Why is the lifespan of an England shirt getting shorter?

The most recent England shirt

The FA were forced to defend the decision to change the England home kit this week after it was confirmed that the national team will be wearing a new shirt when they take on Holland at Wembley at the end of the month.

This means that the current incarnation of three lions on a shirt has lasted for just eight games. But why has the lifespan of the shirt become shorter than the temper of Fabio Capello?

As usual with all things football, the simple answer must be is money. The FA recently signed a new eight-year deal with kit-makers Umbro and part of the contract states that the England kit can be changed roughly every 18 months, rather than the two years that it was before.

Alan Shearer at Euro '96

This is how the FA explained the situation: “As a sportswear company with great history and expertise they (Umbro) are best placed to take decisions on kit cycle, and we support them in their long term strategy.”

That’s like McDonalds saying “Our chefs have been making burgers for years and if they want to pump more sugar into a BigMac, we’ll support them with that.”

Maybe I’m being cynical, but it appears like an attempt by the FA to deflect responsibility for what looks like a blatant money spinning exercise, on the part of Umbro, in which those that are left high and dry are England fans.

Paul Ince pictured in 1997

With the frequency of kit changes it is now accepted practice that club teams will alter their shirt every season. That doesn’t mean we can’t mourn the time when a kit had a chance to become synonymous with a time, a tournament or a player. Even going back, kits didn’t last long, but at least they were given a chance.

The two-tone blue away kit Alan Shearer wore as he reeled away after scoring a header against Germany at Euro 96, the white shirt with navy and red trim in which a bloodied Paul Ince battled for qualification to the ‘98 World Cup and of course that red shirt worn in 1966. These are the strips that come to mind the moment I think of the England football team. Perhaps it is the moment, and not the kit that is important, but when the kids that snapped up the most recently discarded replica shirt look at it – what will they think of?

Personally my mind goes blank, but if I had paid upwards of £40 for it, I’d probably reflect on what a waste of money it had been.

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