My Favourite Shirt(s)


By Jonny_C
November 28 2022

I first started coming to London Irish games in 2000 at the Madejski, which was a good choice. Had always been into watching the sport on telly, remembering the red shirted players of Wales in the 1970s Five Nations. Then me and my mates started watch the 5/6 Nations in the Orange Tree in Richmond as tickets were hard to come by.

Living in Arborfield at the time, it was an easy journey to Reading, no brainer as they say.
Here are some memories of my favourite London Irish shirts.

 

Aer Lingus Shirt

Aer Lingus
My first supporter seasons, I knew we played in green shirts, but somehow managed to buy the black training shirt! It has a long travel history, Reading, Valladolid, Twickenham Powergen Cup Final, Hong Kong Sevens 2005, Melbourne Commonwealth Sevens 2005. And it's made from cotton.

Guinness Shirt


Guinness
I passed over the MG Rover and Citijet shirts, Guinness is more appropriate I think. This has watched some fierce Heineken Cup matches, Tolouse home and away, do remember getting stuck in a bar with some senior citizens miles from the hotel at 3AM with no taxis around and had to force our way back into the bar to cadge a lift.
Bad games in Newport 2002 and Murrayfield 2003.

Lightning Flash Shirt



Lightning Flash
This was just an eBay flash in the pan impulsive purchase. I've tried it on, but a Small size even in polyester doesn't quite have enough "give" for me to wear it.

Waikato Chiefs Shirt



Waikato Chiefs
This was not a smart purchase. I was in Auckland visiting family at the time, and heard Tom Coventry was our new coach, so in his honour I bought this Waikatio Chiefs polo shirt. It now spends most of the time at the bottom of my t-shirt drawer.

Powerday Shirt



Powerday
My children bought this as a Christmas present, and it's the first non-cotton shirt that I've worn. And it's large enough to wear a cotton t-shirt underneath, so I'm happy. Due to work and family commitments I've not been to many matches recently, a few games in the Championship (Richmond and Ealing). But this has been to one great match last season. Irish vs Wasps at Brentford on 1st May 2022. An exiting first match for me at the GTech. 42 - 42. Not sure of my emotions, happy/sad/bemused. But Harry Arundell didn't half make an impact that day.


Thanks to Haircut 100 for the title.

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My Favourite Shirt(s)
Discussion started by The Craic www.londonirish.org , 28/11/2022 08:43
The Craic www.londonirish.org
28/11/2022 08:43
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Somerset1
28/11/2022 11:15
Canterbury Guinness shirts all the way.
Wish we'd go back to Canterbury. Nobody makes shirts like them. Class

Jonny_C
28/11/2022 11:35
Apologies, I should have shown my iron to the shirts !

bigbitty
28/11/2022 15:00
I bought what was probably the worst LI shirt - the unlamented Llanera.

Somerset1
28/11/2022 18:03
I've got a couple of Llaneras.
Makes you appreciate Canterbury all the more

Lazyboy346
28/11/2022 18:17
Brillaint article, nice to see the variety others have. I started with the City jet one (grew too fast for previous ones to be worth it) and it still fits, if a bit washed out and frayed.

Made the mistake of getting the green and balck stripped Heineken Cup one when we got smashed by Edinburgh - it shrank lopsidedly after the first wash and the sponsor patches for the car companies are solid on the arms so it wasn't comfortable. Stuck it in a drawer when we got relegated and just bought the next good strip, which was our second Championship away one.

irishman679
28/11/2022 20:32
@Jonny what size is the flash shirt? If it's my size would you be willing to sell it.

I played in those shirts when I was in U7-U10s ish been looking for one for a while. No worries if not

Jonny_C
29/11/2022 17:44
Hello Irishman679,
The “Flash Shirt” size is small.
I’ve tried it on and it was very snug. My other shirts are large.

LI Bohemian
29/11/2022 18:35
Put your favourite shirt on your bed
And do somersault on your head

Steelman
29/11/2022 19:22
Great post Johnny, my favourite shirt was the Guinness, black and cream cotton long sleeve, size stout, mid 1990s. Wore it to a rag and then I thought perhaps I could showcase the white and green hoops shirt 2015 ish, but it was badly taiIored and gave the impression that I was overweight! Had to pass it onto my son …oh who had worn the lightning shirt on Sundays
At Sunbury.

APigUnderEachArm
29/11/2022 20:01
The weird thing about rugby shirts for me is that I find the well made ones really comfortable but I rarely wear them because they are also crimes against fashion.

irishman679
29/11/2022 22:47
Quote:
Jonny_C
Hello Irishman679,
The “Flash Shirt” size is small.
I’ve tried it on and it was very snug. My other shirts are large.

Thanks Jonny unfortunately a small wouldn't get round my big old belly these days smiling smiley thanks for replying.

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