In the 1973-74 season, pioneering sportswear brand Admiral changed the British football landscape forever with the introduction and sale of the first ever replica shirt. The move sparked an explosion in football design, manufacturing and culture from the early 1970s through to the present day, a journey that in 2024 has been chronicled in a commemorative, limited edition coffee table-style book.
Blending newly commissioned photography with archive images, original design sketches and contributions from collectors, presented with Glory's hallmark approach to design, the book also features:
- Longer-form essays on notable kits and their context from some of football's best writers, including Harry Pearson, Rob Bagchi, Daniel Gray, Andi Thomas, Ian King and Ian Plenderleith;
- Contributions from famous fans including Maisie Adam, Mark & Paul Watson, James Brown and Guy Mowbray;
- Academic insight into the design, manufacturing and socially pioneering nature of shirts from Professors Jean Williams and Andrew Groves;
- Recollections from players and managers who have worn them, including Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Sue Smith, Peter Shilton, Roy Hodgson, Viv Anderson, Mark Hateley, and many more; and
- A comprehensive illustrated Admiral kit directory by designer John Devlin
Marking the first year of replica shirt sales, 1,974 individually numbered, hardback books are now on sale retailing for £50, alongside a paperback version, which can be found in Waterstones and Amazon for £30.
