds pressure overnight
2. Inspect the panel seams for splitting
3. Note the size and whether it is match or training grade

Photographing the flaw

Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:

1. The ball whole, clean, showing the brand
2. The valve area and any pressure marking
3. The panel seams close up
4. Any scuff, split seam or delamination

What to state in the listing

Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged footballs want these confirmed:

• Size number and the age group it suits
• Brand, and whether it is a match, training or replica ball
• Construction — stitched, thermally bonded or moulded
• Whether it holds air, and the panel and seam condition

Brand, size and type: “Adidas Match Football, Size 5, Thermally Bonded”. Size is the search because it is age specific. Match versus training ball is a genuine distinction and worth stating.

What buyers will ask

Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where it is cheap and visibly well done — a clumsy repair costs more than the flaw it hides. What lifts the price:

• Match-quality balls from recognised makers
• Signed balls with documented provenance
• Balls holding pressure overnight
• Original box for collectable balls

If the work would cost more than the gap between £9 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is damaged and let the buyer decide.

When to list it

Lifts in spring and at the start of the football season in August, and around major tournaments. Bundles of training balls sell to clubs and coaches.

Getting it to the buyer

Deflate slightly before posting to reduce the parcel size and protect the panels, and say you have done so along with the recommended pressure.

WishThrift does not process payments, arrange delivery or hold funds. Confirm the money has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sell a damaged football?

Yes. A damaged football typically is worth £2 to £9 against £8 to £35 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Balls that will not hold pressure

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is match-quality balls from recognised makers — a repair that draws attention to the flaw can leave you worse off.

How should I describe the damage?

Precisely, with a photograph of the flaw itself. Pump it and leave it a day. A slow valve leak is the standard fault and it is easily tested before listing. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.

See also: what football is worth by condition · how to sell football · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.