Fed up being scammed when paying good money for a Celtic shirt advertised as a much rarer player issue version but turns out to be a cheaper fan replica version ? Me too.
I'm going to try and help fellow Celtic fans by showing them how to immediately tell the difference between the two offerings ( Aside from superior materials and lighter shades of green and white hoops on the player issue shirt )..
They initially look the same but actually nothing like one another. I'm going to start off my ' Spot The Difference ' blogs with the following :-
Celtic Shirt , Home, Long Sleeved, ( Domestic ) Carling Sponsorship Logo, released for the 2007-2008 season in commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of winning the European Cup ( Champions League ).
01) Completely different Nike Product Numbers. The Fan Replica version is Nike coded number 217120. The Player Issue is Nike coded number 242723.
02) The Fan Replica shirt has no side panel whilst the Player Issue version has a separate strip travelling down either side with a mesh type material to offer the players improved air circulation around the body.
03) The Fan Replica version has an internal wash tag sewn into the side seam alongside a secondary small black coloured Nike logo finished in a Red coloured thread. The Player Issue version simply has the wash instructions stamped onto the inside material at the rear.
04) The Fan Replica version has a stitched internal hemline. The Player Issue version is heat glued together to offer a smoother touch to the skin.
05) The Fan Replica shirt shows green and white coloured hoops on the INSIDE of the material. The Player Issue version is simply all white inside.
06) When you turn the shirt inside out and check the embroidered black coloured Nike Swoosh logo , the colour of the stitching to the rear is white coloured on the Fan Replica version yet cream coloured on the Player Issue version.
07) The sleeve cuff edging is stitched on the Fan Replica sleeve whilst the Player Issue is heat glued together.
08) The Fan Replica shirt on the front left hemline displays a yellow coloured star with gold coloured rubberised wording ' For It's A Grand Old Team To Play For ' The Tunnel Estadio Nacional 25 May 1967. The Player Issue version has no display.
09) The Fan Replica shirt on the front right hemline has Nike FIT embroidered in black threading. The Player Issue version has nothing embroidered in that place
10) The rear neck section on the Fan Replica shirt displays a gold coloured star with CELTIC 1967 whereby the Player Issue version displays nothing in that area.
11) The side section of the Fan Replica shirt is straight up and down compared to the Player Issue shape which is slim fitting to the sides offering a much tighter fit ( Normally one size smaller )
If you need to know anything else I'll try and assist as best I can.