To choose a football shirt as a gift, start with the club and the season they care about, then check the crest and sponsor, whether it's home, away or third, the size and fit, and whether you want a name and number on the back. If it's pre-owned, read the condition notes on the badge, sponsor and lettering. Our pre-loved and new sportswear sits in On the Rails.
A football shirt is one of the most personal things you can buy someone. Get it right and it's the shirt from the season they still talk about. Get it wrong and it's a rival's colours in the wrong size. A few checks before you buy make all the difference.
Which club and which season?
The club is the easy part. The season is where the feeling is. Ask yourself which era they talk about: the year they first went to a match, a cup run, a favourite player's best season. A shirt from that year means much more than the current one.
If you don't know, listen out for clues. Old programmes, a favourite player's name or a season they still argue about will point you in the right direction.
What do the crest and sponsor tell you?
Crests and shirt sponsors change over time, so they're one of the quickest ways to place a shirt in its era. Some seasons carry a one-off crest for an anniversary. Arsenal's 2011/12 shirt, for example, is one fans associate with the club's 125th anniversary.
Check the listing photos for the crest, the sponsor and the kit maker's logo, and make sure they match the season described. If something doesn't add up, ask before you buy.
Home, away or third kit?
Home shirts are the classic choice. Away and third kits are often bolder, and some become cult favourites because they were so different. Manchester United's pink 2018/19 away shirt is a good example of an away kit with a look all of its own. Think about whether the person you're buying for likes the classic look or something with a bit of a story.
How do you get the size right?
Football shirt sizes are not consistent. They vary between kit makers and between seasons, and some shirts are cut slimmer than others. The safest way to buy is:
- Borrow a shirt they already wear and measure it flat, armpit to armpit and collar to hem.
- Compare those measurements with the listing.
- If in doubt, size up. A slightly loose shirt is easier to wear than a tight one.
Our guide to measuring clothes when buying second-hand online walks through it step by step.
Should it have a name and number?
A player's name on the back makes a shirt personal, but it's a risk if you don't know who they'd pick. Players move on, and a shirt with the wrong name can sting. A plain shirt is the safer gift.
A shirt that already has a name printed, such as a pre-owned Arsenal 2011/12 shirt with Wilshere 19 on the back, works best for someone who rated that player. On older shirts, the lettering is often the first thing to show wear, so check it closely in the photos.
Original, retro or pre-owned?
- Original: made for that season. Older originals can only be found second-hand.
- Retro: a later remake of an older design. Retro-style pieces, such as an England 1990 away track jacket remake, give you the look of an era in a newly made garment.
- Pre-owned: any shirt that's been worn or owned before. It may be an original or a remake; the listing should say which.
What should you check on a pre-owned shirt?
- Crest and sponsor: look for peeling, cracking or lifting edges.
- Name and number: check for cracked or missing letters.
- Fabric: pulls, bobbling, fading and marks, especially around the collar and cuffs.
- Labels and tags: are the size label and wash label still there? "New with tags" means it hasn't been worn.
See how we grade our items for what each condition grade means, and is it safe to buy second-hand clothes if it's your first pre-owned purchase.
Where should you start?
Our football shirts and sportswear are one-offs, so what's on the rail changes all the time. Browse On the Rails for shirts, track jackets and sports tees, and Gifts Worth Discovering for more gift ideas. Standard UK delivery is £4.99 on orders under £40 and free from £40.