Football kits for sale!

Hello all. Several of you know that I'm a bit of a football shirt nerd. I've got two rather large boxes containing some of the jerseys I've picked up on my travels.

To that end, I've started the clearout. Some of these still have tags on, some have only been worn once or twice. More are likely to follow... Got a few Finland and Finnish club shirts with I’m trying to decide what to do with.

If you buy two or more shirts, you can have a 10% discount for both. If you do make an offer, I'll show it as reserved on here. Once payment is received, I'll remove it. Let me know by emailing escapetosuomi AT gmail DOT com. I can email more detail photographs on request. Payment by Paypal or bank transfer. £4 postage UK, £6 EU for one item. If you’re in Central or SW London, we can sort in person

Adidas Originals Boca Juniors tracksuit top - £70

Brand new with tags, bought autumn 2021

Ireland “1990s” retro 1/2 zip retro top - Umbro £70

1990s retro range by Umbro/FAI, brand new with tags

Villarreal 2010/11 - Puma £35

Medium. Brand new with tags.

 

Italy 2012 - Puma £25

Large. Worn twice. No damage.

 

Croatia player issue away 2010/12 - Nike £40

Large (slim fitting). Worn once, no damage. Bought from Classic Football Shirts. Ventilation holes on sides.

 


Universitario (Peru) 2013 - Umbro £20

Medium. Worn a few times. Good condition.

 

Celtic training shirt 2012/13 - Nike £25

Medium. Brand new with tags.

 

Belgium away 2016 - Adidas £45

Large. Worn once, excellent condition.

 

Fiorentina 2015 - Le Coq Sportif £40

Medium. Worn twice. Very good conditon.

AS Saint-Etienne retro - Le Coq Sportif £90

Medium. Brand new with tags. Reproduction from 2015 based on 1970s design. Bought from Le Coq Sportif.

 


Anderlecht 2014/15 - Adidas £45

Medium. Brand new with tags.

O'Higgins home 2014/15 - Diadora £40

Medium. Unworn. With champions 2013 embroidery.

 


England away 1994/95 - Umbro £40

Extra large. Some bobbles throughout, fading to collar. Small tear (1cm) on left shoulder.

Introducing Roihuvuoren Ruisku

Back in 2015, I did some promotional work for a club based in the Helsinki fourth tier (division three, Kolmonen), with a small sponsorship and I went to watch a match while on holiday there. Atletico Malmi had a good season, it was great to be involved and added to my football shirt collection! 

This year, I'll be doing a similar project again. This time, it is with another side from the capital, Ruisku, who play in the sixth tier (division five, Vitonen).

Ruisku (Finnish for syringe) were formed in 1998, based in East Helsinki. In 2009, with the club set to fold, a group of British and Irish ex-pats took over, keeping some of the original players and providing organised football and more to new arrivals to Helsinki. The logo is based around the Roihuvuori water tower, a major landmark nearby.

Player-manager Gav Martin told me that as an amateur club, the main objective is to keep the club alive by finding new players to fulfil fixtures. "Second is to have fun and socialise, third is winning". 

2017 saw Ruisku miss out on potential promotion in suspicious circumstances, after the opponents of rivals SUMU forfeited the fixture, giving SUMU a 3-0 win that took them up instead. Gav says: "2018 is a season of ambition, going for promotion and we've added a reserve team in the seventh division for some of the older boys before they go onto over-35s football".

To end this introduction, Gav has said that anyone who emails him will get a response and a game of football ASAP. If you'd like to get involved in any way, on the pitch or off, email Gav here.

Throughout the year, I'll be updating on how the side are doing in their aim to get promoted, along with progress in the Regions Cup (the national knockout competition for smaller clubs).

New balls for 2016

Select's completely new Elite matchball will be introduced in the upcoming Veikkausliiga season. This is Select's first synthetic ball and Veikkausliiga is the first league where the ball will be introduced.

Elite is lighter to handle than Select's hand-sewn balls. The ball is very resistant to moisture, with a golf ball-style bumpy texture bringing the ball's distinctive trajectory, buoyancy and stability. Select Elite has received FIFA's highest approval, which means that it is available to all at the highest level top matches.

"Elite is the youngest member of the Pro Series selection, which is intended for top-level professional football. The fact that the Veikkausliiga has been chosen to use the Select Elite matchball is a significant recognition of the league's innovative developments and high quality standards" commented Peter Knap, Select's CEO.

Veikkausliiga's CEO Timo Marjamaa says "We are proud of our collaboration with Select and is just an awesome thing that we get this completely new model first". 

HIFK striker Pekka Sihvola, also chairman of the Players' Association is familiar with the new ball. "It's looking good. Only a couple of sessions so far, but the first impression is very good. This new synthetic ball is lighter. For me, of course, it is ideal as a forward", laughs Sihvola. "The surface looks good and the size is appropriate. We've not tried it in damp weather as we were in the hall. It'll be interesting to see how the ball behaves in a damp field. A common game ball is a great thing for our players' point of view".

This article originally appeared on the Veikkausliiga website.