Replica kits - early 1970s

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Gary James

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I'm hopeful someone out there has a strong memory on what replica kits were sold at souvenir shops and the like in the early 1970s. Back in 1973 (maybe 1972) I was given a full City kit for my birthday (shirt, shorts, socks & boots) and I went with my parents to Donaldons Sports Shop in Hyde to buy it. I remember that it came in a box (certain it was Umbro box) and that it was sold as a MCFC kit.

However, according to many football historians Leeds Utd were the first to sell replica kits in 1974.

What I''m trying to find out now is whether the kit I was bought was properly produced and marketed as a MCFC kit and if so that blows the Leeds replica story out of the water. By 1973 City were wearing a badge on their shirts but my kit didn't have a badge, but I'm pretty certain clubs sold sew on badges for a few years. The Leeds kit had a printed badge but that wasn't exactly the same as the first team wore.

So, does anyone out there have anything to add? Ideally I'd like to find an advert or article which specifically states that a shop is selling the latest Manchester City strip in boys sizes from the early 70s (or before!). If you're interested in seeing what this 1973 (or 1972, but I'm sure it was 73) replica kit looked like I've included it as my profile photo in some of my recent books (such as here: <a class="postlink" href="https://www.facebook.com/GaryJames4#!/photo.php?fbid=10151589077022816&set=pb.289818652815.-2207520000.1378805145.&type=3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://www.facebook.com/GaryJames4#!/p ... =3&theater</a> ). The socks, shorts and shirt match totally and I'm sure it had a Umbro label.
 
My grandad bought me a City tracksuit made by Umbro in 1973,it came in a special Umbro box with cellophane windows.
He got it from a sports shop that used to be in the Avenue in Ashton,I got a City kit from there a year later which my mum had to sew the badge on,sorry I can't remember the sports shop name but I still remember the tracksuit vividly it had the Umbro diamond in red,white and black.
 
I remember the shop but can't name it (just had Lumb's come into my head) I used to get my City scarves from there. Think it was half sports and half baby stuff for a while.

I also remember the other main Ashton shop which was Schofield's on Stamford St they had loads of Subbuteo stuff and I think sold 'blank' City shirts and definitely City socks with the maroon and white tops. My mum got me cloth numbers for my shirt from there and grumbled as I wanted 10 rather than a single number.

Happy days.
 
Christmas 1970 I'm fairly certain. Maybe as early as' 69 and definitely no later than '71. I have no idea where my parents bought it but I have a strong memory (and a photo somewhere) of me stood proudly outside my house wearing a full home kit. The Whole shooting match was Umbro. The shirt was as you expect, sky blue with a white round neck collar and it came with a round badge to sew on yourself. The shorts were white and must have had a heavy nylon content, quite unlike the majority of shorts of the day. The socks were maroon topped with white stripes. I think Umbro will have sold kits in a small way through small sports shop outlets, probably with little input or influence from the club itself.
 
Number13 said:
Christmas 1970 I'm fairly certain. Maybe as early as' 69 and definitely no later than '71. I have no idea where my parents bought it but I have a strong memory (and a photo somewhere) of me stood proudly outside my house wearing a full home kit. The Whole shooting match was Umbro. The shirt was as you expect, sky blue with a white round neck collar and it came with a round badge to sew on yourself. The shorts were white and must have had a heavy nylon content, quite unlike the majority of shorts of the day. The socks were maroon topped with white stripes. I think Umbro will have sold kits in a small way through small sports shop outlets, probably with little input or influence from the club itself.
Click to expand...

That matches with my views (and kit, though my socks were the sky blue with maroon and 2 white hooped top). I'm certain mine was Umbro as well but need to find an advert or something. Glad there are more people out there who have info and memory of wearing these kits.
 
Gary James said:
I'm hopeful someone out there has a strong memory on what replica kits were sold at souvenir shops and the like in the early 1970s. Back in 1973 (maybe 1972) I was given a full City kit for my birthday (shirt, shorts, socks & boots) and I went with my parents to Donaldons Sports Shop in Hyde to buy it. I remember that it came in a box (certain it was Umbro box) and that it was sold as a MCFC kit.

However, according to many football historians Leeds Utd were the first to sell replica kits in 1974.

What I''m trying to find out now is whether the kit I was bought was properly produced and marketed as a MCFC kit and if so that blows the Leeds replica story out of the water. By 1973 City were wearing a badge on their shirts but my kit didn't have a badge, but I'm pretty certain clubs sold sew on badges for a few years. The Leeds kit had a printed badge but that wasn't exactly the same as the first team wore.

So, does anyone out there have anything to add? Ideally I'd like to find an advert or article which specifically states that a shop is selling the latest Manchester City strip in boys sizes from the early 70s (or before!). If you're interested in seeing what this 1973 (or 1972, but I'm sure it was 73) replica kit looked like I've included it as my profile photo in some of my recent books (such as here: <a class="postlink" href="https://www.facebook.com/GaryJames4#!/photo.php?fbid=10151589077022816&set=pb.289818652815.-2207520000.1378805145.&type=3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://www.facebook.com/GaryJames4#!/p ... =3&theater</a> ). The socks, shorts and shirt match totally and I'm sure it had a Umbro label.
Click to expand...

I don't know if you know Mark Hodgkinson who wrote "Down Amongst The Dead Men" but I know he has a website so you will be able to contact him.

He talks in the first chapter about how he bought a City kit back then in the very early 70s, in a box from a sports shop.
 
Just had a butchers at Umbro's web site and they claim to have had replica kits for sale as far back as 1959.
A Denis Law,rag replica kit is for sale in the mid sixties.
 
Bingo - just found an advert in a prog for Sept 1972: "Football Strip Complete £2.30; Football Shirt (Home) 95p" etc.

Away shirt was dearer at £1.30. Socks (stockings) were 45p and shorts were 65p.

For anyone interested tracksuits were £4.65 for size 22in to 26in and went up to £6.80 for 34in.

Boots were £2.25

Duffle bags 90p (I had one of those!)
 
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