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A Game of Two Halves - Halfway Through The English Football Season, TVFS

A Game of Two Halves - Halfway Through The English Football Season

After the first few games of 2024, we’re over halfway through the football season. With plenty of ups, downs and everything in between, the season's closing months don’t look like they’re going to disappoint. Here’s a round-up of the season and what we might expect as we enter the new year. 


The Premier League As It Stands 

This Premier League season has been one of the most exciting seasons for a while! With 4 teams currently in the title race, Liverpool top the table followed by surprise title contenders Aston Villa just 3 points behind them. Manchester City & Arsenal sit 3rd & 4th on equal points. 

The excitement doesn’t stop as you go lower down the table. Chelsea are sitting in a disappointing mid-table position after spending almost £1 billion in the last couple of seasons — a mere improvement on last season's 12th-place finish. 

United have also seen quite the downfall and currently sit just above mid-table following last season's 3rd place finish. They also crashed out of the Champions League after finishing bottom of their table — a table which United fans expected at least a 2nd place spot. 

The same could be said about Newcastle. After a surprising 4th place in the 2022/23 season, they’re also sitting just above mid-table after being hit by injuries and a poor run of form. Their Champions League return after 20 years wasn’t a fairy tale ending after they finished bottom of the group winning just one game. However, the group, on paper, was much harder than Manchester United’s. 

The fight at the bottom of the table is just as close as the one at the top. Sheffield United sit bottom with Burnley above them and Luton are 18th, just a few points from both 17th & 16th. It truly is anyone’s season at both ends of the table.

How do you think the table will finish? 


The Current Championship

As most expected, Leicester City are leading the race at the top quite comfortably. However, not many expected Ipswich to be doing as well as they are. Currently,  The Blues sit in second, above the likes of Southampton, Leeds United and Sunderland. Middlesbrough who impressed under Carrick’s guidance last season aren’t performing as well as expected and are currently taking up a mid-table spot. 

The bottom three consist of QPR, sandwiched between two Yorkshire clubs — Rotherham in 24th and Sheffield Wednesday in 22nd, only 3 points from Huddersfield in 21st. After a tough first few months, The youngest manager in the EFL, Danny Rohl, has recently led The Owls to back-to-back wins against Preston and Hull.

Some other shocks in the Championship include Blackburn Rovers, sitting 17th after just missing out on playoffs last season because of their goal difference. High-flying Hull are enjoying a better season than expected and are just out of the playoffs. After finishing 19th and then 15th, The Tigers have added some huge names, including signing of the season contender Jaden Philogene. 

Who will take the playoff spots come May?

 

Vintage Football Shirts For The Rest of The Season

Here at That Vintage Football Shirt, we have a huge range of classic football shirts for you. Whether you’re enjoying the reign of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League, Leicester at the top of the Championship or even hoping for Portsmouth’s return to the Championship — we have classic football shirts from up and down the country, From Premier League to the National League. 

Our current classic football shirt range includes the likes of: 

    • Liverpool
    • Manchester United 
    • Chelsea
    • Hull City 
    • Leeds Leicester
    • Portsmouth 
    • Plus many more. 

To see the full range of vintage English football shirts, visit our website. Alternatively, take a look at our classic football shirts from around the world

Your Guide to Collecting Vintage Football Shirts, Authentic Vintage Football Shirts, That Vintage Football Shirt

Your Guide to Collecting Vintage Football Shirts

In recent years, the rise in popularity of vintage football shirts has been undeniable, and for several reasons! Not only do classic football shirts allow you to wear part of a club’s history, they’re also an incredibly eco-friendly fashion statement and an alternative to fast-fashion pieces. Not only this, celebrities across the world have influenced the demand for vintage football shirts. From Drake wearing a pink Juventus shirt (which increased demand and value enormously) to Snoop Dogg coming out on stage numerous times wearing all sorts of classic football shirts from Manchester United to QPR & Cardiff City. Despite your interest in classic shirts, you may be yet to start your collection, we’re here to give you your guide to collecting vintage football shirts.

 

Why Do People Collect Vintage Football Shirts?

Everyone who collects classic football shirts began their collection for different reasons. Some see vintage football shirt collections as an investment, which in some aspects it is. Classic shirts are only getting rarer and harder to come by. With the rarity of older shirts increasing, so does the price of them. Some old football shirts are worth hundreds of pounds. The most expensive football shirt to ever be sold is the Maradona ‘Hand of God’ Shirt which sold for an unbelievable £7.1 million. 

Other people collect football shirts just for the enjoyment it brings to them. A lot of collectors love the nostalgia vintage shirts bring and the historical significance that the item brings. In more recent years, we’ve seen people beginning their vintage football shirt collection because of how popular a fashion statement they’ve become.

 

How to Begin Your Classic Football Shirt Collection

Starting your classic football shirt collection may seem difficult given how many classic shirts are available however, it’s never actually been easier to begin your collection. Here are some of the best tips on starting your vintage football shirt collection. 

How to Pick a Classic Shirt 

Unless you have a specific shirt you’re looking for, picking a vintage football shirt is probably the most difficult task when it comes to starting your collection. There are so many shirts to choose from, it may become overwhelming. We’d recommend first setting your budget as some shirts can be expensive. 

Once your budget is decided, it’s time to start looking. For many collectors, their first vintage shirt was one that meant something to them. Perhaps it's a classic shirt from the team you’ve grown up supporting, a shirt from the year you were born or maybe a shirt from a country that you’ve travelled to. 

No matter what you pick to start your collection, it will be a shirt that will be with you throughout your vintage football shirt journey. 

Where to Find & Buy Vintage Football Shirts

Finding and buying vintage football shirts gets easier as you get more experienced. For your first few shirts or if you’re looking for a particular shirt, team or country, we would recommend purchasing your shirt from a trusted and reputable supplier. Luckily, here at That Vintage Football Shirt, we supply hundreds of vintage football shirts from around the world - all with a 100% authenticity guarantee!

As you get more experienced in buying shirts and you learn more about prices and what to look for to ensure they’re real, you may begin buying shirts in person. A lot of collectors add to their collections by purchasing shirts from charity and thrift shops as well as events like car boot sales. These are great ways to buy shirts at cheaper prices however, be wary of the fact they may not be authentic. 

If you want tips on checking the authenticity of a classic football shirt, check out our previous blog!

 

The Future of Vintage Football Shirts

The popularity of vintage football shirts and collecting them doesn’t show any sign of slowing down. The future of collecting classic football shirts is also looking bright. As time goes on, classic shirts pre-2000s will increase in rarity and value, making them even more sought after. We’re also likely to see new vintage shirts emerge as time goes on, in a few year's time shirts from 2010 will be considered classic and vintage. 

If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to start your vintage football shirt collection and, what better way to start than buying one of our guaranteed authentic classic football shirts

How to Care for Vintage Football Shirts, Classic Football Shirts, That Vintage Football Shirt

How to Care for Vintage Football Shirts

For football fans, vintage football shirts are prized possessions. They offer the chance to own a piece of player and football history. Many classic shirt collectors like to display their shirts and really show them off. And, if you’re anything like us, the display is always changing and getting added to. Classic football shirts can be delicate and require specific care to keep them in the best condition — treating and caring for classic shirts is completely different to modern-day football shirts. Here’s how you can keep your vintage football shirt display looking its best. 

 

Storing Vintage Football Shirts 

Storing your shirts is a crucial part of keeping them looking the best. If you aren’t displaying your shirt, it’s important to fold them carefully and keep them in a cool, dry place — away from direct sunlight. Folding them will make sure the shirt doesn’t crease and keeping them away from sunlight will help the shirt keep its vibrant colours.

If you’re displaying your shirt, there are a couple of ways to consider. One way we’d recommend is getting your shirt professionally framed. This way, your shirt can be put on the wall, away from any potential damage or risks. Another way to display and store your favourite shirts is by simply hanging them on a strong coat hanger off the ground, with this, you can display multiple shirts along a wall — making the perfect backdrop for photos and videos! 

 

Washing Classic Football Shirts 

Classic football shirts are much more delicate than modern ones and therefore, you should try to avoid using modern cleaning methods such as washing machines. You should also avoid mixing colours as this can cause irreversible damage.

The best way to wash your shirt is by hand in cold water. You should use a mild detergent and avoid using fabric softener, this can damage the shirt. After gently washing the shirt, you should thoroughly rinse the shirt, with cold water, to remove all of the detergent.  

Your vintage shirt may have inside tags providing recommendations on how to wash & dry your shirt. However, we would advise ignoring these as requirements change as the shirts and materials get older. 

 

Drying Vintage Football Shirts 

Similar to washing the shirt, you should avoid any modern drying techniques and allow the shirt to air dry. Excessive heat can damage the fabric and the printing on the shirt. A dry shirt should be achieved by either hanging the shirt on a hanger or laying it flat on a towel. 

 

General Care Tips for Vintage Shirts

Of course, when cleaning your vintage shirts yourself, there is always a risk of causing damage. If you have a particularly special or delicate shirt, you may want to consider having it professionally cleaned — make sure to inform the cleaners that the shirt is vintage and delicate. 

If you plan on wearing your shirt, wear it with care! You should try to avoid getting it dirty and avoid any potential stains. If you do happen to get your shirt dirty, ensure to clean it as soon as possible. 

By following this general guide, you can ensure you have the best-looking classic football shirt collection. If you’re wanting to expand your current classic football shirt collection, we have a huge selection available from every corner of the world — take a look on our website!

How to Tell if a Vintage Football Shirt Is Fake, Classic Football Shirts, That Vintage Football Shirt

How to Tell if a Vintage Football Shirt Is Fake

When it comes to purchasing a vintage football shirt, it’s essential to know the difference between a fake shirt and a genuine shirt. With the rise in demand for classic football shirts, for both casual streetwear and for supporting your favourite team, the market has been flooded with fakes. As a leading provider of 100% genuine vintage football shirts, we know a fair share when it comes to spotting a fake shirt — here are our top tips on spotting a fake football top. 

 

Consider the Price 

The cost of the football shirt you’re looking at is usually a good first indication as to whether the shirt is real or not. In the vintage football shirt community, the majority of sellers are genuine and will disclose the authenticity of the shirt however, you do get a few who try and get the better of a less experienced buyer.

If the shirt you’re looking at is considerably cheaper than anywhere else, it is probably not a genuine shirt. When it comes to vintage shirts, if the price is too good to be true, it usually is! 

 

Check the Labels 

If the shirt passes the price check, the next step is checking the labels, specifically the care labels and the inside labels. The first label to check is the wash label. The majority of shirts after the 2000s will have wash labels and this is a good indicator to show you the shirt is real. Player-issued shirts and shirts pre-2000s may not have wash labels. If the wash label has a pen written on it, this is usually a sign that the shirt is not a genuine one. 

The next label to check is the product code label. Most shirts produced after 2000 will have a product (or style) code number. If you’re able to find the product number on the shirt, Google the number followed by the manufacturer, if the shirt comes up, it is probably genuine. It’s important to know that pre-2000s shirts will not have a product code. 

 

Check the Badges & Prints

From a visual perspective, taking a closer look at the badges and prints is a great way to determine the authenticity of a football shirt. You should first take a look and see if there are any inconsistencies with the badge or the print - are they straight and is the stitching consistent? 

Once you’ve checked this, try and compare the shirt you’re considering buying with images of a proven genuine shirt. You should check if the stitching is the same colour and if the prints are consistent and in the same place. 

 

Scrutinising the Quality of the Shirt 

If you have access to the shirt in person, you have the opportunity to scrutinise the quality of the shirt. Take an extremely close look at the stitching, especially around the hems. If the stitching quality is poor, it will look uneven, loose, be too visible and the colour may even be slightly off. Once you’ve looked at the outside quality of the shirt, turn the shirt inside out and inspect the inside stitching. Check for poor stitching quality or remains of fabric stuck into the stitching. 

 

Another good indication of the authenticity of a vintage shirt is the fit. It’s important to know how the shirt is meant to fit before you try and compare it to anything. Newer shirts are typically slimmer and tighter whereas shirts from the 90s were typically a slightly bigger fit as this was the style. 

 

Know the Difference Between Vintage and Retro

A common misconception that so many people have is that retro is vintage. This is NOT the case! Vintage means that the product is genuine and from the time stated. Retro means that the product is a modern remake of an original product. Vintage products are genuine, rarer and more scarce. 

At TVFS, we only supply genuine vintage products. We do not supply retro or remade shirts. 

 

Buy From Trusted Suppliers 

One of the easiest ways to ensure you’re buying a genuine vintage football shirt is to buy from a trusted supplier. There are plenty around but here at That Vintage Football Shirt, we only offer genuine shirts. All of our football shirts come with an authenticity guarantee. If a modern reproduction/copy did happen to breach our quality control, you will be entitled to a full refund, free return and a discount on your next purchase.

Domestic Cup Drama & World Cup Excitement, Vintage Football Shirts, Classic Football Shirts

Domestic Cup Drama & World Cup Excitement

Since the end of the season back in May, we’ve had our fair share of finals and transfer drama and now, we’re even entering the Women’s World Cup. From the FA Cup final and the men’s and women’s Champions League final to the start of the transfer window and the beginning of the Women’s World Cup — the season might’ve ended but we haven’t been left short of any excitement! Here’s your latest round-up.

The Month of Finals 

Last time, we touched upon the EFL finals and the drama that unfolded at Wembley. Since then, we’ve had the FA Cup final, the women’s Champions League final and the men’s Champions League final.

FA Cup Final

Early in June, Manchester City lifted the FA Cup after an entertaining Manchester Derby at Wembley. Ilkay Gundogan made history after scoring the quickest goal in the history of FA Cup finals, giving Manchester City the lead after just 13 seconds — and what a goal it was! 

Bruno Fernandes pulled one back for the Red Devils after they were awarded a penalty in the 33rd minute for a Jack Grealish handball. United was back on level terms and was trying their best to halt City’s chance at completing the treble which was last won by United back in 1998-99. 

Shortly after half-time, Gundogan struck again from outside of the box taking his tally to two and ultimately putting City back ahead. After a tough battle for the rest of the game, there were plenty of chances where both teams could have scored - United hit the bar in the 92nd minute but City managed to hang on and win the FA Cup for the 7th time, completing the league and FA Cup double for a second time after the 2018-19 season. After celebrating the double, their focus was on winning the Champions League and completing the treble. 

We have plenty of vintage English football shirts in stock to get you prepared for next season’s joys & drama! 

Women’s Champions League Final

Before that though, we witnessed an entertaining Women’s Champions League final between Barcelona and Wolfsburg. Ewa Pajor scored a very early goal, putting Wolfsburg ahead after just 3 minutes, a lead nobody expected! The lead was then doubled just 35 minutes later after striker Alexandra Popp headed home. Barcelona went into half-time completely stunned, giving the Germans a perfect position to take home the trophy. 

Shortly after the second half got underway, Barca midfielder Guijarro capitalised on a Wolfsburg defensive error in the 48th minute and instantly got the Spanish back into the game. It then only took 2 minutes for them to make the game level after Guijarro got her second of the game!

After a dominant display from Barcelona, they went ahead for the first time in the game after the ball pinballed around the Wolfsburg box until it was eventually sent into the back of the net by Roflo. 

Barcelona walked away with the trophy after a fairly dominant display which saw them have almost 70% possession and 25 shots. They made it incredibly difficult for themselves and were able to turn the game on its head and build from last season's final defeat. 

Men’s Champions League Final

All eyes were now on the men’s Champions League Final where Manchester City were hoping to lift the trophy for the first time in their history and be the first Premier League club to complete the treble since Manchester United. 

After a fairly slow start to a Champions League final. City suffered a big hit after Kevin De-Bruyne was forced off 10 minutes before the break. The first half had few chances and was ultimately a strong defensive half from both sides. 

The second half was slightly more exciting. After a defensive mistake in the 59th minute from Akanji, Inter almost took the lead. In the 68th minute, Akanji made up for his mistake and played an inch-perfect ball to Silva who cut it back to Rodri to break the deadlock. 

It was chance after chance for both teams after the first goal but, after a couple of world-class saves from Ederson and a strong defensive line from City, the final whistle was blown. Manchester City not only won the Champions League for the first time, they had won the treble. 

With next season's Champions League now to look forward to, we have a huge range of vintage European football shirts available to buy now!

Women’s World Cup 2023

Being held in Australia and New Zealand, the 2023 Women’s World Cup kicks off on the 20th of July with New Zealand taking on Norway and Australia playing the Republic of Ireland on home turf. 

England will be hoping to build on their European triumph and better the Men’s team once again. Meanwhile, competition favourites, the USA, will be hoping to win their 5th world title. Germany, Spain, France and co-hosts Australia are all tipped to have a chance of winning the biggest trophy in Women’s football. 

If you’re still yet to get your shirt in time for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, we have an excellent range of vintage Women’s football shirts available!

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