What Happens To Football Kit After The Game?

Mystery Hour

Mystery Hour Question

One from my 10-year-old son. He asked: what happens to all the football kits after the game? Do they keep them? Re-use them? Sell them?
Andy, Chatham

Answer

** Definitive **
Name: Rick, Kingston
Qualification: I own 19 match-worn Arsenal shirts
Answer: Things have changed over recent years. Until the late 90s, there used to be laundry room where the shirts were cleaned, reconditioned and sent out again. Nowadays, the shirts are only ever worn once because the club get so many requests from charities for shirts to be donated. Some players keep their shirts, some swap them with opponents and some donate them via the club.

** Extra Definitive **
Name: Nick, Epsom
Qualification: Son plays for Southampton Under-17s
Answer: The kit man takes three shirts per player to each game – one per half, plus a spare for emergencies. Afterwards, he collects and launders them, ready for next week. For big games, the club permits the players to swap or keep their shirts, but that is agreed beforehand and the players are fined if they do it when they’re not allowed.

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