Do you really know the ins and outs of jersey collection?
There has always been a group of football fans who, in addition to watching games, also enjoy collecting jerseys of their favorite teams and stars, but this often means a considerable amount of money. How many types of jerseys are there, and which ones do fans generally collect?
Jersey collection started relatively late in China, but has been developed for decades in Europe and the United States. Many players even collect jerseys to hang in a whole room, and some even frame them. There are several categories of jersey collectors.
Ordinary collectors like a team or a player, and they buy a few pieces in a season, which is enough. They basically buy jerseys of the team they are interested in. Another type is pure jersey enthusiasts, who buy and sell based on their mood. If they see a good-looking jersey or an interesting player, they will buy it!
Going a little further, there are collectors like me who accept all kinds of jerseys. I will naturally collect jerseys of my loyal team, and I will also consider jerseys of the opposing team or niche and unpopular teams.
The most high-end collectors will study the final edition or commemorative edition jerseys. This type of collectors already knows how to increase the value of jerseys, will carefully maintain and care for them, and also has the knowledge to distinguish the authenticity. Some of the top collectors will take some classic jerseys to find the relevant teams or players to sign.
Such jerseys will have a qualitative improvement in value, similar to stamp collecting or treasure hunting in other fields.
Messi shows off his jersey collection
Basic classification of jerseys: What is a jersey?
When we want to buy a jersey, usually some of your insiders will tell you some terms and differences such as "player edition" and "fan edition". However, this may make the first-time jersey buyer even more confused - how can the price of jerseys that look the same be so different?
In fact, there are many types of football jerseys, which can be simply classified into the following categories:
Game Jersey: Match Worn
The jersey used after the game refers to the jersey that the player wears after the game. It is the most expensive jersey in the jersey category. The jerseys used after the game will not be sold through official channels, but some clubs will auction them off for charity. Even many fanatical fans pursue the "original jerseys" of their favorite players.
Locker Room Jersey: Match Issued/Match Prepared
The jersey itself is no different from the jersey used on the field. The locker room version jersey has the same material, the same number, the same player name and the same various patches (league or cup patches). The only difference is that the players have never used it in the game and it is a spare to prevent the jersey from being torn or other special circumstances. The locker room version jersey is not officially sold, but there are some special channels to get it out of the market. Italy is a region where the locker room version jersey is popular.
Player version jersey: Authentic/Player Version
In most cases, the material of the player version jersey is the same as the field version, and both the official and agent versions are available for sale. Compared with the more affordable fan version jerseys, the European club player version jerseys are more often launched for commemorative or promotional purposes, and have a certain collection value.
Fan Edition Jersey: Fans
The fan version of the jersey is relatively different from the player version, and the difference can be seen in the material and surface. It is sold by both the official and the agent, mainly for the fan group. The price is relatively low.
Retro/Reproduction Jerseys:
Also known as replica jerseys, they are used to commemorate a team's outstanding season or to remake a jersey style that is highly recognized by fans. They are often remade according to the craftsmanship and materials of the time. The surface is no different from the off-season version, but if you look closely at the inside and outside of the jersey, you will find several subtle differences.
Memorial game jersey
There is no unified English name for commemorative jerseys. Most of them are specially made to commemorate events (such as the club's centenary), special matches (such as the Champions League final), or player signings (such as contract extensions). Last season, Fiorentina captain Astori unfortunately passed away, so the team made commemorative jerseys and armbands. The commemorative jerseys are made of the same materials as the fan version. Both the official and the agent will sell them, and they are often sold in limited editions, with high collection value.
Thai version jersey
Thai-version jerseys are widely circulated among football fans. They are actually pirated or counterfeit jerseys. In the past, when the income level of ordinary Chinese people was not high, Thai-version jerseys were very popular. Now Thai-version jerseys have basically become a general term for pirated jerseys. With the development of technology, the materials of high-quality imitation Thai-version jerseys are basically not much different from the genuine fan-version jerseys, but if you look closely at a few key places, such as words and numbers, you can still tell the difference from the fan-version jerseys.
At present, the main jerseys collected by fans are fan editions and player editions, and there are obvious differences between the two. The fan edition is made of ordinary cotton yarn, while the player edition is made of environmentally friendly fiber. The player edition has a very good slimming effect, and the fan edition is basically not much different from ordinary T-shirts. Since the material of the player edition is made according to the player's game, it is generally divided into two layers, the outer layer has a pattern, and the inner layer has a shrinking and sweat-absorbing material. Of course, the biggest difference is also in price. The original price of the fan edition jersey without the seal is between 300 and 500 yuan, while it is common for the player edition to exceed 1,000 yuan.
Taking this season's Gamba Osaka jersey as an example, we can see that there are differences in every detail of workmanship and materials between the player version and the fan version of the jersey.
Gamba Osaka's player jersey for this season
Gamba Osaka's fan version jersey this season
Back of the jersey (left is the fan version, right is the player version)
Fabric (top is player version, bottom is fan version)
The fabric of the player version is a double-sided knitted fabric with larger pores, and it is added with the material of Kuhl Transfer, which has the function of quick-drying and sweat absorption. And it uses the cooling effect caused by the heat of vaporization, so it is not so sticky when worn.
The fabric of the fan version is relatively smooth, and the texture of the player version is a bit rough. The different fabrics also make the printed number and sponsor hot stamping present different textures, which is exactly the same as in the past two seasons.
Collar (top is for players, bottom is for fans)
Underarm (left is the player version, right is the fan version)
The player version still uses the black technology "BODY-FLEXUM" used last season, that is, inserting an X-shaped breathable fabric with dense mesh under the armpit. The ribs are the newly added technology "ICE BLAST" cooling patch to achieve the effect of rapid cooling during the game; the fan version is a normal cut without functionality.
Team logo and championship star (upper player version, lower fan version)
The biggest star represents the AFC Champions League, and the others represent two league titles, two League Cup titles, and four Emperor's Cup titles. Like last season, the player version uses a material similar to hard rubber and has a circle of stitching around it. The fan version is made of fabric and is hot-stamped on the jersey.
The stitching on the player version can be clearly seen from the back of the jersey.
Genuine? Pirated?
In terms of collection and purchasing channels, official or agent are the most reliable places to start. If you want to collect classic jerseys from past seasons, the British jersey website Classic Football Shirts, which we will mention later, is a good choice.
When it comes to buying genuine jerseys, you often see this kind of comments on major forums: I just support this team, there is no need to spend hundreds of dollars to buy genuine jerseys. If you like a team, should you buy genuine jerseys?
Most fans like me, as they grow older and gain more experience, should now have copyright awareness. Buying genuine jerseys is the most basic self-cultivation, not to mention the team you support. The sales and revenue of jerseys sold by the official or agent will become data reflecting the influence of a team.
Jersey sales will also affect the sponsors' investment in the team. This year, Beijing Guoan dared to challenge Nike on the sponsorship issue, isn't it because of the huge market behind it and the purchasing power of Beijing fans, which is the highest in the country? From this perspective, buying the official genuine products of the team is the best support for the team. Of course, there are still a few people who are stubborn and think that loving the team has nothing to do with money, wearing pirated jerseys saves money and worry, and doing what they can. Whether to buy jerseys does not prevent them from liking a team.
It’s OK to buy pirated jerseys, but can you really wear them out? Let’s assume two scenarios:
1: If you go to a game and you wear a pirated jersey while other fans are wearing genuine jerseys, how will others look at you? 2: Fans at the game basically wear fake jerseys, so is it okay to wear pirated jerseys?
This is just like many Chinese children who go to school in the UK. They can obey the law when driving in the UK, but when they return to China, they are still influenced by the environment and will cut in line and break traffic rules. In the final analysis, the reason why some Chinese people are proud of wearing pirated jerseys is that some Chinese people have not formed a spirit of contract and need to improve their own moral cultivation. In fact, an authentic jersey is usually only 100-200 yuan when it is cleared at the end of the season. You can even see authentic Leicester City jerseys for 80 yuan on CFS.
Many times, jersey collectors do not sell them for the sake of appreciation. When we look at these jerseys many years later, we will recall the glorious years of that team, ourselves in that year, and our lives in that year. These are indelible memories. Jerseys are a symbol, a symbol, and also represent inheritance. Looking at the "names of stars" of generations placed in the closet at home, we probably all feel that our youth has passed and we have grown old.
Xiamen Besteam Int’l Co., Ltd. is a professional sportswear manufacturer, and it is one of the suppliers of the Olympic football team. We mainly engage in the production of football kit, swimwear, and accessories, with 13 years of production experience and a professional design team, we can provide a variety of services, such as, fabric customization, OEM ,etc.
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Alma
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E-mail: alma@junmaosports.com