When I was at school, wearing an old football shirt, even if it was just last season's, resulted in banishment from the entire playground, cruel accusations of pikeyness and a head drenched in toilet water.
The irony is, retro football tops have now become the height of fashion. Legends of Football have capitalised on this by opening a store in Glasgow which imports a wide range of vintage shirts from all over the world.
I discovered the shop, which is tucked away behind Argyle Street, a few years ago when I was looking for a birthday present for my boyfriend. He had requested a retro Scotland top so I was planning to buy him one of the two styles the chain sports shops were selling. However, Legends of Football stocked a 60s style I hadn't seen in any other store. The owner explained that they order the shirts, which is made by a company called Copa, from Holland and at the moment are the only Scottish shops that stock it.
I visited again a few months ago and ended up purchasing a 1980s Mexico top for my boyfriend's Christmas. I originally wanted to buy a Honduras top but the shop did not have any in. However, the owner, John, told me he could order it if I wished then showed me some different shirts online. I really appreciated the effort he put in to making sure I got exactly what I was looking for.
From one football widow to any who happen to be reading this; make a mental note of this place for your spouse's birthday/Christmas/Winter solstice. Without wanting to sound like a cheesy advert, it is the foolproof option for a gift he will love. read more