My First Football Shirt: East Lower

We caught up with Jim from East Lower to talk about the acid inspired Arsenal away shirts and "Thomas charging through the midfield". This interview was part of our My First Football Shirt series. 

What was your first football shirt?

LMAO X Bruised Banana Kit! 1991-1993 Arsenal away kit. 🍌@arsenal #arsenal #afc #aubameyang #lacazette #ozil #mkhitaryan #adidas #bruisedbanana pic.twitter.com/5bsuC5Bg2f

— Jason Woods (@GunnerBallZ) October 5, 2018

It was the scrambled egg, dazzle ship horror show from 1992, clearly designed by people who'd had a lot of fun in the acid house years. I've supported Arsenal since 1980, but that was the first shirt I ever had and I bought it as a joke - that's how eye-stingingly foul it was. I could never have guessed that 20 years later it would gain cult status.

What is your favourite football shirt?

A look back at #ArsenalHistory could never be complete without recalling May 26, 1989: http://t.co/vFmExDJqL7 pic.twitter.com/YcGAZAyZJr

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 16, 2014

It's the yellow and blue Adidas / JVC away shirt worn in our title-winning season in 1989. I never had it, so no, I don't have a photo of me wearing one. Although *in my mind*, during idle moments, I often wear it as I am bearing down on goal to score the goal that wins us our first title in 18 years.

What is your favourite football moment? 

It's a straight fight between 'Thomas, charging through the midfield, it's up for grabs now', and 'Would you believe it, that sums it all up'. Bit of a cliché, I know.

I was present at the latter, but the specific moment has melted into a blur with the passing of time. Thank god for YouTube.

You can follow Jim from East Lower here and check out our marketplace for vintage football shirts.