Monopoly-lover Neil in world record bid

A man who has collected a massive 2,200 Monopoly sets hopes to find out this weekend if he has clinched a world record.
Neil Scallan and some of his huge Monopoly collection SUS-160722-142836001Neil Scallan and some of his huge Monopoly collection SUS-160722-142836001
Neil Scallan and some of his huge Monopoly collection SUS-160722-142836001

Neil Scallan began his staggering collection 10 years ago while on holiday and says: “Now, it’s just got a bit out of hand.”

While many people collect postcards from places they visit, Neil collects Monopoly sets.

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He has searched the world for rare examples of the popular board game and now has so many that he’s had problems storing all of them.

Some have been kept in the loft of his parents’ home in Stace Way, Pound Hill, and some at his digs near where he works at Heathrow. “I had them everywhere, piled on my bed, all over the place.”

He regularly scours Amazon and eBay for sets, as well as making regular visits to Germany. “There is no other game in the world that has so many variations,” said Neil, who admits he has a passion for collecting that is not shared by his girlfriend.

“Last time I went on holiday with my girlfriend to Los Angeles I bought 104 sets. My girlfriend says it’s a waste of money. She hates them.”

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Neil estimates that he has probably spent around £150,000 on Monopoly sets.

And on Sunday 47-year-old Neil will have his entire collection together under one roof for a huge stock-take which he hopes will lead to him achieving a Guinness World Record for the largest collection of Monopoly.

Neil, who admits to never having played the game for at least 20 years, has stacked pallets full of the sets at the storage firm Safestore in Stephenson Way, Three Bridges, for the official count-up on Sunday.

Among those attending the count will be representatives from the World of Monopoly website and a Belgian games company who will be taking photos of each Monopoly set to help verify the exact number.

And it’s looking like he could be a record-breaker as the previous world record stands at around 500.

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