Controversy around replica shirts is nothing new. But the disagreements tend to revolve around the price of said item of man-made fibre apparel and not around the principle of wearing it..

I for one am always amazed about fans' willingness to wear a luridly coloured, sponsor’s logo emblazoned shirt away from the football ground whilst shopping, waiting at the airport to go on holiday or out for drink in the pub. In fact, I wouldn’t even want to wear one inside Fortress Portman Road

I feel that having one of the most expensive season tickets in the Championship is enough of my money taken out of my pocket without any need for me to feel guilty about not spending more in the club shop. Sure, I have a Bobby Robson Foundation scarf which comes in handy to keep me warm on a freezing January Tuesday night at Portman Road but that’s for practical reasons and in aid of a good charitable cause.

I spend quite a lot of my time in the North West for work. It seems that football club shirt wearing levels in daily life are even higher there. Walk down any High Street in Merseyside or Lancashire and you’ll find large numbers of often very large blokes wearing a brightly coloured football shirt showing off their fine physique to best advantage. Believe it or not, I have even seen wedding guests and mourners at funerals dressed in football shirts.

So clearly, being identifiable as a supporter of a particular club at all times, is to do with identity and a sense of belonging rather than with fashion or value for money in nylon leisure wear. Or trying to make people think you’re a new signing and your Ferrari is parked just round the corner.

Wearing the shirt is part of who people are even away from football. Maybe it is the lack of other ways of feeling a sense of belonging in society that makes people do it. Not for me though whatever the price, thanks very much; I’ll stick to a sensible 'plain clothes' Primark number.

Vexorg added 15:48 - Oct 21 What's your point?
0

Uttlesford_ITFC added 15:51 - Oct 21 It wasn't that way back in the 1930s you know..... I buy the shirts because I wear them at football training, and at the ground. I sometimes where them out but not often.
0

J2BLUE added 17:51 - Oct 21 Seriously, do people just want to see their name in print? Don't think i've seen more than 2-3 decent blogs. This was a waste of time no offende.
0

BasingstokeBranch added 23:24 - Oct 21 Not sure what point you're trying to make here old chap. Fat blokes shouldn't wear football shirts? No-one should unless at the match? I live on the London/Essex border and very much enjoy the inevitable 'not many Tractor Boys around here' chats that wearing club colours regularly brings my way. Though I do favour polo shirts etc over replica shirts.
0

Back_The_Boss added 07:20 - Oct 22 I didn't understand that really. What point were you trying to put up for discussion?
0

traktorbojz added 10:56 - Oct 22 "J2BLUE added 17:51 - Oct 21 Seriously, do people just want to see their name in print? Don't think i've seen more than 2-3 decent blogs. This was a waste of time no offende." well go on then ! butt eye wood lern two spel furst if i was u
0

SouperJim added 13:30 - Oct 26 Ah yes, the old "u carnt spel" arguement so eloquently put across by "traktorbojz" there upon spotting a typo. Classic stuff. I think Hailbeats is trying to question why people feel the need to spend so much on what is such an eyesore of a piece of clothing (if you take it out of context). Seemed quite straightforward to me. I do buy the home shirt, but I rarely wear it other than at Portman Road on a warm day. I think I just buy them out of habit really.

0

poggie added 19:56 - Oct 26 I always buy a home shirt (and I'm female by the way). In the late 90s I wore it practically everywhere I went, was so proud to be an Ipswich fan. I remember bumping into a couple from Ipswich when i was up in Newcastle once. It's an allegiance thing I think ... letting people know who your team is can quite often start a conversation ... or more likely these days, make people laugh!!

0

WeWereZombies added 14:09 - Nov 25 Good blog - Michael Parkinson made exactly the same point about Barnsley supporters maybe twenty years ago. It just makes a supporter look like a deluded sheep who will get herded up to follow anything.
0

Blogs 297 bloggers