By James Bailey
The start of the 2006/2007 season and as a diehard Spurs fan I queue up in the Spurs Megastore ahead of the preseason friendly versus Inter Milan. In my hand, among other THFC patented merchandise, is folded my chosen shirt for the upcoming season.
Not the white home kit, not even the blue away but my daring decision is to chose the "chocolate" coloured 3rd choice shirt- the limited edition top. It was the release day of this, apparently scarce, Puma/Mansion shirt. The gold outline upon the chocolate, symbolising and cherishing the past golden days and optimistic of Spurs’ hunt for success in the next season.
That feeling inside of buying a brand new shirt is one of magic but the sensation is even stronger when it is the first day on sale. After splashing out a mammoth £40, which as a football fan you often have to explain to others that it is worth the astronomical price, I placed the top over my head. Walking into the "home of football" I felt proud to be wearing my shirt.
That sentiment only lasted approximately 3 weeks. After a few washes my ultra-rare shirt died. Not only did the Puma logo rapidly wear off but similarly following was the treasured cockerel emblem. Today my shirt sits among my other aged football memorabilia, now just known as the "Mansion Shirt" as that logo is the only printing remaining upon the chocolate background.
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