My First Football Shirt: Homekit Prints
We spoke to Homekit prints about as part of our My First Football Shirt series. We spoke about full kit Christmases, France '98 and the last game at The Dell.
What was your first shirt? Is there a story behind it?
My first shirt was '93-'95 Southampton home.
For my initiation into being a Saints fan my dad took no chances and got me the full kit for Christmas, presumably realising that results and playing style alone wouldn’t be enough to stop me defecting to a better team.
I wore the shirt (possibly the full kit) to my first Saints game at the Dell the following day, which set the tone for the following 26 years: a magical virtuoso goal from Matt Le Tissier proved futile as we lost 3-2 to Wimbledon.
I remember being seduced by the bold, disruptive design with its mysterious manufacturer ‘PONY’, and even as an 8 year old I felt a strange appreciation that the teal and royal blue away kit shared the same design in a different colourway. It remains one of my absolute favourite Southampton kits, and exemplifies the golden era of design that was the '90s, which is why it was one of the first HOMEKIT illustrations I created.
Q: What is your favourite shirt? Why is it your favourite?
My favourite shirt in my collection is the France 1998 home. My family had moved to France for a couple of years which coincided with Les Bleus winning the World Cup, so this one is infused with great memories. It’s a sublime remake of their 1984 shirt and features so many touches of class such as the iconic chest bands, tricolore adidas arm stripes, tricolore seam taping and of course, a chunky 90s ribbed collar.
Q: What is your favourite football moment?
In the final minute in the final game at the Dell, Matt Le Tissier controlled a loose ball on the edge of the box, swivelled and lashed a volley into the top corner. The Arsenal keeper was powerless to stop a goal that seemed ordained from above. Saints had to win, and it had to be him - football perfection.
Thanks to Tom from Homekit for taking the time to share his shirt memories! Tom is the creative brains behind Homekit Football Prints, an online store selling fantastic illustrated prints of a range of legendary vintage shirts.
They also offer a commission service, so if you’re desperate for a 1990 Dukla Prague print, Homekit football prints are your guys.
