Age ain't nothing but a number

World Cups represent excellent markers in life - so much happens in between but if ever you need to recall something and place it at a particular time, nothing helps to pin down a point in your life as a handily placed World Cup.


For something that feels like such an integral, fundamental feature of growing up, they are actually pretty rare. My first memories of the World Cup come from 1990, and my hero at the time, Gary Lineker (maybe it's an ear thing). Since then age 6, there have only been 4 tournaments. When you consider it that way, really 26 is no age whatsoever, and I can hope to see maybe another 10-15 tournaments at a stretch.


All of this serves as absolute justification for my most recent (and many would say best) purchase...the Panini Offical World Cup 2010 Sticker Album.


So far I have been swept away on the excitement of it, but I spent the first 2/3 transactions playing it off as though I was buying them for 'my cousin'. Now I have realised this fradulent behaviour needs to stop, and insted I try to avoid the 'you're too old for this' glances from the cashier.


It is bloody brilliant though. The nostalgia that comes from collecting stickers (my last was Premier League 96, completed, still got it in the loft) is a perfect accompaniment to the unavoidable nostalgia of an imminent World Cup. With this tournament rolling around, minds turn back to previous tournaments - where you were, who you watched it with, what you were doing at that time in your life - and the juvenile excitement when you crack open a fresh pack of stickers comes highly recommended. I say there is no shame in getting swept away with all the trappings of a World Cup, and this sticker album is just one of them. I hope the day never comes when I feel too old to get into stuff like this...


Today I got my first shiny - the Cameroon team badge - and was smiling like an idiot walking back to the office. The fact that my next pack contained TWO SHINYS completely made my day.


It is probably going to consume way too much of my small change in the coming weeks, and may well result in some awkward brush with the law when I need to explain my loitering presence around nearby school playgrounds - but completing this album is now an obsession. I would love to hear from anyone who has fallen victim to this cruel temptress as well - so far I've got two doubles, Eric Abidal and Carlos Salcido. Abidal looks like he belongs in JLS - Salcido looks like he belongs in hospital.


I know people say crack is addictive but it can't have anything on the addictiveness of these stickers - the highs won't be able to compete either. Mind you, crack is probably cheaper.