My First Atalanta football Shirt by Kristan Heneage

Thanks to their explosively attacking football, recent years have seen Gian-Piero Gasperini's Atalanta side become cult favourites, and with that their shirts have also been at the forefront of more and more collector's minds. 

We caught up with football writer Kristan Heneage to talk Atalanta kits from Bergamo, fake England shirts and Philippe Albert chips for Newcastle United. 

What was your first ever England football shirt?

My first ever football shirt was in fact an England shirt in the early 1990’s. I don’t think it was 100% authentic (see photo for why) but I treasured it. Looking back I really wish I still had it, to perhaps give to my own son/daughter but unfortunately it’s not to be.

I do remember getting the shirt around the time I was first allowed out to play in front of the house, and while my skills were nothing special, I remember kicking a ball back to my Dad in our front garden for what seemed like hours.

 Browse our collection of vintage England shirts here.

What is your favourite ever Atalanta football shirt?

I must confess of late I’ve become something of a kit fiend. While my collection only contains 4-5 actual purchases, I’ll often have a browse around the internet at shirts. However I think kits are often about memories you attach to them. With that in mind I was given an old Atalanta shirt by a very good friend of mine last year. He was departing the UK to live with his new wife in Seattle and caught me off guard with the generosity. I knew it meant a lot to him, so to be willing to part with it meant a great deal, and it’s actually a wonderful shirt. A very soft material and what I imagine a young Ricardo Montolivo wore as he tore up the streets of Bergamo. 

 Browse our collection of vintage Atalanta shirts here.

What is your favourite ever goal?

I think I will have to pick Philippe Albert's goal for Newcaslte against Manchester United.  The game itself was incredibly surprising, but I’ve always admired a defender who can also play football. In that sense he was very much a pioneer in modern English football I believe. Even now, when I re-watch, everything in my head expects him to power a shot at goal because it’s what everyone is demanding, to have such composure and confidence is amazing. A truly special goal.