My first football shirt: Scott McRoy

We caught up with illustrator Scott McRoy to talk garish Liverpool shirts, Ronaldo at the 1998 World Cup and Steven Gerrard getting Liverpool out of jail. 

What was your first football shirt?

My first shirt was a fairly obscure Liverpool one from the 1994/95 season I got it for my birthday. It was our third kit, It was rarely seen gracing the pitch in top flight games, but I used to wear it everywhere, The V Neck collar was fairly big - and anyone who wore that away shirt was suitable prepared for adidas’ offering in the next season.

What is your favourite football shirt?

This was without doubt the toughest one. But I've gone for Brazil 1998. The World Cup in that year was the first i remember and Brazil turned up clear favourites for the tournament, they had the best player in the world.

The real Ronaldo; he had shown us what he was capable of a few weeks before the tournament got underway when he destroyed Lazio in the Uefa cup final.  He was on a different planet in terms of ability.  The Ad where they run around the airport was all over the TV.  The accompanying song subsequently always in my head. The kit itself is so simplistic in its design with the round neck, and simple green stripes down the sleeves, they Goalkeeper and away kit complimented it perfectly , using the traditional colour palette of yellow, blue, green and white.

What is your favourite goal?

Again… a very tough one, I’ve split the question in two - whether thats cheating or not -but I've gone for favourite overall in terms of importance and goals that I love in terms of technique and skill. So my favourite goal

It was a choice between two goals from Steven Gerrard, both late in the game, both half volleys, both saved Liverpool. The one versus Olympiacos at Anfield on the road to the trophy in Istanbul and the one v West Ham in the FA Cup final. Martin Tyler's commentary makes it for me, he actually sounds like it knocked the wind out of him. If i had to pick one, it would be the FA cup final goal, but it is very close.