"Lads, sorry about this I've just got to pop back home because I've forgotten something" I actually want one now, might go all out and get a head band with a massive C on it. Unfortunately I can already think of what people will assume the C stands for
Reminds me of the time I went to a fancy dress shop, and asked for a Dracula costume.......the guy handed me a Pompey kit, so I had to explain I wanted to look like a count....
I don't believe any football fan gives any consideration to appearance....unless they intend to look like overgrown schoolboys who have eaten a beachball.
My view is that the shirt costs £45 (after discount). I wear it to every home game (18 times), cup home games (say 3) when we're on Telly and I can't go (about 9 times). that is 30 times I wear it. Cost per wear is £1.50. Now I have a couple of 'going out' shirts that cost me £80-90 each. I may wear them 8 or nine times in a year. After a couple of years they are out of fashion. I think the Saints Shirt is better value?
Think I'm going to side with PL on this one, though I'll be a mite more tactful. Of course it's a personal choice. Anyone can buy what they like as long as it's legal. But I can't help feeling there's an element of the herd mentality when someone gets suckered into paying out £40-50 per year on a piece of kit. That's my personal feeling. I couldn't do it. I won't do it. If someone sounds me out to buy me a present of one, I say don't do it. Donate the money to a worthy charity. My priorities are simply not in that buying of memorabilia zone. But each to his/her own. I appreciate that some people feel closer and more involved with a bit of memorabilia and kit. Saying that, I do have a Le Tissier shirt and a Saints t-shirt from the same era. But then my ex-partner bought me those years ago. I have worn the t-shirt while decorating, but generally I don't wear football stuff unless I'm playing, and these days I don't play. I still have a couple of England shirts, football and rugby union, which I used to wear when I first started sailing. I found those. Must have been from a bad England era. Plenty of those to choose from. You don't want to wear anything too new when sailing. It ages within minutes. Donkey's years ago I bought a Miami Dolphins shirt from Toomers [that dates me]. I wore it and felt a bit of a twerp, even though I was a lithe and nimble chap. I think that cured me of kit shirts finally.
What's wrong with the herd mentality when for one day a fortnight, you are part of a herd? It is exactly that, a herd and I love seeing the herds of red and white stripes heading to the stadium. I still find something magical about it. I still beep my horn and my lad waves his scarf each time we pass a saints fan in the first hour of our journey from Northampton. Thanks for the herd reference TSS, it's spot on and I like it. I do find it a bit offensive that you think I'm "suckered" into buying a shirt though. I'm not. I want to, so I do so.
Brilliant And if you paid for it with your Barclaycard... Priceless I'd also like to add to your list that my son still wears my Rank Xerox Patrick shirt, so I must be in credit now
Can I add though, that I am so glad that this year's shirt is not designed to be worn by a 20 something footballer that trains 8 hours a day, and a normal 46 year old guy (who may I add is not unfit) can wear without getting a complex and an eating disorder.
Don't take it so much on the chin, FLT. They're my words and it's the way I feel about it personally. You've made your own decision so stand by it and don't feel offended by what I say.
Er, I have stood by it. I've bought one and I've worm it. Bad choice of word. I liked all the other words and even said so. I genuinely do think use of "herd" in this case is perfect and as I said, I like that. *i used to park near the cowherds at The Dell*
I like football shirts. When I was a kid I used to spend hours designing them with my felt tips. I remember getting a bit upset because the blue in the Sanderson logo ruined our shirts. I like the nastiness of the material, I like how after a few years some of the decal starts to peel off, and I like when dads wear them to the supermarket on a Sunday to show their colours. The only reason I don't buy one every year? I have too many, I've had to store them away. There's boxes full of red and white striped polyester. And the truth is they do all look basically the same. This year was a famillier tale, I nearly bought one because it's a good kit this year but damn... It's simmiler to last years!
