As part of our ongoing collaboration with Football Finery, a trusted source for 100% authentic vintage football shirts, we are delighted to welcome Zekey, who shares his growing shirt collection on Instagram at @Freshshirtsuk, offering a look into his collecting journey.
Let’s start at the beginning. Do you remember your first football shirt?
It's hard to say for sure, but I had a fair few Norwich City and England shirts as a child, which must have been the first ones I started getting. I also had a 2007/08 Roma home shirt, as well as a 2007/08 LA Galaxy home shirt. I have really strong memories of those two, so they must have been really early ones as well.
What do football shirts mean to you?
Football shirts to me, are a way to spark conversation, to reignite a football memory, or to add an extra layer of love to my passion for football. That's what it's all about.
What is it that makes a football shirt so special?
A shirt that is special is one that you can just simply look at and and memories comes pouring back. Now a shirt that can do that and evoke memories and emotion just by looking at it.......well, that's a very special shirt indeed.
What is your favourite era of shirts?
It has to be 90s for sure, right?
How many shirts do you have in your collection?
I think I must have around 170 shirts. Some notable ones are my Borussia Dortmund 1995/96 away shirt in long sleeved. And in terms of Norwich City shirts I have the 1992/94 home shirt and the Norwich City 1993/94 UEFA Cup third shirt, which I couldn't leave out!
170 shirts is incredible. When did your collection stop being just a few shirts and turn into a serious passion? Was there a moment when you thought, right, I am actually a collector now?
I’d say August 2020 was when I first saw myself as a football shirt collector. I had 40/50 shirts already but a lot of them were fakes I wore playing football. I saw a large community on Twitter and Instagram and I got hooked immediately. I got rid of all my fakes and I haven’t looked back since!
Your collection seems to be a mix of nostalgic shirts, aesthetic favourites, and shirts of historical importance. Can you give us your favourite from each of these categories within your collection and tell us why?
Nostalgic (for me)- Norwich 09/10 home, when we won league 1. It was the first season I really remember enjoying football, and what a season it was!
Aesthetic- Dortmund 94/95 away long sleeved. A rare 90s beauty, with so much detail in the material. It helps that it’s longsleeved too.
Historical- Norwich 92-94 home. I wasn’t born, but we came third in the inaugural premier league, then did well in the UEFA Cup the season after.
For many collectors, some shirts come and go while others stay for decades, and sometimes great items are sold to fund another. Is there a shirt you regret selling or letting go? And has there ever been a shirt you searched for over many years before finally finding it?
One I regret selling is the Atletico Madrid 17/18 third (with Griezmann on the back). I sold it because I wanted the authentic version. I found it a couple of years later, and in longsleeved, but it wasn’t the right size, so I sold it again and haven’t found it since!
I’ve not been able to buy any shirts that have been on my list for a long time, but maybe I’ve not looked hard enough! I’m also very specific in that it must be the correct size/condition.
Where do you usually find your shirts? Online stores like Football Finery, in-person, mystery boxes, or marketplaces? And can you share any tips on how to find great football shirts at great prices?
I find my shirts all over the place! Football Finery, Kitbag, CFS, plus many more independent places like 1KloppShop, EHRetro, Granny’s Football Store, and others that sadly no longer exist. EBay, vinted, depop and Facebook marketplace are fantastic for finding bargains, but it’s not as easy nowadays! One tip I’d have is make a list and look solely for those shirts. Set a budget and try not to go over it!
Prices of football shirts have skyrocketed over the past 10 years, for both vintage items and new releases. Do you ever buy shirts specifically because you feel they are undervalued and likely to increase in value over time? If so, what is the best deal you have ever found?
I don’t have the patience to buy shirts and hope they go up in value really. If you wait long enough, it does happen over time though. I guess the best deal would be my Dortmund 94-95 away for £150 (the cost of a new shirt nowadays pretty much!), when it’s worth a lot more.
Platforms like X, Facebook, and Instagram have helped grow the global interest in football shirts and made connecting with other collectors easier than ever. How important is the football shirt community to your collecting experience?
The football shirt community is one of the most important aspects of collecting. Seeing the joy others get from finding a gem, or from seeing you find a gem, is special. Being able to chat to likeminded people about your hobby makes it all even more enjoyable.
Your Instagram feed shows how your love of football shirts and photography comes together, especially when you travel. What inspires the way you photograph and present your shirts online?
In life, I have a lot of hobbies and interests, including photography, plants, animals, and travel, so I love to incorporate all of it on my social media. I like using Instagram as a place to show my personality. I love to be creative, and constantly find new ways to embrace that creative spark.
What advice would you give to new collectors starting out in today’s football shirt scene, where nostalgia is booming, prices are rising, and there are more fakes than ever before?
Advice I’d always give to new collectors is collect what YOU want to collect. Don’t let others dictate what you should and shouldn’t like. Try not to get drawn into the hype/FOMO, and shop around! There are lots of independent sellers who do a fantastic job in getting you the best shirts at the best prices. Finally, most shirts will pop up again, or get reduced. So, if you’re not 100% sure, maybe wait and have a think first before buying a shirt.
You also create these brilliant Hama bead football shirts, which feel like physical versions of the illustrations from 8bit-Football that were popular a few years ago. They could be collectibles in their own right. What first inspired you to start making them?
I found something I made when I was young when moving house. The nostalgia came flooding back, and it gave me an idea- to see if I could make anything football-related out of hama beads. So I bought some beads and a square board and experimented. What I love about them is they’re always unique, and there’s no one way to create it. I have to spend time working out what works best for the particular shirt/design. It’s also very therapeutic! (But fiddly…)
Let’s talk about the future. Where do you see your collection heading in the next few years? Are you planning to focus on certain clubs, eras, or themes? And are there any specific shirts you are hoping to add in the near future? Finally, what is your ultimate shirt, the one at the top of your wishlist?
I’m trying to complete the Norwich City 1990-current set, getting every home, away, third, and special shirt. The difficult part is buying the shirts in a wearable size, and, if it’s a modern shirt, with a nameset on the back. The problem is, every year there are another 3/4 shirts to buy! The shirt I’d LOVE to own is the Norwich 1990/91 away. However, to get this in a good size and good condition I’d be very lucky.
Be sure to follow Zekey on Instagram, and on X and, of course visit Football Finery for 100% authentic vintage football shirts and football-inspired fashion, apparel & artwork.
