Welcome to site all about football shirts. We will list the latest on going news about club shirts and where best to locate them online.

A little history

It was only until the 1970's that Clubs in the UK began to create individually designed kits. Up till then clubs in the UK would wear a coloured jersey, but apart from the colour they were virtually indistinguishable. The first club in the UK to sell a replica shirt was Leeds United, due to the revenue produced every other club was soon copied them.

By the end of the 1970's manufacturer's like Admiral were making the kits of Leeds United and England. Sponsors were soon recruited by most clubs, to begin with Sharp for Manchester United, NEC for Everton and JVC for Arsenal. Some clubs foreign clubs like Barcelona refused to have a shirt sponsor, believing it cheapened the honour. They only recanted in the past 3 years, due to the huge sums rivals like Real Madrid could produce from a shirt sponsor.

As time passed the shirts were increasingly using intricate designs. In 1994 the Manchester United home shirt had a background image of Old Trafford sown into the fabric. Present day the shirt designs seem to have simplified, the major revolution is in the materials used. With cutting edge science (such as the Clima365 technology developed by Adidas) the materials are aimed to keep players and fans warm during the winter months and cool during the spring and summer months. Reebok's new "Play Dry" technology aims to remove moisture and perspiration away from the body to keep players dry.

Lifespan of kits

Most football kits have a two year lifespan. Therefore you should check before buying when the shirt, shorts and socks will expire. For example the Chelsea home kit has an expiry date from 2006-2008. But the Chelsea away kit only has a life span of one year, from 2007-2008. Most clubs give a two year life span for both home and away kits, but Chelsea are an exception. Usually the club alternative the years the home and away kits expire. So if the home kit has a lifespan from 2002-2004, 2004-2006 and 2006-2008, then the away kit will be 2001-2003, 2003-2005 and 2005-2007.

The most expensive time to buy a kit is on the day of release, but will possible provide you with the most value for money. That's if you consider the purchase price divided by the number of days it will officially be the kit. Many unsuspecting parents get fooled by the reduced price of shirts and kits. They do not consider the lifespan of shirts, and the fact it will only have 6 months left on it's contract. So when they see a Manchester United shirt half price they think crikey what a bargain. That's until their son opens his birthday present and informs them the shirt will be replaced in a matter of months. Quite a few retailers, clubs and manufacturers do not inform perspective buyers about this fact.

Fake shirts

In large part due to the soaring popularity of the Premier League in the Far East. Not only are the corrupt Far East betting rings having an influence on English football but also the large scale export of fake shirts to our shores. Of course fake shirts have always been a part and parcel of UK football, which is no doubt due to the high price clubs and manufacturers charge for their shirts.

The quality of fake shirts in the Far East has improved, and due to the national gdp the majority of shirts sold in countries like Thailand are fake. The BBC has recently reported on the counterfeiters in Bangkok, and the organised gangs which are bringing the merchandise into the UK. With the fakes retailing for £3 in Bangkok the supply is almost limitless and the crackdown by Thail authorities never seems to dent the industry.

Whilst some fake shirts are easy to spot, with design flaws in the cut and badge, the sure sign giveaway is the shoddy cloth used and of course the price. It's unlikely the existence of fake shirts will ever go away whilst the price of the official versions is so high. In Thailand for example the official shirt can cost a month's wages. For the die hard fan however it's worth considering that the high price paid for their shirt will benefit their club. The manufacturers will continue to pay more and more for the rights to make the shirt if the fans continue to buy them.

The counterfeit shirt on the other hand only harms your club due to the lack of revenue. And the gangs responsible are usually involved in drug smuggling and prostitution. Due to the shoddy materials used the lifespan of the counterfeits is questionable. Many people find that after a few washes they shrink.

If your worried about buying a fake football shirt you should carefully examine the quality of the materials used, and particularly the printing and embroidery of the club logo. Also check the labels which the shirt comes with, some new have holograms. Most fans will be able to spot a fake.

Resources - For football equipment, such as gloves and shin guard reviews.

Privacy Policy

The information contained within this site is general in nature, and may not be applicable to all football shirts. We can also not guarantee the accuracy of the information.