The rise of classic soccer shirts: More than just fashion

Soccer, it’s a pretty special game, one that at its core has at large remained the same for decades. There have been advances here and there, but the crux of eleven players in cleats, shorts, and shirts, kicking a ball around a grass pitch has never changed. Yet, despite that, things have changed, both in life and in soccer. So too has the rise in popularity of classic soccer shirts.

In the modern day, in the modern game, things change at a rapid rate. From league-formatted European competitions, VAR, the Jabulani and Alberto Aquilani, players, rules, kits and balls all come and go. Naturally, this has left many to think back on the years that have passed with a longing to bring back what elements they can to today’s game, and where better to do that than with the buying of vintage soccer shirts.

The Incredible Story of Classic Football Shirts

Over the last week Classic Football Shirts, the premier name in the vintage kit game, celebrated its 18th birthday. The biggest vintage soccer shirt sellers in the world, in 2013 had little more than 10,000 followers on Twitter, today they have over half a million. On Instagram, the numbers are even greater, with over 1.2 million followers.

Alongside the increased audience, they have stores in two of England’s biggest cities, London and Manchester, with a third in Los Angeles on the way. The group has worked in collaboration with TNT Sports and just days ago announced an investment from both Rob McElhenney, Alex Morgan and Stu Holden.

Speaking on his X page on his investment, Holden said he was, “Looking forward to being a part of their continued growth in North America.”

That growth goes beyond just Classic Football Shirts. The group from Manchester may be the pinnacle, their rise has undoubtedly been monumental, and as they stand, they are the biggest wolf in the pack… But their story in many ways represents the rise of the wider retro soccer shirt community as a whole.”

One of the members of that community is Tom (). For several years, Tom ran a successful vintage shirt-selling website, sourcing and selling shirts from across the globe. In that time, he grew not only his collection but also became part of a community that has continued to blossom.

Speaking with World Soccer Talk, he revealed it’s more than just nostalgia that has people yearning for the vintage sports clothes of yesteryear:

“Things were built differently then as well, the shirts, jackets and shorts,” Tom explained. “They were made to last, as well as just being more than sportswear.

“I’m in my 20s, me and my mates aren’t organizing a kickabout down the park and I couldn’t wear a new shirt out for drinks. Modern shirts can only be worn in so many places, vintage gear is the opposite.”