Alex Ireland @AlexDIreland Twitter profile

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Alex Ireland

3 months

My new book Double Diamond (out Aug 12) tells the story of Umbro’s central role in football and sportswear over 100 years. In 🧵 below, some of the key stories and link to a sample chapter and pre-order…

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 months

Flashback to @FootballManager ’s announcement of Football Manager 1888 on April 1 2013. A 🧵 on a detailed April Fool’s windup including some details you may have missed…

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

2 years

Nike PR: “Our World Cup kit was inspired by a Dutch icon”

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

2 months

EVERY MUFC UMBRO KIT 1992-2002 As Umbro turn 100 in 2 days time (23 May), a 🧵 looking back to a decade when they supplied local side Man Utd…

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

Recent arrival… Palmeiras 1993/94 home shirt #AvantiPalestra #Verdao

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 months

Football Manager 1888 was presented in sepia tones, using flowery ‘Victorian’ language including player post-team meeting reaction ‘looked fizzing and in high spirits’ and players with ‘spiffing’ morale

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

New arrival: Werder Bremen 1991/92 away, pure 90s excess 💚

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 months

Renamed player attributes included Punting, Gentlemanliness, Peevishness, Nobbling, Leaping and Dashing.

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

UEFA ’s greatest (statistical) sides: a🧵 West Ham’s record of 12 wins from their 13 @europacnfleague ties in 2022/23 makes them the 2nd best winning side in UEFA club comp history by win percentage. Below is the top ten…

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 months

Players would also face the prospect of players becoming unavailable due to army conscription or retirement due to serious injury

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 month

EVERY CHAMPIONSHIP/FOOTBALL MANAGER BOX 1992-2024 - a 🧵 Which is your favourite? Championship Manager (1992)

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

10 months

Champions League Final Programmes 2000-2023 Interesting to see increased uniformity, loss of national identity, and centering of the trophy across the period. Each programme in thread below 👇

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

8 months

Stuck for a Xmas gift for a football fan? Pretty Poly: 150 years of history for £20, how and why shirts, designs, colours, namesets, sponsors & replicas emerged and evolved. Below, a brief chapter guide 👇

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

They’re here! 😃 #PrettyPoly

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 months

A full 10/10 for effort and application for the gag, which led to a flood of tweets for SI to make the game.

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

It begins! 😂

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 months

The EFL joined in with Miles Jacobson’s plug that it was released to celebrate its 125th anniversary, and developed with historians - allowing you to take control of one of the original 12 teams which formed the League.

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

Toni Kroos has only worn adidas’ three-striped kit for club and country. Any other ‘one-marque’ players? 🤔

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

11 months

It’s release day for Pretty Poly! 😃 Thanks for your support, it’s been a lot of work and I hope people enjoy it - pick one up here Here’s what to expect in each chapter 🧵 RTs/likes appreciated 👍

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 months

Players were warned that they would have to adapt to the 1888 ruleset with no offsides, yellow or red cards, substitutions or penalties, and even to pre-decimalisation currency…

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 months

This followed on from SI’s implementation of in-game April Fool’s gags including freak injuries, competition suspensions and huge cash injections…

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

10 months

The 1st European Cup in… 1930? The Coupe des Nations was hosted by @ServetteFC , and was the first to feature the champions of all major European football nations. Short thread below 👇

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 months

Preston North End were presented as playing a 2-3-5 formation common at the time, with players adopting contemporary positions including outside left and half-back.

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 months

hummel

@hummel1923

3 months

Eat your cereal, kids 🥣🥣 🤝 @KelloggsJP

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

2 years

Then/Now 😍 #BVB

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

9 months

Today’s task for #DoubleDiamond book is looking at Umbro logo evolution. Which is your favourite version?

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

9 months

Only 10 brands have won exactly ONE major English club trophy (First Division/Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup) in the branded kit era (~1973 onwards). Full list in thread below 👇

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

002 - Saint-Étienne 1994-98 home shirt 🎰💚🇫🇷 #ASSE

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

2 years

Youngest had his first football training session today 😍 Only one kit for the occasion, hopefully the start of a life-long love! 🤞

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 months

CM01/02 Easter Egg - a 🧵 Setting a player’s nickname to names of the game’s development team members then requesting a coach report produces some unusual results…. First, Ov Collyer…

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

Cover reveal for Pretty Poly, release date Aug 14th. The 150-year history of the football shirt, its colours, designs, sponsors, manufacturers, printing, replicas,and collectors. Details for pre-order and pre-launch event in Mcr coming soon!

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

2 months

UMBRO TURNS 100 TODAY 🥳 Here are ten matches that have defined its history since 23 May 1924… 28 April 1934 - Umbro makes its FA Cup final debut supplying both teams.

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

FIRST SQUAD NUMBERS Which numbers were iconic players assigned for their debut? [🧵below, in numerical order]

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 years

Great experience meeting Doug and Matt from @classicshirts yesterday, interview to follow in spring issue of @KITmagazine_ including their opinions on: - Kits (Grails? Future classics?) - The kit collecting boom - The kit industry - The next decade of CFS 📸 @jonathnrwcliffe

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

2013/14 Premier League - not a single Umbro top-flight kit for the first time in 80 years 😯

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

4 months

Doing a piece on the CM/FM series… What are your memories of the first Championship Manager (1992/93)? Must-buy players, tactics, bugs, anything that sticks out 30 years on! Tags welcomed!

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 months

If you enjoyed the thread, please share the OP! 🙂

Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 months

Flashback to @FootballManager ’s announcement of Football Manager 1888 on April 1 2013. A 🧵 on a detailed April Fool’s windup including some details you may have missed…

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

Released to celebrate BVB’s centenary in 2009, this ‘sondertrikot’ featured details of the club’s major trophies woven into the material #BVB

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

1973: Eintracht Braunschweig become the first Bundesliga side with a shirt sponsor, changing their logo to that of herbal liqueur Jägermeister to avoid DFB restrictions. Below: Paul Breitner, who joined the club for the 1977/78 season.

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 month

Championship Manager 01/02 (2001)

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

PRE-ORDER OPEN Pretty Poly: The History of the Football Shirt Out Aug 14, telling 150-year story of shirts, colours, designs, sponsors, printing, manufacturers, replicas, and collectors. RTs/tags/likes appreciated! #PrettyPoly

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

📚BOOK GIVEAWAY - PRETTY POLY📚 Ahead of Aug 11 launch, I’m giving away a signed copy+launch event ticket (or refund for existing purchase) Book/event details in tweets below👇 Simply RT, like, follow to enter - closes 9pm Sun 6 Aug

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

11 months

UNUSUAL SQUAD NUMBERS The stories behind the weirdest numbers worn on pitch in thread below👇 Any I’ve missed?

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

Internazionale 1994/95 home

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

Lazio 1989-91 home shirt 🦅

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

2 months

MODERN GREATS IN UMBRO As Umbro turn 100 this Thur 23 May, here is a 🧵 of some of the greatest players of the modern era (1990-) wearing Umbro kit at club level.

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 years

‘Yo, that’s a sick Barça shirt bro’ Best student feedback I’ve had in five years of teaching 😭

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

SERIE A 1992/93 KITS All home+away kits from the first Football Italia season - what’s your favourite? How many do you own? [🧵below, in league position order]

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

1995-97 Parma away shirt

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

10 months

📚 NEW BOOK - May 23rd 2024 📚 ‘Double Diamond: 100 Years of @Umbro ’ will be released on the firm’s 100th birthday. Using the Umbro archive and extensive interviews, I will detail the company’s evolution and its central place in football/sportwear history.

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

2 years

Borussia Dortmund Kit History 🎥🔈 @PrettyPolyBook x @BVB x @cfsmcr

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

2 years

@90sFootballUK1 90% of kids:

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

BVB x Nike x Die Continentale? Completed it mate* 😃

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

2 years

Reached 3000 followers 🥳 Gone from shirt collection being a secret shame 😅 to a proper hobby. Writing for @halbvierUK and writing/editing/podding @KITmagazine_ has been great fun, thanks for the interactions!

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

European Cup winning kits - a 🧵 Which branded kits did teams wear before the Champions League rebrand in 1992/93?

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 years

Wow, worth the wait - #NULLNE90N has arrived and it is a DOOZY 😍

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 month

Championship Manager 97/98 (1997)

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 years

AS Roma English

@ASRomaEN

3 years

🟡 𝗔𝗦𝗥 🔴 🆕 Presenting our 21-22 Fourth Kit: ASR Edition! 🐺 #ASRoma | @NBFootball

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

2 years

Joined a few others in completing the 1996/97 BVB kit set 😃 #BVB

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

Washing day 🧼

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

9 months

We have hit football shirt rock bottom.

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 years

#justfootballshirts

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

11 months

New arrival - Celtic 120 jersey 📦 Retro done right ☘️

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

2 years

NEWS! I will be releasing a book ‘Pretty Poly: The History of the Football Shirt’ in Aug 2023 w/ @PitchPublishing 😃📚👕⚽️ #PrettyPoly Name change from @wunderkits , will be tweeting about kit history & looking to involve experts from the community in the book ✍️ Please follow/RT!

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

1995/96 Cremonese home shirt

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

2 months

AC Milan and Cagliari players wearing their maternal surnames on their shirts this evening in advance of Mother’s Day tomorrow in 🇮🇹 ❤️

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

MLS first season kits - a 🧵 All the home and away jerseys from Major League Soccer’s debut season in 1996 below

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

A bit late in the day, but #PrettyPoly is out tomorrow! The last of 10 favourite shirts from my collection: 1. BVB 1996/97 cup away, like yesterday’s shirt never worn competitively

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

11 months

1996/97 TSV 1860 München home shirt

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

003 - 1.FC Köln 1994/95 home shirt #effzeh 🐐

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

Sampdoria 1990/91 home shirt - unmistakeable design and iconic sponsor , worn as I Blucerchiati won their first Scudetto.

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

4 months

So today we’re looking at CM 93/94 Italia 🇮🇹 - the first CM I played! What are your memories of this game - best players, young prospects, tactics, bugs, game features, etc? Please RT or tag any CM 🇮🇹 fans!

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

1993/94 Borussia Dortmund home shirt

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

SOME NEWS - ‘Pretty Poly’ book manuscript submitted, out in Aug! 56,000 words on the history of the football shirt, its colours, designs, brands, namesets, badges, patches, sponsors, replicas, and collectors.

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

2 months

Umbro weren’t bad at rugby league jerseys either: GB 1992/93

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 month

PRETTY POLY: THE HISTORY OF THE FOOTBALL SHIRT My book covering the shirt’s 150-year history in 224 pages now £17.85 on Amazon. More details, free sample chapter and purchase links at

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 years

📚FOOTBALL SHIRT BOOKS📚 Got a bunch of books about football shirts, thought they might be of interest to fellow kit nerds. Reviews in thread below - please add your own for books I’ve missed!👇

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

With 10 days to go until #PrettyPoly is released, I thought I’d count down with 10 favourite shirts from my collection: 10. Napoli 1994/95 home player version

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 years

#justfootballshirts

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

11 months

Outside: Inside:

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

2. West Ham United 2022/23 ECL 12 wins from 13 matches (92%)

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

11 months

WHY DO BRAZIL WEAR YELLOW? 🧵 The story of the team’s distinctive canarinho (‘little canary’) colourway involves Donald Trump and a 27-year trophy drought….

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

2 years

Real Love 💛🖤 #echteliebe #BVB #ValentinesDay

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

Eintracht Frankfurt 1993-96 away shirt, with a design based on the logo of sponsor Tetra-Pak. Beautiful embossed felt details #SGE

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

Championship Manager was called ‘L’Entraineur’ (The Coach) in 🇫🇷 and ‘Scudetto’ in 🇮🇹 - any other variations?

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 years

90s club shirts > all 🔥

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 years

🥳2000 followers post🥳 Never marked one of these before, but arrival of my personal grail 96/97 BVB European shirt this morning seemed like a good excuse! Thanks for your advice, support and interactions over past 18 months - learned so much and had a lot of fun 😘

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

2 years

Arrived in time for #WHUSGE - @eintracht_eng 1994/95 away shirt. Beautiful eMbOsSeD detailing. Joins the home shirt in the collection 🥳

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

9 months

All packed for first trip to 🇩🇪 in 4y 😰 Highlights in next 48h: - Blunch with @legg_kenny - First time meeting @steveappenowitz - BVB museum tour - BVB kit event @ Borusseum - German Football Museum tour - BVB-Bremen inc🍻 w/ @AddiBVB1909

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 month

Championship Manager 93 (1993), including data update disks

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

2 years

Alessandro Del Piero refused Juventus’ offer to retire his number 10 shirt: “I’ve really had so much that I would never want it to be retired, this way, every child can dream of wearing it one day” 🥹

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

From 1990 to 1998, Nike used a neon ‘Volt Yellow’ colour for Borussia Dortmund’s home kits. The club released a ‘Null Neon’ fourth kit in 2021 to celebrate this era #BVB

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

Valencia 1995/96 home #VCF

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

3 years

Yesterday’s 📦 - 1995/96 @rot_weiss_essen home shirt worn as RWE won promotion to 2.Bundesliga. Great version of Asics template, nice flock badge, sublimated sponsor 👌

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

2 years

🧵 on #CelticFC ’s Numberless Shirts: A 45-year cat-and-mouse tale of dodging FA/UEFA regulations 1/10

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

Four of Man Utd’s starting outfield eleven in long sleeved shirts today, none for Newcastle. Only one winner. 😉

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

The original 🌈 kit… VfL Bochum’s sponsor Faber manufactured their kits from 1997-99, basing the designs on their rainbow globe logo.

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

At the 2018 Fabric of Football event Ruud Gullit described the Netherlands 1988 as ‘the ugliest shirt I’ve ever played in’. The shirt’s designer Ina Franzmann was at the event…

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

At my 6yo’s football training and amidst all the Mbappés and Messis there’s a kid with a Flamengo shirt with ZICO 10 on the back.

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Alex Ireland

@AlexDIreland

1 year

@TomTruelove_AFC @maurice_1960 @PolitlcsUK @_AndersonStuart @thetimes I want the doctor caring for me, the teacher educating my kids and those protecting us to be able to keep a roof over their head and food on their table. This isn’t even an inflation-matching rise, even with it they will be poorer off than they were in 2022.

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