I’ve got a theory that your favourite England shirt is the one from the first tournament you followed as a kid. There’s something about England shirts that hits differently. Maybe it’s the simplicity. Maybe it’s the tournaments. Or maybe it’s because, unlike club kits, England shirts tend to be tied to moments that everyone remembers at the same time. That Owen goal from France 1998, Gazza celebration at Euro 96, Beckham redemption or the Lineker at Italia 90.
From Admiral’s early efforts to Umbro absolutely nailing the 90s, England shirts have always been about more than design. They’re first loves. First tournaments. First time football really got you.
So if you ever have been debating, what are the greatest England shirts of all time, here is our selection. Chosen not by marketing departments, but by fans, writers, players and people who still remember exactly where they were when it all happened.
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What are the best England shirts?
1966 England Home Shirt – World Cup Winners
Chosen by: Football History (and everyone else, really)
There are England shirts people love, and then there’s the one that sits above debate entirely.
The 1966 World Cup shirt isn’t just England’s most important kit, it’s one of the most important football shirts ever made. Plain red. Long sleeves. No sponsor. No fuss. Just Bobby Moore lifting the trophy at Wembley and England doing the one thing we’ll be dining out on forever.
By modern standards, it’s almost aggressively simple. But that’s the point. This shirt predates branding, hype cycles and “drops”. It exists purely as a symbol of winning, something every England shirt since has been quietly chasing.
If football shirts are cultural artefacts, this one belongs in a museum. Or, better still, in your wardrobe.
1982 England Admiral shirt
Chosen by: Mark Ogden
It was the Admiral England shirt from around 1980, just before the one which was worn during the 1982 World Cup. It wasn’t the best looking kit in the world, and pretty sure I knew nothing about it being bought for me, but it’s the one which started me off with a few kits post-1982.
1990 England shirt by Umbro
Chosen by: Josh Widdicombe
My first shirt was the England Italia 90 shirt, which had embroidered under the England badge the words "Italia 90", so it couldn't really go any better than that. But then we did a school pantomime and someone else played Gazza, I lent him that shirt and never got it back. There was a lot of debate over whether I'd been given it back – I hadn't – but that was the end of it. A heartbreaking story.
1996 England Umbro third - Euro 96
Chosen by: Bantams Banter
My favourite ever football shirt is probably more for sentimental reasons than for it’s beautiful design. The Umbro, Euro ‘96 England shirt was not only my first England shirt but represents a time when I fell in love with game. Euro 96 had it all for England, joy, surprises, great goals, great individual performances (Shearer, Gazza) OTT outpouring of emotion (Pearce) and disappointment. This shirt holds all of this within it’s chunky threads.
1996 England home - Euro 96
Chosen by: Michael Cox
My first one was England Euro 96, the white one thankfully, not the horrible grey one. I don’t think it has been beaten in the subsequent years.
Note; The shirt was white with a collar and central crest and the numbering was big and bold on the back with fluorescent blue on the outline.
1998 England home shirt
Chosen by: Chris Mann
My first football shirt was the England shirt made by Umbro from World Cup ‘98. I insisted that ‘Ince 4’ be put on the back. God knows why.
Note: The 1998 England Umbro shirt was a classic. The button up collar, central crest and worn by a mix of the old and new generation.
2002 England away shirt
Chosen by: Fans Favourite
I’m going to go for the England 2002-2004 change shirt. In terms of design, it’s probably not even in the top 10 England shirt’s, but it was being worn when Beckham scored that penalty against Argentina, and that was the first footballing moment that gave me pure joy.
2008 England shirt
Chosen by: Lucy Bronze
My favourite kit I’ve worn is England, especially my first shirt. I’m not really one for memorabilia. The only shirt I’ve framed is the first England shirt I wore for the Under-17s. It’s still got Ribena stains on it. Considering I’ve played 60 games, I’ve only got around four shirts.
Where can I get an authentic, vintage England shirt?
If you are looking for an authentic England jersey head to the Football Shirt Collective. Our collection of England shirts has vintage kits from the 80s to the present day. Each image has 10+ photos so you know exactly what you're getting. Browse the shirts and pick up a classic today.
Shop authentic, vintage England shirts.
Thinking about buying a vintage England shirt. Here is everything you need to know in our complete guide.
