8524 Red Soccer

Mattel’s Mark Strong Red Soccer Outfit, reference 8524, was released in Europe circa 1971–1972 during the earliest phase of the line that would become Big Jim. Designed for Mattel’s athletic action hero, this vintage football set places Mark Strong on the soccer field in a distinctive red uniform. The original carded outfit includes a red short-sleeved jersey with a crest on the chest, matching red shorts displaying the number 9, white football socks and a black-and-white soccer ball. Its Mark Strong packaging, branded “The Man from Mattel,” is a notable feature of this early European collection, preceding the wider adoption of the Big Jim name. Reference 8524 illustrates the strong sporting theme that defined Mattel’s first generation of Big Jim accessories.