My first football shirt: Chris Mann
What was your first ever football shirt?
My first football shirt was the England shirt made by Umbro from World Cup ‘98. I insisted that ‘Ince 4’ be put on the back. God knows why.
What is your favourite ever football shirt?
My favourite football shirt was the Real Madrid’s 2001/02 centenary kit. Plain white and without a shirt sponsor. It was a beautiful piece of understated elegance and seemed to fit with the magnificent football the team played that year.
What is your favourite ever goal?
Sticking with the World Cup ’98 theme, I’ll go with Michael Owen’s brilliant run and finish for England against Argentina. It’s not the best goal I’ve ever seen, but as a nine year old it captured my imagination and provided me with my first sporting idol.
His career might have fizzled out recently, but I think people forget just how breathtaking the speed and confidence of the young Owen was to witness.
He gets a lot of stick, but I will always have a soft spot for him and his retro cereal endorsements.
