Before Leeds in 1973: readers rewrite the history of the replica kit

Last week The Knowledge led with the question: “When did fans first start wearing replica kits?” and came up with the answer of Leeds United in 1973, with the caveat that there were earlier examples of unofficial merchandise. But the readers have been back in touch – with dozens of responses – offering plenty of pre-1973 examples.

“I had an Umbro Brazil strip in 1970 – I was eight – and a Celtic one before that,” write Janette and Brian Kidd. “Even earlier – five or six years old – my brother and I were given football socks to wear when we played football. Strips didn't seem to exist then. They weren't sold by clubs. But they did have badges and sometimes numbers of the great players. Nor were they worn anywhere but on a football pitch!”

The great 1970 Brazil kit swap

The official Brazil kit was not sold commercially during the 1970 World Cup, so it is likely the Umbro garment differed slightly from the one issued to players. As an interesting aside, the Brazil 1970 team wore two different shirts, made by two different companies during that tournament. Torn between staying loyal to a domestic supplier and keeping up with the latest technology and trend, Brazil used shirts made by Athleta – a Brazilian company – and an almost-identical Umbro kit.

The only noticeable difference between them was the manufacturers' tag in the collar and a slight variation in the shape of the numbering. Throughout the tournament, Pelé, Jairzinho and co would wear the Athleta shirt in the first half, then swap to Umbro in the second half – that is except during the final, where they wore the Umbro shirt from the start, all the way to the final whistle.

Grass-stained proof from the 1960s

“While I can't nail down the exact year, it was around 1970 when I had a full (kid's) Nottingham Forest replica kit for Christmas. This predates Leeds in 1973,” declares Andy Wainwright. “Please find pictures of my Umbro Manchester United child football kit, circa 1967, complete with grass stains,” parades Simon Crompton. “It may not have had any official branding but when I wore it I was, of course, George Best. I passed it to my daughter explaining its significance, but hastily reclaimed it when she outgrew it.”

“It wasn't at a match but Alan Hull famously appeared on the Old Grey Whistle Test in 1971 wearing a Newcastle shirt,” notes John Morrow (and others). “I bought a replica Chelsea 1965 shirt from Frank Blunstone's sports shop in Lavender Hill, Battersea, that same year. He was, of course, a former Chelsea player [and aged 91, the current longest-surviving England senior international].”

“I had my first Liverpool kit in 1969,” writes Keith Foster, who remembers John Bennett's on the Old Kent Road stocking all the top teams' kits, home and away, all probably unofficial. “But kids have always wanted these. All my friends at school had replica kits of their favourite teams, but no one wore them to games. Firstly, it's usually too cold to watch a game in just a shirt, and in the hooligan days, you'd be putting a target on your back. I used to go to Liverpool games in London with just an easily foldable silk scarf in my pocket. Better to be incognito!”

“In the 1969 film Kes, Brian Glover is wearing his 'Bobby Charlton kit' and one of the kids has a Burnley shirt on,” notices Roger Kirkby. “Being a kid myself back then I can remember several eight or nine-year-olds wearing the West Ham away shirt when playing football. They were definitely about it the mid-60s.”

“In 1959 as a 14-year-old in Wilmslow, my summer holiday job was packing Manchester United kit into boxes as potential Christmas presents for children,” adds Frank Close. “Until today, I hadn't realised I was part of history.”

And the tradition runs even deeper: “I'm reminded of an anecdote recounted by Michael Parkinson (I think in his book Football Daft), in which he tells of a Barnsley FC supporter in the 1950s who faithfully turned up to matches with a full kit of the time under his outdoor clothes,” writes David Crowe. “He dreamed of the day when Barnsley would be a man short and would appeal to the crowd to find someone to step in. Sadly for him – but probably not for Barnsley – hi”

The evidence is now overwhelming: long before Leeds made it official in 1973, kids (and at least one hopeful Barnsley fan) were already living out their dreams in club colours.