My First Football Shirt: Stylus City

We caught up with Tom, the founder of Stylus City, to talk psychedelic Manchester United goalie shirts, bruised banana and Thierry coming home to Arsenal. This interview was part of our My First Football Shirt series.

What was your first football shirt?

30 years ago I signed for the greatest club in the world. On days like these a lot of memories are brought back. Remember it all like it was yesterday #MUFC 💫🔴⚪️⚫️ pic.twitter.com/YevkQpispY

— Peter Schmeichel (@Pschmeichel1) August 6, 2021

Oddly enough, being an Arsenal fan and an attacking player on the pitch, my first shirt was a Manchester United goalie shirt as worn by Peter Schmeichel. The design features a bold black/green colour scheme and psychedelic warps in the vertical stripes.

I loved it then and would still love to have another again now! One that would suit the football pitch and behind the decks at a rave equally.

What is your favourite football shirt?

You know what to do @adidasfootball 👀 pic.twitter.com/yEixRMlvcl

— Jason Woods (@GunnerBallZ) October 8, 2018

Arsenal Away Kit 1991-1993 aka the ‘Bruised Banana’ kit...

This was the away kit during the year I was born and although back then it wasn't very popular, it has since generated a cult following from retro shirt fans. It is just a classic.

The more intense, vibrant patterned designs are becoming more popular in recent years, such as Nigeria's 2018 World Cup kit. Here’s hoping that Arsenal’s imminent kit deal with Adidas this summer will lead to this beauty getting reproduced.

A few honourable mentions - ANY Roma kit, 1990 England home, England 2018 training kit.

What is your favourite football moment?

Henry was my football idol growing up and I spent a large part of my childhood and teenage years watching him at the Arsenal. By the time he returned in 2011 for his 2nd spell at the club, I was in Cardiff studying Design & Communication at University.

Seeing him come on as a substitute for Marouane Chamakh against Leeds United in the FA Cup makes me feel nostalgic.

I was nursing a hangover and was nodding off towards the end of the match. I genuinely felt like I was dreaming when Henry netted his winner, and watching him celebrating with Wenger still gives me goosebumps.

Looking for a vintage Arsenal shirt? Grab yourshere.