Whilst for players the quality is important due to the wear and tear which quickly ruins brand new kit, fans also need something which can last a long time. They want a shirt which will at the very least last for the length of the season before a new kit is released. This makes them very important.



True fans always believe in taking their loyalty to the team to its very limits which is why they are so important to them. It is a sign of respect for their club, as well as a sign of their continued unwavering support, that they only wear the best quality shirts that money can buy.

Football shirts are a huge industry, making massive sums of money for the top teams. However, cheap replica kits are often easy to find. The problem with such cheap goods is that they don't last long, and simply don't look as good as the true article. A true fan wouldn't want a shirt that didn't really show off his loyalty to the team, and therefore it is much more commonplace to find people spending huge amounts of money on the official branded merchandise of their favourite team. A standard shirt can cost in the region of forty to fifty pounds to purchase, but if a player's name and number are also on the shirt this can cost an extra fifteen pounds. These kits are expensive, but they are quality ones, which makes the price more acceptable.

For many people it is a matter of pride to have official kits of top quality, and to serious fans it's a matter of dedication and paying homage to the player that they most respect and admire by having his name and number across the back of the shirt.

With some of the largest football clubs, Manchester United being a prime example, aggressive marketing campaigns are used to drive sales of new kits. Not only is a new kit released each season in both home and away colours, but it is commonplace for special edition shirts to be released to commemorate special events and so on. Top quality football shirts like these cost a lot of money, but they mean something special to the enthusiasts who buy them.

Whilst they can be bought in high street stores, it is also possible to purchase them online. This is often more convenient for those who find they do not have the time to go to the shops. Usually online shops allow their products to be sorted by team, nationality, and player name, which enables you to quickly find the kit that you want. However, some websites sell poor quality replicas, so it's important to make sure you are buying a quality football shirt and not a cheap and low quality version. Although prices are high, the quality of an official shirt makes it well worth the cost.