FOOTY FAIR

My Five Favourite England Kits

2014-11-08T16:00:00.000-05:00

As another international break creeps upon us, and a new England kit due to be released in the very near future, I thought I'd take a look back at some of my favourite England kits and what made them great.

These are my top five:

1966 Red Away

Although this was actually England's away kit at the time, this classic strip, which I own a reproduction of, was most famously used when England defeated West Germany at Wembley to win the 1966 World Cup.

It's a classic, simple design with a big bold English FA badge and was made from the heavier cotton of the day, before synthetic materials were introduced into football kits. Although it would have been heavy to play in when wet from sweat or rain, it's still a brilliant looking kit.

1982 White Home

One of the most sought after kits for collectors, this was the finest offering from the unfairly maligned Admiral brand. With it's terrific V-neck collar, to go along with it's red and blue bars over the white top this is a terrific looking kit.

England wore this at the 1982 World Cup where they actually exited the competition, in the second group phase, without losing a match.

1990 White Home

A classic kit from England's finest performance in a World Cup tournament outside of the British Isles, this release from Umbro had a great simple collar with a nice pattern woven into it.

This kit brings to mind Gazza's inspirational performances in Italy during that great summer, almost a quarter of a century ago.

2002 White Home

This great kit with it's blue piping and bold red stripe is arguably the last great England home jersey.

To see this jersey is to remember Beckham's last gasp free kick against Greece to qualify for the World Cup and of course the famous 5-1 destruction of Germany in Munich.

2010 Red Away

Unlike the others on this list a look at this kit brings to mind bad memories of Fabio Capello's disastrous leadership of a ponderous England side in South Africa. This was also the kit worn by England when they were mauled 4-1 by Germany in the Round of 16.

But from an aesthetic sense only this is a great kit. It's a classic design with a simple round collar, an England badge that really stands out on the kit and the white trim around the sleeves is cool unique touch.

A fun fact about this kit is that it was debuted by the band Kasabian at one of their concerts.

My 5 Favourite Manchester United Kits

2014-07-17T12:00:00.000-04:00

With the new Premier League season only 30 days away and with most clubs releasing new kits this month, I took a moment to look back at my favourite kits put out by Manchester United, the club I support.

97/98-99/00 European Kit

I remember when this kit came out and my immediate reaction was, “Another red home kit that’s specifically for Europe? Those greedy bastards!” But I have to admit that I like it so much more than the domestic red home kits that came out during this era. It has a great pattern in the background of the shirt that gives a tip of the cap to the Champions League, a nice simple collar, and a nice shield-like United crest. Which United fan doesn’t look at this kit and immediately think of Ole Gunnar Solskjær breaking German hearts?

86/87-87/88 Third Kit

In the risk of appearing to be a football hipster, I simply must include this gorgeous and extremely rare blue kit from Adidas in my list. Used only a few times, this kit has a terrific collar, a vibrant colour with a nice pattern in it, and a perfectly sized club logo. When you think of some of the garbage Nike has put out in the past decade, they would have been wise to study this kit and perhaps bring its genius of a designer on board to recreate a similar effort. This terrific retro number brings back memories of Bryan Robson leading the charge for United in the 1980’s.

92/93-93/94 Away Kit

Fifteen years or so before the green and gold campaign to protest the Glazers, but a hundred years after United forerunners Newton Heath FC originally donned these colours we had the absolute wonder of this particular kit. With a fabulous collar, complete with retro lacing, a big and bold badge, with black trim this is a beautiful kit. I picture a fresh faced Ryan Giggs, with his curly mop of black hair, bamboozling defenders when I see this one.

1990/1991 European Cup Winners Cup Final Kit

It could be the lack of a sponsorship on the front, or just simply the memory of Sparky slamming home the second goal against Barcelona from a tight angle that makes me love this kit. But I think it’s more than that. I mean, just look at that United crest, the retro Adidas logo, the two subtle black stripes and the truly wonderful collar. This is a truly remarkable kit. I don’t want to lower the tone of this article, but I will probably make a mess in my pants if Adidas come out with something even close to this when they take over as our kit supplier next season.

93/94-94/95 Away Kit

At number one is a jersey that was reportedly woven on Mount Olympus by Zeus himself and simply handed down to Umbro. This black with gold and blue trim masterpiece brings to mind visions of Eric Cantona performing acts of wonder on the pitch and even taking time out to dropkick a racist thug up in the stands. This kit sets the standard for all future releases and it’s tough to see it ever being matched. It’ll be hard to recreate a kit of such beauty and power as this one.

I still have this black United away kit that I got for Christmas back in 1994, and although it’s seen better days due to a lot of wear, you’d have to tear it from my cold dead hands to see me part with it. In fact, to hell with it I’m going to get it framed for my basement. Problem solved.

Laurie Cunningham - The Trailblazer

2014-07-16T18:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday marked the 25th anniversary of the death of Laurie Cunningham.

Starting his career with Leyton Orient the flying winger would make his name with West Bromwich Albion, after a move to the Midlands club in 1977.

At time when conditions were incredibly difficult for non-white players in the English top division, Cunningham came in for some horrific racial abuse from the terraces. Although it would have been a lot for a young player to cope with, he let his skill and pace do the talking for him, as Cunningham lit up the old First Division and quickly attracted attention for his performances.

In the April 1977, Cunningham became only the second black player to represent England at any level as he debuted, and scored, for England U-21’s against Scotland.

Back at the Hawthorns, together with Cyrille Regis and Brendon Batson, Cunningham became part of only the second trio of black players to be fielded by one side in the English top flight. Under manager Ron Atkinson, the three players and future Manchester United skipper Bryan Robson formed the core of arguably the best West Brom side in the past fifty years. Playing stylish attacking football, the Baggies finished third in 1978-1979, their highest league finish in more than twenty years.

Laurie Cunninghan, Cyrille Regis, and Brendan Batson

His thrilling displays on the wing had not gone unnoticed outside of the British Isles though, as Spanish giants Real Madrid came in with a massive bid, at the time, of £950,000 in the summer of 1979. West Brom had no choice but to accept the offer and Cunningham thus became the first British player to represent Los Blancos.

Getting off to a flying start at the Bernabéu, the winger scored twice on his debut and helped the club capture a Spanish league and cup double in his first season in Madrid.

Laurie Cunningham during his time at Madrid

Despite helping Madrid reach the final of the 1981 European Cup, where they would lose 1-0 to Liverpool, the next few years saw Cunningham plagued with injuries.

He bounced around between a few clubs during the mid-1980’s, but found a bit of glory back in England when he helped minnows Wimbledon win the 1988 FA Cup. After leaving Wimbledon, he spent the 1988-1989 season back in Spain at second division Rayo Vallecano, where he scored the goal that clinched promotion for the Madrid side back into La Liga.

Sadly, Laurie Cunningham was killed in a car crash in Madrid on July 15, 1989. He was only 33 years old at the time.

Reflecting on the memory of his friend and former teammate Cyrille Regis had the following to say, “Laurie’s greatest legacy was the inspiration he provided to the players who were a few years behind us. Players such as John Barnes and Ian Wright. Because he was an attacking, exciting footballer, he captured their imaginations like no other. That’s his greatest legacy. They still talk about him with wonder even now.”

Below are some highlights of Cunnigham in action for West Bromwich Albion.