My First Football Shirt: Philippe Auclair
Nothing beats a sash on a football shirt. They're iconic. Peru, River Plate even Sweden dabbled. But don't just take our word for it. Listen to football writer, Philippe Auclair who talked us through his first and favourite shirts for our My First Football Shirt series.
What was your first football shirt?
Finding club shirts was impossible in France until quite recently (make that reasonably recently), otherwise I guess I’d have got the 1976 green St Etienne one, like everybody else.
I had to wait until I came to England. Even then, I didn’t buy into the idea of wearing a jersey I could never dream of putting on by right. I finally relented in 2006, yes, that late, to play five-a-side at Highbury just before the bulldozers moved in. It had to be an Arsenal shirt, and it was that season’s so-called ‘cherry’ home kit.
4TH: Arsenal 2005-06 Home by Nike
— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) August 22, 2020
You voted this Arsenal Redcurrant home shirt the 4th best UCL Knockout kit of all-time. Do you agree?#UCL #Arsenal pic.twitter.com/q1EzzEABRN
What is your favourite football shirt?
Easy. The 1970 World Cup Peru strip. I have a thing about the sashes. Red and white, classic, classy. Not a bad team either!
What is your favourite goal?
In terms of raw emotion, Henry’s bulldozing run through half of Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the 2005-06 Champions League and Clint Dempsey’s tie-decider for Fulham against Juve in the Europa League. In both cases, I forgot press-box etiquette and celebrated wildly.
#OTD in 2006: Arsenal beat Real Madrid 1-0 at the Bernabéu thanks to an exceptional Thierry Henry solo goal. pic.twitter.com/GNXOu4R50X
— Throwback Arsenal (@ThrowbackAFC) February 21, 2020
In terms of sheer beauty, Raul’s goal to make it 3-0 in the 3-2 win by Real Madrid at Old Trafford in April 2000. What I regret is that clips of this goal never include the first telling pass in that move, a lovely scoop by Steve McManaman to send Redondo – one of my all-time favourite players – racing on the left flank. The rest, the ‘forward back-heel’ past Henning Berg, the measured cross, Raul’s perfect run and ‘easy’ finish, everyone knows about.
Thanks to Philippe for speaking with us!
If you want to read more about the football memories of players, writers, and more you can buy the full Your First Football Shirt book. Discover Alan Shearer's first ever football shirt, Carl Anka's most cherished shirt and more. All proceeds go to the charities CALM and Willow.
