Classic Football Shirts: The Manchester-brand revolutionising the sports fashion industry
Classic Football Shirts owns the most diverse, exciting and prestigious collections of sports jerseys available anywhere in the city - offering people the chance to get their hands on special strips from years gone by.
There’s a shop on Deansgate that’s a mecca for football memorabilia.
It’s called Classic Football Shirts – and it’s the proud owner of the most diverse, exciting and prestigious collection of sports clothing available anywhere in the city.
Fully-stocked with hundred of special strips, Classic Football Shirts (CFS) is a big deal for sports fans in Mancunia – having earned its status as a trusted, leading stockist of vintage jerseys you simply can’t find anywhere else.
It’s a proud addition to our city. And it was all set up by two Manchester students.
Doug and Matt were both studying Business at Manchester Metropolitan University when they recognised the gap in the football merchandise market.
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One of the students had been selling items on eBay to make some much-needed money during university, whilst the other has been hunting for an original Germany 1990 shirt ahead of the 2006 World Cup.
Eyeing an opportunity to work together, the pair aimed to build up a small collection of shirts from all the major football clubs.
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Fast-forward to 2020 and Classic Football Shirts have worked with almost every major brand and team in the last 10 years – stocking over 30,000 individual items.
CFS have two stores in Britain: one in London and the other in Barton Arcade, down the road from where it all began.
“Football is definitely a huge part of Manchester’s culture and this is where it all started for Classic Football Shirts; the city is definitely at the heart of the business,” say CFS.
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“A football jersey is the voice that represents a city, neighbourhood, an identity and a way of life… the combination of crest and colours unites fans across the globe.”
CFS recognise the sense of pride and belonging that comes with football strips; and their aim has been to make vintage, authentic jerseys more accessible.
“You see the shirt, you remember the moment,” said CFS.
“It gives you a brief second of the initial rush all over again. We have had people walk into our warehouse and burst into tears because it takes them to a special place”.
CFS have a team dedicated to sourcing different shirts – from classic jerseys to super-rare strips.
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The items aren’t just aimed at dedicated collectors, either. CFS emphasise how there is no right or wrong way to wear a shirt, and there’s something for everyone in their store.
“Our customers range from fanatical shirt collectors to general football fans to someone who just wants a shirt to play in,” they explained.
“The shirts have different uses and have a different meaning to each individual which makes them much more special.”
As for the future of their brand, the team are confident that it won’t be stopping any time soon.
With football destined to remain close to peoples’ hearts, even during a pandemic, there’ll always be new shirts to acquire and fans to satisfy.
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“There have been many monumental moments in the early 2000s that shirts that were once new to us, are now considered classics,” CFS tell us.
“The industry continues to grow and isn’t showing signs of slowing down.”
Shop Classic Football Shirts’ extensive collection in their Barton Arcade store, or check out their website for the latest online deals.
Sport
Super League ‘Rivals Round’ fixtures confirmed, with two big North West clashes
Danny Jones
The Betfred Super League (BSL) ‘Rivals Round’ games for 2026 have been confirmed, with two big regional clashes coming in time for the spring.
Returning for 2026, the annual meeting of multiple teams coming up against their fiercest and most historic rivals will land on round seven of the calendar over the traditional Easter weekend.
Despite the competition having sadly lost Salford Red Devils following their forced relegation, local rugby fans will still be glad to see the borough of Wigan, as well as neighbouring Cheshire and nearby Merseyside clubs, coming up against each other in what is a highly anticipated fixture on the calendar.
Announcing the now fully confirmed matches this week, the total of seven matches are set to be played between Friday, 3 April and the following Sunday, 5 April.
In the Super League’s own words, there are few gameweeks more box office than the Rivals Round – “where the games mean more, hit harder and have the ability to divide towns and families.”
After the inaugural edition of the modern round in 2021, this year saw the division record a best-ever attendance of 86,080 across a six-match period, and with an extra game being played next season, we’re expecting more ground to be broken.
“The most intense and historic rivalries will go head-to-head with huge crowds anticipated, emotions running high and everyone expected to bring their A game”, say the BSL.
Huddersfield Giants v York Knights – Saturday, 4 April
Castleford Tigers v Wakefield Trinity – Sunday, 5 April
One of the most notable exclusions among the slate, of course, is that of Salford Red Devils, as various players and staff members continue to leave the club during this increasingly concerning and deep period of uncertainty.
Salford supporters have given a clear response following the decisive drop in IMG gradings:
Although they are now longer in rugby league’s premier domestic tier, Salford are still expected to take part in the Challenge Cup tournament, which begins in January.
Betfred and the RFL revealed the most recent ties on Monday, 24 November, with the Devils due to face either Royal Navy Rugby or Hammersmith Hills Hoists in the second round.
Meanwhile, with the new campaign kicking off in February, rugby fans will only have to wait a couple of months to witness the upcoming instalments in the various rivalries.
Safe to say it’s going to be a spicy Easter break.
Pep Guardiola admits heavily rotated squad was ‘too much’ after landmark home loss
Danny Jones
Pep Guardiola has conceded that his heavily rotated side, which saw almost an entirely different team from the previous matchday squad, may have been “too many changes” as Manchester City suffered their first home loss in the Champions League group stages in more than seven years.
Man City suffered a 2-0 defeat whilst hosting Bayer Leverkusen at the Etihad Stadium – a place that has been largely a fortress in European fixtures since the Catalan coach arrived – but the biggest headline on the night was the whopping 10 personnel changes Guardiola made to his starting XI.
It has been argued that Pep has become overly reliant on star striker Erling Haaland (who has already scored 19 goals in the Premier League and UCL combined this season), and the virtually ‘start-from-scratch’ outfit he fielded on Tuesday night definitely didn’t do him any favours.
Speaking to various media in post-match interviews and the press conference after the game, Pep admitted that his wholesale rotation gamble may have been “too much.”
"Maybe it was too much…"
Pep Guardiola reflected on Man City's home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen after making 10 changes 🔁 pic.twitter.com/WBZHwl3ZOb
Considering the only continuity between the batch that faced Leverkusen and the previous squad that narrowly lost to Newcastle United was the still relatively new CDM, Nico González, we think he might be on to something.
In fact, as if the conviction behind the decision wasn’t already questionable enough, Pep insisted before the game that he would have made more if he could, but with fellow central midfielder talisman Rodri still injured, the number 14 was the sole teammate who remained from the weekend.
There are always going to be lapses in sharpness and fluidity when a lineup is shuffled, but it’s fair to say that it’s almost guaranteed when you remove every individual bar one.
Perhaps this was a somewhat covert/loaded attempt to shine a light again on previously mentioned complaints regarding squad depth in relation to the increasingly congested fixture list, with both Guardiola and the aforementioned Euro 2020 winner having flagged their concerns about the calendar.
This is also the second time in just a matter of days that the 54-year-old has held his hands up and taken accountability for making “huge mistakes”.
Not only was it City’s first Champions League loss of the season, but as mentioned, the first and at home in the competition’s initial stages in more than half a decade.
It’s quite a record that Pep has clung onto, which should get plenty of recognition in its own right, but supporters will nevertheless be hoping to get back to winning ways soon and avoid stringing together any more consecutive losses.
Last November was the first time Guardiola had ever lost four matches in a row during his entire career, and with a trio of very winnable fixtures coming up in the league, we would bank on a big reaction in the next game against Leeds.
If you missed the game, you can watch the highlights from Man City vs Bayer Leverkusen down below.
Daisy Bradbury -
9th October 2020 
