I’ve probably got as much previous as the rest of us for sometimes sitting on that wooden garden dividing boundary, but not this time.
I simply luurve the new home kit and I will be buying our new shirt quite early this very Monday morning from Fan Hub in the City while I hope you good MFW readers are giving us a look-in.
Normally, I purchase a shirt every two years but in this case, I’m going to make an exception. This isn’t Marmite – you surely have to like it. Mrs P is a bit of a low-key fashionista and also an artist. She knows what she likes and agrees with me that it’s the best kit we’ve produced in ages.
Okay, it’s not Adidas but it’s certainly Errea’s finest to date and I can’t wait to see what the second and third strips will look like. We don’t have to tarry long now in order to find that out of course.
My first City shirts were bought when I moved to Norfolk permanently in the late 1980s. The classic Asics with the green diagonals on them, both yellow [home] and white [away]. I steadily acquired more and more stuff over the years including the infamous “satin feel” black tracky with the yellow and green Vs on the front of the top and, you’ve guessed it, the egg and cress/bird poo shirt of the first Mike Walker era.
And so many, many more.
However, a house move meant off-loading stuff or “decluttering” as Mrs P would call it. Therefore the whole lot [apart from a couple of N&P logo keeper tops which I needed to keep to play in myself] went on eBay complete with five seasons-worth of programmes in those ridiculous old green plastic folders sold by the Club at the time.
A newsagent in Costessey gave me what I thought was a fair price so I delivered everything to him and shed a bit of a tear at the point of exchange. Retro shirts didn’t have a cult following at the dawn of the Millennium and when I see what price a couple of them are up for sale for these days it makes me cringe.
Of course, the Worthy promotion season led me to buy more – the yellow Proton one and the much cooler dark green Lotus away version. The trouble with those particular creations was that my usual standard size *L* was like *XXL*, especially regarding the sleeves. I ended up giving these to “Frank the Yank” and Kim P in Coltishall relatively recently who are both much larger lads than myself.
But I didn’t impart these gifts before Delia had vandalised that particular home top.
I had a bet with some NCFC friends that I’d have the club crest tattooed on my chest if we got promoted and obviously we did, so I honoured the bet. In the days of Delia’s walkabouts, my mate Keith’s daughter Jen pulled my top up in the Upper Barclay bar and said to Delia: Look at this!”
After a faux horror reaction our joint majority shareholder pulled said shirt down and uninvitedly autographed “love from Delia” in indelible black marker on it. Jen thought it hilarious but I was miffed as I thought the whole episode a little unwarrented. The signature had nearly washed out by the time I gave Frank the shirt.
And now dear MFW readers I need your help.
After our fantastic win over Chelsea in the two-legged FA Youth Cup final back in 2013, NCFC kindly donated much of that squad’s black training kit to the NANSA charity shop on Aylsham Road plus a few other bits and bobs. Mrs P and I have friends who worked there at the time and they said when they’d priced it up they’d let us know and we could go along for first dibs – unless somebody else beat us to it!
NANSA had a blind raffle for Hucks’ lightweight training jacket and I think they got well over £100 for it.
Anyway I emerged with Ricky Martin’s jacket – just like Hucks’ but with different initials. It accompanied me to every home game until the zip finally gave up the ghost last year. Best £7.50 I’ve ever spent.
I also purchased Neil Adams’ training top, James Vaughan’s training shirt and… don’t laugh… Darren Huckerby’s shorts. Probably a fiver for the lot and real quality stuff that’s stood the test of time. I still sometimes wear the DH [no #6] shorts on the beach to this very day.
But here [at last] is my plea for help.
We also bought a long-sleeved training top with the initials SR on it which are still in reality Mrs P’s as we’re not legally married.
Can anybody out there identify the mysterious SR from 2013 cos I sure bl00dy can’t and I’ve certainly tried even if only out of curiosity. And I never realised Alice Cooper played for us but an inset picture never lies.
I’d love to hear of your own kit experiences too if you’d care to share them. The experiences, not the kit.
I’ve got far too much of that already.
Morning, Martin. Lovely article, cracking photo and some good memories of kits from yesteryear.
Whilst I think the kit is certainly classic in its look, and I do tend to prefer shirts with little to no green, I simply loved our promotion season (2018/19) top and, for me, that’s simply the best we’ve produced, a stunner. So I was secretly hoping for something a bit more left field.
As for SR. I’m afraid, I can only offer;
SB (Bassong) – has the washing machine created a mystery? 😂
Or RS (Snodgrass) – but got the letters muddled.
Straw clutching at best.
Either that, or a member of the public put their own initials on it and then tried to pass it off as squad kit? I hope someone on here can solve the mystery for you.
I’ll leave you with this clip, it couldn’t be left out with all this nostalgia for 2011/12. How is this almost ten years old….
https://youtu.be/e_RPeeOon_A
Hi Martin
I’d forgotten just how good that video was!
If anyone hasn’t seen it please give it a look 😉
Sue assures me the jacquard effect on the new issue will give it a subtle vertical stripe.
Me? I just think it’s cool.
Cheers
That video is just genius.
Fantastic time to be a NCFC Supporter.
Hi DP3
Thanks to Martin MacB for reminding us of it.
Things were rocking in those days – right now Lambert would get a littering fine for slinging the Italian sports newspaper on the floor, even in fun and quickly to be picked up by a member of the video team afterwards – I am sure.
Cheers
Sorry, no idea on the SR mystery-it was a toothpaste at one time.
I have a colleague who is a WBA fan but collects football shirts and says the egg and cress shirt is worth £175.00-I can’t imagine who would pay such a price, but I have the shirt. My favourite was the green Lotus shirt but mine has gone missing. I love the new shirt but will wait for numbers 2 & 3 to be launched before deciding which to buy. I take a juvenile joy in wearing a Norwich top when I go for run making sure I pass Molineaux!
Hi Don
Yes I’ve seen that exact price quoted too. Unbelievable but true. Oh well I didn’t know at the time as they say. Maybe you’re right about waiting for versions two and three to appear before picking one. I’ll consider that on my way up the City shortly.
I like your spirit in running past Molineaux in colours. Let’s hope you never need to unexpectedly speed up one day 🙂
Cheers
When I say ‘run’ I mean ‘plod’ – speed is not an option.
It would be for me with half a dozen angry Wolvers behind me!
They’re puppies. Lovely and cuddly.
I can only find two name that fit the SR description which would be Sean Raggett and Simon Ratcliffe if that helps. Ratcliffe joined NR1 in 1987 when he would have been 20 years of age…so depending on the vintage of the training top, that would fit the bill if we had U23’s back then.
Thanks Gordon
It doesn’t look like either Raggett or Ratcliffe were with us around 2012/13 but thanks for taking the trouble.
The plot thickens…..
My wife ought me the Proton shirt for my 60th birthday, with 60 on the back, of course. I think she thought it was funny! I would rather have had the green Lotus one, which was much cooler.
Two of my grandchildren bought me a covid mask in the egg and cress (I always called it the “seagull 5hit” one) livery as part of my birthday present this year. I hope they didn’t have to pay a pro-rata price based on the £175!
Hi Jim
My friend Keith’s mischievous daughter did the same for him last year with “King 80” on the back. He wears it with absolute pride – in Spring and Summer anyway.
My covid mask [which I’ve only really started using since the new rules in shops & banks were introduced] was made by Mrs P out of one of my old chef’s aprons and a couple of bits of elastic. It’s the only time I’ll ever wear blue and white in my life but at least it’s indigo and not THAT blue.
Depends where your grandkids got yours from – as a guide ACN were doing them for around a tenner a short while ago I think.
Thanks as always.
Hi Martin
I have only had a few kits but back in 1994 my mum and sisters got me the Tartan affect Blue home and Green away kit never got a lot of use out of them and buy the end of the season I donated them to a workmate in Escravos Nigeria a local lad who for some unknown reason knew of our club and at the same time gave all my kids Spurs and England tops to him for his kids
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay safe and stay healthy
Hi Alex
Yes I remember the tartan ones you refer to quite well.
Football is massive everywhere but Nigeria is a real hotspot. When I had my teeth out the anaesthetist was from just outside of Lagos and a Liverpool fan.
I think the last words we exchanged before the op were concerning which of us admired Mo Salah the most. I think it was Charlezzzzzzzzzz
Martin
Opinion on todays rumours please.
1 Oliver Skipp on loan from Spurs
2 Villareal LB to City on loan with permanent move if promoted
3 Lewis to Leicester for £18m plus extras
To me Oliver Skipp could be a good loan but in reality no experience of championship football so could be blown away by the physical side of this league.
Do we really need another LB we have Heise, Macullum, and Bryam if he gets fit so the jury is out on this one.
Lewis this could be tricky after Webber states £20m is the starting point so will he or would he accept slightly less with big add ons with a 15/20% sell on clause
Only time will tell on these but with breaking news Joe Hart to Spurs now that does seem strange
Hi again
I love being put on the spot!
I would imagine our Ben’s podcast at the top of the MFW home page could throw a lot more light on Oliver Skipp than I could. The one I’d like from Spurs would be Carter-Vickers who I think we’ve briefly discussed before.
The Villareal lad seems possible. He was apparently in the Barca academy for some time but, and I eight to say it, is that such a good recommendation just now?
Couse it is, but I too am a little confused as I thought Sam McCallum was brought in as a direct replacement for Jamal. Would you leave Villareal to fight for a Championship LB berth? Yet another wait and see for me.
I can see the logic of Jamal to Leicester I really can and that sounds the most likely of the three to me – and would also open the door to the lad from Villareal.
Joe Hart to Spurs? Unlikely but I’ve not had the time to check out the rumours today so I’ve no idea how much weight is in that one.
Shame about the cricket.
Cheers mate
Well everyone and his dog are saying Skipp has had his medical at Colney today and my sons are saying a great loan for us, I prefer it as a great loan for Spurs to get him some playing time.
Newsnow gave said Hart has taken a large cut from his £50k aweek at Burnley to join Spurs for 2 seasons.
Vickers-Carter so I read a few days ago was offered to city to help reduce Aaron’s fee so it is going to be a long window
I completely forgot that Skipp played against us in the FA Cup last season. Yet another one of my failed attempts to get to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – don’t ask!
‘Bout time I got off the cricket and had a look at a rumour or two!
Well todays was a waste of time so let’s hope we can watch 5 days of cricket starting Friday as long as there is no Rain lol
Martin both links below for transfers
We are paying lots for Skipp not sure it is money well spent
http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/1043250336?-19389:793
http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/1043254095?-19389:793
One of my Spurs friends reckons Skipp is a very good signing for us. I doubt he’s come to sit on the bench though, not sure Jose would have sanctioned that.
I’m puzzled by the LB situation. But if he’s that good and available, maybe some earlier plans will have to be revised.
Jamal to Leicester makes a lot of sense, in fact I even predicted it on here some time ago.
As I said to Alex [above] I can certainly see the logic of Jamal to Leicester.
But I didn’t predict it as early as you cos I was convinced he’d go to Liverpool.
I’m generally cr@p when it comes to speculation and rumour.
Marty
we did release a lad called Ramil Sherrif in 2013 he was a development player. A centre back.
might have been him
ps hes a jamaican international 1 cap
Hi Bernie
Thanks for that – close but obviously no cigar. We’ll never know unless I contact the Club and they’ve got much more important matters to address just now.
I can’t recall Sherrif at all but the initials would still be the wrong way round!
Now I know why I woke up to that Clapton vid in my inbox this morning!