Great sports! Galashiels Police Station to host World Cup sticker-swapping event
Who is your most wanted?
Last updated 20th Jun 2026
For generations of football fans, collecting World Cup stickers has been a childhood tradition – tearing open fresh packets, hunting for elusive players and swapping duplicates with friends in the playground.
Now, with fever for this summer’s tournament sweeping the country once again, Police Scotland – who are no strangers to searching for missing people, including some of the country's most wanted – are hoping to help.
Officers are hosting a free “Swap with a Cop” sticker-swapping event at Galashiels Police Station on Sunday, June 21st, between 2pm and 4pm.
It's open to people of all ages - whether a serious collector or just starting out.
"The idea is really simple," Sergeant Nyssa Conway told Greatest Hits Radio. "Like many families across the country, my son and I have been collecting the Panini stickers and trying to complete our album.
"Along the way we've ended up with lots of duplicate stickers, and I discovered that several officers on the team were doing exactly the same thing with their own children.
"So we thought, why not bring people together and create an opportunity for the community to swap stickers with each other and with local officers?"
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As well as bringing the community together, Sgt Conway says it’s also a chance for the public to meet her team.
"As far as we're aware, this is the first event of its kind in the Scottish Borders, which makes it even more exciting," she added.
"The response on social media has been absolutely incredible. People who might not normally engage with the police seem to be reaching out and saying they plan to attend, which is exactly the point of this.
"We normally go along in the worst part of somebody's day or week and it's so nice to be able to do something positive."
Many have praised the the police for organising the event - with several community groups sharing details on their social media, and one person even calling it "adorable".
Another added: "Best way to stop criminals is to stop them becoming criminals in the first place. Well done to the police on some great community engagement with the kids."
And, while Scotland failed to find the net against Morocco on Friday night, it's hoped the community engagement event will score with most fans.
"I've got plenty of duplicates to swap, including some shiny stickers which seem to be attracting a lot of interest already," Sgt Conway said.
"Hopefully they'll help a few people complete their albums."
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