Before I even started liking football I knew I liked the Dutch team. It wasn’t down to anything like their style of play or icons such as Bergkamp, Seedorf or Davids. Nope. I just liked the shirts because I was 3 or 4 and I loved bright colours. The 1997/98 Netherlands was one of my first shirts and very much a link to my childhood so it will always hold a special place in my collection. I am also quite happy to have a version that can fit over my head.

Supporting QPR isn’t easy and it probably never will be, but there are those moments- those instances- that may only take a second to happen, but stick with you for a lifetime. That was definitely the case in the 2014 Play-Off final, when an instinctive 89th minute winner from Bobby Zamora turned what should’ve been certain defeat into pure jubilation. The 2013/14 away is not only a beautiful shirt and the best modern iteration of the ‘Dennis The Menace’ black and red hoops, it’ll forever be associated with a moment of Bobby Zamora magic.

The summer of 2018 was quite a special time for me as I got to experience the ConIFA World Cup. To experience a wide variety of footballing cultures from traditional African songs, Punjabi drums, and Hungarian Ultras right on my doorstep was nothing short of amazing. I had an affection for the Matabeleland team, I wasn’t the only one as they were the darlings of the tournament. The shirt itself is amazing and I would consider it up there with some of the best African shirts of the modern era. However, with the team relying on crowdfunding and shirt sales to even make it to London I felt like I contributed towards something with this shirt, even if it was a small amount.

Although aesthetically not my favourite shirt, it’s what it represents. Wealdstone have been my local club since 2008. For quite some time I just thought it was cool to have such a prominent non-league club on my doorstep. It’s only very recently that I have gained a true appreciation for what promotion to the National League meant. It is not only playing in the top flight of the non-league pyramid- After 32 years away and many years of struggle, it’s a return to where the club belongs.

I love collecting shirts because it’s a tangible snapshot of a club’s history. A club’s identity can be very transient, with players coming and going, changes in managers, owners, badges, and stadiums. Football shirts are something that’s stuck in time and able to invoke a multitude of memories. Not to mention they just look really cool.

Over the past couple of years, due to a combination of lockdown and anglo-centric curiosity, I gained quite an affection for Genoa Football and Cricket Club. Although this shirt was worn during the season Genoa were relegated to Serie B, it’s by far my favourite Genoa shirt, with the subtle pattern in the fabric, the bizarre stripy rhombuses down the side and the work of art that is the 90’s Genoa badge. I just simply love it.