April 2021 was a much quieter month for collecting for me, 2021 has been amazing so far but not a lot really caught my attention, but of course there are a few nuggets that I'm going to show you, I hope you enjoy.
Early in the month a local non league side, Whitehawk FC, of the Isthmian South East Division had an online fundraising raffle with a couple of match shirts as prizes, and I won one of them!
This is Danny Mills' 2012-2013 away match shirt from the title winning season, signed on the front. The raffle was raising money for the SHOUTOUT For Mental Health campaign championed by the Hawks and Dulwich Hamlet FC raising money for MIND.
Next to arrive was another non league shirt, this time an away match shirt of Wessex League side Bashley FC, I think it's from the 2017-2018 season.
There is a reason for buying this one, Brighton legend Jimmy Case finished his playing career with the Seagulls, and went on to manage the side during pretty difficult times between 1995-1996, for no fault of his own he was sacked by the idiots running (ruining) the club, he went on to manage Bashley between 1997-1999 before hanging up his boots and tracksuit. When I saw the shirt, I thought, why not?
Long time readers will know that one of my blogs wouldn't be right without a Brighton goalies top, and here's one, a 2008-2009 replica Errea shirt.
But of course, I'm not going to settle with just one Brighton 'keepers shirt, and this is an unusual one in that it wasn't worn by a Brighton player. This is a match shirt from the "Legends" game that was played before Kerry Mayos testimonial match in July 2007.
Amongst others Gordon Smith, Steve Foster, John Robinson, Neville Southall, Gerry Ryan and Peter Ward played an exhibition match before the main testimonial game. Unique "Home" and "Away" kits were designed by Errea, as well as the goalies kits, this one was worn by Chris May.
Kerry Mayo played over 400 times for the Albion between 1995 - 2009, was both hero and villain on more than one occasion, but was generally hugely popular with the fans after his committed career spanning some of the darkest days that Brighton will ever have.
Another Brighton addition, this time more recent, the away shirt worn in the Premier League in the 2019-2020 season, this one is matchworn by Spanish defender Martin Montoya.
At the end of the 2019-2020 season Martin left the Albion for La Liga side Real Betis.
One of my favourite beers of recent years has been made by a craft brewery in South Wales called Tiny Rebel. Their Club Tropicana and Stay Puft are two of my favourites, imagine my delight when I discovered that they sponsor their local football team!
This is the really rather tidy 2020-2021 home shirt of Gwent County Premier Division side Rogerstone AFC made by Tor Sports.
On Sunday 18th April 2021 six English Premier League sides proudly announced that they were among the twelve founder members of the European Super League. After huge ridicule and condemnation from the fans, media, even the players, they all withdrew from the ill fated money making exercise, but not before some Premier League players had taken to the pitch during pre-match warm us displaying their own message to the apparent top six sides.
This is an warm up T-Shirt used by Brighton players before their draw with Chelsea on the 20th April, the evening that the teams pulled out and the super league collapsed.
And now the icing on the cake for April, if you recall my December 2020 post I showed you my Wilmington Hammerheads match shirt from 2004, this was worn by Glenn Murray in his first ever season as a professional football player. I contacted Mr Murray and asked it it would be possible to acquire one of his current match shirts, and he's obliged.
This is his 2020-2021 home shirt, made by Macron. It's from pre-March 2021 and before the shirt sponsor changed to BOXT.
Thanks Glenn, really appreciate you sending me this. Now just need to add a Brighton, match shirt to my collection.
As I said, it was quiet in April, who knows what May may bring? Stay safe everyone, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. To see many more football shirts from my collection please take a look at my other blog posts here and to see even more shirts from all over the world please take a look at my website www.oldfootballshirt.com.
Comments