Comments on: Growing up in replica shirts

By: John Devlin

John Devlin — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:11:51 +0000

Hello Ian – thanks for your memories! The early ‘replicas’ were just stock shirts I think weren’t they with separate sew-on patches. Once Admiral ‘invented’ pre-made replicas the whole football market changed. I also remember the LCS St Etienne shirts (with the horizontal pinstripes?) – superb shirt, love to have one now that a) fitted me and b) didn’t cost a bomb!

By: Ian Hough

Ian Hough — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 23:53:55 +0000

I am a Man United supporter, so it was Admiral, not Umbro, for me. I remember getting my first ever real United kit for Christmas, around 1977. It was the first one to feature the stripes on the collars and cuffs. I can remember a succession of United replicas from the early 70s; the first being the basic white crew neck, the next was the collared one with the V-shaped white patch in the middle at the throat, and then the one that I got, which had the stripes. The V had been done away with too, in favour of a more relaxed spliced centre.

British kits didn’t hold a candle to French ones, though, and a couple of years later everyone was walking round in Le Coq Sportif Saint Etienne shirts, which was simply AMAZING.

By: Kids Football Shirt

Kids Football Shirt — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 10:22:21 +0000

I can still remember arguing with my mate who I now realize had the official version, both of us claiming to have the current kit. The fact that mine was just a plain red top with no badges or sponsors in sight didn’t stop me.

By: John Devlin

John Devlin — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 08:23:22 +0000

Nice one John – I remember a few years ago my friend and his wife had a baby boy. My friend is an absolute diehard Gooner so I bought his son a baby version of the classic 97-99 away kit with the navy chest band – a Nike replica with JVC logo etc – for his first birthday. I was quite embarrassed when I found out later that my friend’s wife’s parents bought him a baby ‘Arsenal’ home shirt quite similar to the not-entirely-authentic version you talk about! No badge, no logos – nothing. I wasn’t trying to be flash, I just wanted my present to be an authentic replica!

By: john

john — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:12:40 +0000

our local sports shop sold ‘Manchester United strip box sets’. This was when admiral was producing the kit, the box sets wernt admiral though,carnt remember the make but the kit were red shirts,plain white collar,no badges,plain white shorts and black socks with red and white tops(2 white stripes instead of one) needless to say i wasnt pleased to recieve this one xmas!! luckilly i soon got the proper admiral kit for my birthday.

By: John Devlin

John Devlin — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:36:32 +0000

I’ve heard this before Andy – that ‘replica’ shirts were sold but were essentially just plain jerseys with, as you say, sew-on badges. If you get a second to email over a pic I’d love to see it.

By: Andy Burton

Andy Burton — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:26:12 +0000

My first replica kit was Crystal Palace 1969-70; Claret with blue pinstripes/amber trim. I still have the shirt and socks – although my parents bought claret with blue tops originally and had to change them. The shirt was sold ‘bare’ – the Crystal Palace ’script’ badge was sold separately and had to be sewn on! I also have the original ‘Ajax’ strip – the first ‘nylon effort’ incidentally made by ‘Admiral’.

By: John Devlin

John Devlin — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:44:31 +0000

Nice one Alan – I just love people’s first memories of replica shirts. They often involve a slightly homemade angle don’t they? Unfortunately the ‘wonderweb/felt tip’ shorts probably wouldn’t cut the mustard with today’s brand savvy children!

By: Alan Thompsett

Alan Thompsett — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:09:45 +0000

Brilliant memory joggers:

My first official Arsenal replice kit was a boxed umbro set.

My parents brought me the admiral England shirt 75/6 (one of the best ever kits) – hovever they couldn’t stretch to the shorts. (I did get the socks). Instead of the official shorts I was presented with a pair of naff dark blue shorts – and here comes the best bit. Down each side was stitched a white stripe of “wonderweb” – and here comes the even better bit – half of that white stripe had been coloured in by red felt-tip!!!!! If you did that to a kid know they would be on to Childline – but I quite happily wore them (red stripe fadding dramatically with every wash) until my next birthday when I finally got the shorts.

By: Rich Johnson

Rich Johnson — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:39:31 +0000

My first ever ‘replica’ kit was also a Liverpool one (half of the family from there so until i took a proper interest in football, I supported them) and like yours it was also a massively unofficial one. I can still remember arguing with my mate who I now realise had the official version, both of us claiming to have the current kit. The fact that mine was justa plain red top with no badges or sponsors in sight didn’t stop me. The first official replica I ever got was a youth’s size Cov one from 86/87…the lack of sponsor bugged me, but they didn’t come with it on. I had to wait till we’d won the cup and struck a deal with Hummel before i could step out proudly bearing the name ‘Granada Bingo’…glory glory days!