My First Football Shirt: Keisuke Yamada

We caught up with Keisuke Yamada, the founder of Cityboys FC to talk about trying to get a Kazuyoshi Miura shirt, Sampdoria shirts with 'the cool lace collars' and the moment Japan qualified for the World Cup for the first time.

What was your first football shirt?

The J-League started in 1993 when I was eight years old.  Like other children I also wanted Kazuyoshi Miura's jersey from Verdy Kawasaki but it was so popular that at any sports shop it was sold out. There was only one football specialty store in my town, there were many jerseys other than the J-league sold there.My father bought me a white jersey at the store instead of Verdy jersey, that many years later I learned that was a Corinthians jersey in 1992. 

My favourite Sampdoria?

I like the jersey of Sampdoria 94-95 asics. It's an away white jersey, cool at the lace-neck collar. And I was big fan of Ruud Gullit. Also, I think that what is important in the design of a football jersey is the corporate logo. This determines the good or bad of the jersey. I think that the logo is a local company of the team or should have some affinity. This jersey meets that condition.

Browse our collection of vintage Sampdoria football shirts here.

What is your favourite football moment?

I like the moment Japan qualified the World Cup for the first time. Many Japanese fans will remember this game. And Nakata was still dominating.

For more First Football Shirt tales, check-out our book, Your First Football Shirt. All proceeds go to the charities CALM and Willow, and the stories inside feature Alan Shearer, Max Rushed and more. You can buy the book here.