AN entrepreneurial Exeter City fan has launched his own sports memorabilia business just months after leaving college.

Gary Moore, 19, from Exminster, started the company in November in time to catch the Christmas shopping market.

And after a successful festive season, he is now getting ready to extend the business.

He completed a BTEC National Diploma in business at Exeter College last year and went straight into a job as commercial events co-ordinator for Exeter City.

His new venture, Moore Memorabilia, sells collectors' items including signed shirts and photos from sporting greats including soccer legend Pele and the stars of today. The company donates 10 per cent of its sales income to the club.

Gary believes his business has a bright future. He said: "Our gifts were very popular over Christmas and I am now looking to grow the business and keep going through the whole year."

The company launched with a catalogue mail-out to local businesses and has raised its profile through its partnership with the football club.

The fledgling company now hopes to reach a global clientele when its website opens later this month and Gary releases his latest product catalogue.

He said: "Once the website is up we will have a facility to take payment by card and hopefully the business will continue to grow as it raises its profile and reaches a wider audience."

The signed sporting merchandise is supplied by a Dorset company, which books sports personalities for speaking engagements and gets the celebrities to sign shirts and photos for sale.

Moore Memorabilia is currently selling football shirts signed by the likes of Maradona, Paul Gascoigne and eight members of England's 1966 World Cup-winning side, alongside a small selection of cricket, rugby and boxing items.

All are accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Gary said: "We are looking to expand our range of products, particularly the boxing range, which includes gloves signed by Ricky Hatton and Sir Henry Cooper."

Bestsellers at Christmas were dominated by the sporting stars of today.

"The products which have been going well are mainly football-related items," he said.

"Liverpool stars Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard proved popular over Christmas."