I was recently thinking about replica football shirts (I lead a sad, sad life!), and about my collection of shirts - actually it's not a collection per say, as I don't keep my replicas untouched and pristine. I actually wear them you know! Anyway, what I was pondering was, as a Spurs fan of Jamaican background, it probably is not a surprise when I tell you I have many Spurs and Jamaica (yes, they play football - remember the Reggae Boyz?) replica shirts, and I would assume that the same could be said for many football fans, in that they would own replica shirts relevant to their favoured club and country. Am I right? Anyway, I was thinking more about the shirts I own which are not Spurs or Jamaica related, and got me wondering why I own those shirts.
We've recently heard that Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby wears a Tottenham shirt indoors, given to him by French compatriot and Spurs defender, Younes (I call him Unit) Kaboul. Now I'm not trying to say that I roll around my flat in the red and white of Arsenal - bloody hell, you'd be lucky if you see me wear any sort of red - but in addition to my Spurs and Jamaica shirts why on earth do I own: 1 Brazil home, 1 Brazil away, 1 Barcelona home, 1 Barcelona away, 1 Inter Milan away, and 1 Rangers home and 1 Italy home replicas? There must be a story to it?
Well the best I can come up with is that I fully respect Brazil as a footballing nation - the Barcelona ones I got as presents, I liked the design of the Inter Milan one (white with the diagonal blue and black stripe), I bought the Italy one while on a break in Rome, and the Rangers one - well that was the chosen kit for a 5-a-side team I was playing for due to its cheap price.
Another reason I own some is an apparent misguided thought that some of those shirts (the Brazil and Italy ones) may be acceptable to wear out and about in the daytime as a sports-casual thing. You know the deal - popping to the shops, going to the bookies - just generally going about your business? I say apparent misguided, because I asked my mate Cory at work how many replica shirts he owns, and he went on a rant about how he considered it "chavvy" to wear football shirts out and about, and that they should only be worn when playing sports, or chilling inside your abode where no-one can see you. Now, I'm no fashion expert and Cory sure as hell isn't, so I don't know what the score is here. I'm not a chav, I'm sure of it - I know what the appropriate occasion is to wear my Burberry cap (only joking!!!!) so what do you reckon?
So, with this in mind, I've got a couple of questions for you all?
1) HOW MANY REPLICA FOOTBALL SHIRTS DO YOU OWN?
2) WHICH ONES ARE NOT EITHER YOUR FAVOURED CLUB OR COUNTRY?
3) IS WEARING FOOTBALL KITS AS CASUAL WEAR IN PUBLIC ACCEPTABLE OR NOT?
Let me know your thoughts, and send in your photos containing all your football shirts (like mine) to 4menonabench@gmail.com or hit us up @4menonabench on twitter, and the best comments and photo may win a prize.
Four normal (well, nearly normal) guys who all once worked together, have moved away from daily email arguments to now discussing all the big sporting, and sometimes, general issues of the day online. We are not "in the know" and just get our information from the media of the day - tv, radio, newspapers, the internet etc - so GET INVOLVED and discuss the main issues with us! This does not work without your interaction!!!
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1) HOW MANY REPLICA FOOTBALL SHIRTS DO YOU OWN?
ReplyDeleteFifteen apparently although some are yours bro so I dunno!
2) WHICH ONES ARE NOT EITHER YOUR FAVOURED CLUB OR COUNTRY?
I've got 2 Barcelona tops due to respect of the best footballing side ( bar spurs) then I asked for the Inter Milan & Portugal shirts. The Porto shirt was given to me by my brother.
3) IS WEARING FOOTBALL KITS AS CASUAL WEAR IN PUBLIC ACCEPTABLE OR NOT?
Depends really, but I have found that as I've grown up I wear these tops for playing football only or the occasional spurs match I get to go to/ if I'm watching them on T.V
1) HOW MANY REPLICA FOOTBALL SHIRTS DO YOU OWN?
ReplyDeleteI think I must own around 15 shirts as well, some in better states than others!!!
2) WHICH ONES ARE NOT EITHER YOUR FAVOURED CLUB OR COUNTRY?
All my shirts are manchester united apart from 1 which is barca and bought for me by my missus without my knowledge ( and no it wasn't this year or 2009)!! I have not worn that barca shirt and never will only united will be worn on me!!
3) IS WEARING FOOTBALL KITS AS CASUAL WEAR IN PUBLIC ACCEPTABLE OR NOT?
To be honest I used to wear tops in public when I was a kid but I only wear them to play football in now. Most of them i would not be seen dead in on the street, I prefer designer labels!!!
Are any of them 'Cantona? or all under your own name?
ReplyDeleteperhaps you should prove it by posting a pic of your 'so called 15 man poo tops!
could the real reason why you dont wear them in public anymore, simply be to do with 'girth'?
M..J..
And let me guess Adam, you live in London? Man U through and through!
ReplyDeleteInteresting that people don't seem to admit to wearing their footy shirts out in public...
I am a cockney red, for my sins, the shirts were all without names on the back and not wearing them has nothing to do with girth!!!
ReplyDeleteIm still at my fighting weight of 13 stones, although I do think that it looks ridiculous when clearly overweight me wear replica tops that are meant to be worn by athletes!!
Utd shirts should be banned from being on sale inside the M25!!!
ReplyDeleteAhh mate, I'll have to reconsider rocking in my Spurs shirts when going Tesco then?
I would urge people to vote in the poll on the main page, so we get a definitive answer
Replica football shirt on the market is really too too much.
ReplyDeleteReplica football shirt. I have not much. It's like having CR7 time at Manchester United's football shirt.
ReplyDelete