Foot.ie decides - Ireland's best home kit

[Kingdom]

Not much in it but the 2nd strip in a photo finish.

seconded.

[Kingdom]

The fightback for the 2018-19 kit was too little too late, and 1976-78 goes through on a score of 6-3.

The 2010s derby match still open, and meanwhile it's time for the last pairing of round 1. First up, it's time for more hooped socks, this time from 2010-12 -

https://img.rasset.ie/0003c776-1600.jpg

And it's up against a quiet little effort modelled here by Alan McLoughlin - the Euro 96 qualifying kit.

https://m0.sportsjoe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20164642/1995.jpg

The final two results of this round will come in tomorrow, and I'll run the repechage on Wednesday before going into the last 16, but no with weekend ties.

I have the 2010 sponsorless. It's lovely, but the two different fabric styles and shades of green has always bothered me.
The 94-96 is underrated. It's a peach of a non-template jersey.

[pineapple stu]

I'm actually not sure which way your vote is going Kingdom?

It doesn't actually matter, as the score is 8-3 for the 2010-12 kit plus your vote, but let me know and I'll update. :)

So - that's the first round over.

Except it's not. Because I found a photo of the previously mentioned 1985 kit. I think it's worth changing the entire tournament as it's a bit different and deserves to feature.

So I had three kits getting a bye into the second round. Instead, I'm going to put those three plus the 1985 kit into two final first round matches. That means 14 kits through, and the repechage will give a reprieve to two kits.

I'll put both bouts up now, and full-time will blow when the game against Bulgaria kicks off. And from kick-off through till Thursday evening is repechage day.

[pineapple stu]

So the first of our bonus rounds features another retro up against what by this stage is a surprisingly old kit. It's Liam Brady in the 1978-83 kit -

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BnyDFSWfePQ/VWtCiPK0MNI/AAAAAAAAUpk/BYibPuw63ZE/s1600/holland%2Bireland.jpg

- up against the Henry handball era kit (I know we wore the away kit that night, but you know what I mean...)

https://m0.sportsjoe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20172952/2008.jpg

[pineapple stu]

And the second match then pits the brand new 2021 kit (so new I haven't got a proper photo of it and have to go with the photoshoot) -

https://www.footballshirtculture.com/images/stories/ireland-2020-2021-umbro-home-kit/ireland_2020_2021_umbro_home_kit_e.jpeg

And it's up against what was lost but now is found, Dave Langan in the special edition one-off 1985 Kerry kit, worn only once just to confuse Norway -

https://a1.amlimg.com/ODM3NWVjMGM0MDI0ZGM0OGQwOGMzMjAzYzQ4ZjNiOGSrLiRq-56HTX58DJbSUERCaHR0cDovL21lZGlhLmFkc2ltZy5jb20vNjR lYWFjZTM1YzlkMTYwODlkNjQ5Njg5YWMyNDhjZjBjZDQyOTljM DgyNjA4ODgyNzNjOThiODQ3OGZiODZmOC5qcGd8fHx8fHw0NjJ 4NTI1fGh0dHA6Ly93d3cuYWR2ZXJ0cy5pZS9zdGF0aWMvaS93Y XRlcm1hcmsucG5nfHx8.jpg

[BonnieShels]

If you'd said he was kicking a 45 I'd believe ya.

[passinginterest]

I'll go with the Brady kit and the new kit. I quite like that Brady kit actually, proper vintage O'Neills.

[the 12 th man]

Brady and the new kit for me as well (What's with the Kerry jersey?):p

[BonnieShels]

As an owner of the 08-10 shirt I'll have to go with it. It's the perfect shade of green as well. Never a fan of the yellowy-gold trim on the old O'Neill's gear.

Due to the rashes that I break out in on seeing the Kerry colours I would have to go for the new kit. That it's more or less a homage to the 2010-12 slice of perfection is a bonus.

[John83]

Henry kit. 78-83 is a bit Kerry-looking.

2021 too, for the same reason.

[John83]

Loves a sublimated design does our stu.

All those years of O'Neill's UCD jerseys.
Speaking of which, does the 2021 ladies top have a girly design that's not on the men's top? Seems a bit... separate but equal.

[Fixer82]

I'll go with the Brady and the new kit.

Much as I despise the new kit, the other one is just too close to a Kerry jersey.

[pineapple stu]

Speaking of which, does the 2021 ladies top have a girly design that's not on the men's top? Seems a bit... separate but equal.
Um...

Shouldn't you be focussing on some other game right now? :p

[backstothewall]

I like the new kit, and the female version look particularly sharp, so i'll vote for that despite the best version of it not being available to me. So that and the Brady shirt for me.

[John83]

Um...

Shouldn't you be focussing on some other game right now? :p
Nah, I was at -5 or something, with no play. I was basically waiting for him to hang something.

[thebronze14]

78-83

2021

[bennocelt]

1978-83 kit

2021

[BonnieShels]

Speaking of which, does the 2021 ladies top have a girly design that's not on the men's top? Seems a bit... separate but equal.

There is a different design on the shirt as well as having a different cut in neck and body.

[pineapple stu]

Quick reminder to keep the votes coming in for this one - votes taken until 7:45, when I'll put up the repechage details and we can set about deciding Ireland's worst home kit

[Fixer82]

Speaking of which, does the 2021 ladies top have a girly design that's not on the men's top? Seems a bit... separate but equal.

It has a different design but is equal in poxiness :)

[BonnieShels]

As an owner of the 08-10 shirt I'll have to go with it. It's the perfect shade of green as well. Never a fan of the yellowy-gold trim on the old O'Neill's gear.

Due to the rashes that I break out in on seeing the Kerry colours I would have to go for the new kit. That it's more or less a homage to the 2010-12 slice of perfection is a bonus.

In case that's missed:
08/10 and 20/21

[pineapple stu]

Not missed - but doesn't count twice either :)

Last 30 minutes for these two pairings and I'll post the repechage then.

[pineapple stu]

So the last two matches are decided - 6-2 to the 1978/83 jersey against 2008-09, and an 8-0 whitewash for the current kit against the Kerry top.

That means 14 are through, and 14 are out. The latter 14 go again now - two will get reprieved, and one will be voted Ireland's worst ever home kit. So you can vote for up to three kits to go through, and up to two kits to be the worst ever. Each vote will count for one point, and you don't have to cast all your votes - but the more the merrier as I don't want a case where 4 jerseys all have 2 points at the top. :)

This is open till this time tomorrow, and then the round of 16 will start on Monday.

[pineapple stu]

So we have (and I can only do three images per post, so this will take a little while) -

2003/04
https://m0.sportsjoe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/26162647/inpho_00105725.jpg

1998-00
https://m0.sportsjoe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20170226/1998.jpg

2020
https://media.buzz.ie/uploads/2020/09/03204731/1924985.jpg

[pineapple stu]

2017-18
https://d2x51gyc4ptf2q.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2017/10/06212933/murphy.jpg

2012
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02248/ireland-football_2248991b.jpg

2012/13
https://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20121016&t=2&i=664138076&w=780&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=CDEE89F1LVK00

[pineapple stu]

1983-85
https://amp.independent.ie/incoming/abec1/39176368.ece/AUTOCROP/h400/page30_robinson.jpg

2000/01
https://m0.sportsjoe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20171941/2000.jpg

1996-98
https://img2.thejournal.ie/inline/4557091/original/?width=428&version=4557091

[pineapple stu]

2018-19
https://network.punditarena.com/uploads/2019/02/inpho_01452601.jpg

2014-15
https://m0.sportsjoe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20173245/2014.jpg

1994-95
https://m0.sportsjoe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20164642/1995.jpg

[pineapple stu]

2008-09
https://m0.sportsjoe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20172952/2008.jpg

1985
https://a1.amlimg.com/ODM3NWVjMGM0MDI0ZGM0OGQwOGMzMjAzYzQ4ZjNiOGSrLiRq-56HTX58DJbSUERCaHR0cDovL21lZGlhLmFkc2ltZy5jb20vNjR lYWFjZTM1YzlkMTYwODlkNjQ5Njg5YWMyNDhjZjBjZDQyOTljM DgyNjA4ODgyNzNjOThiODQ3OGZiODZmOC5qcGd8fHx8fHw0NjJ 4NTI1fGh0dHA6Ly93d3cuYWR2ZXJ0cy5pZS9zdGF0aWMvaS93Y XRlcm1hcmsucG5nfHx8.jpg

[pineapple stu]

In terms of rescuing kits, I'll have to go with the Fr Dougal kit (94/95), the 1998-00 kit, and the 2018-19 kit, which I can only imagine didn't look as nice in real life as it does in that photo.

Worst kit for me - there's too much wrong with the 2012 kit in terms of the clashing green and the hooped socks, and the 96-98 kit is a bit of a mess with the shamrocks on the sleeve and the big FAI stuff too obvious on the front. (I recall the keepers' kits being similarly bad actually - maybe worth a competition at some stage in the future)

Over to everyone else though!

[John83]

Reprieve: 08-09, 00/01, 12/13.
Worst: 14-15, 18-19.

[the 12 th man]

Reprieve 03/04 ,17/18,00/01
Worst 1985,2012.

[backstothewall]

worst ever: 2012

reprieve: 1998/99 2017/18 2018/19

[BonnieShels]

Reprieve: 1998-00, 2000/01, 1994-95

Worst ever: 1996-98, 2020

[pineapple stu]

So there's votes in now for every kit bar one, and one kit has been both nominated for a reprieve and as worst kit. Both categories have outright leaders at the moment, so it's taking shape - but votes taken all today to finalise the lat 16.

[Kingdom]

reprieve: 94-95; 08-09; 98-00

Worst: 2012; 2020

[passinginterest]

Save: 83-85, 94-95, 12-13
Worst: 03-04, 85

[pineapple stu]

Just under two hours to go here - and no ties in either category at the moment!

[Fixer82]

Best kit: 2001, 2018 and 1996

worst kit: 2012

[Eminence Grise]

Worst ever – 83-85 pinstripe, 85 Kerry (goddlemighty! Seeing that, 2012’s hoopy socks look like Hugo Boss!)

Worth another look – 96-98, 00-01, 12-13.

[pineapple stu]

OK, we have a result.

Topping the reprieve request with five votes is the 2000-01 kit -

https://m0.sportsjoe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20171941/2000.jpg

We then have a tie for the second spot between the 94/95 and the 98/99 kit. This now is awkward because I'd noted at the start that the tie-break was to remove my vote (as an effective de-casting vote) - but I voted for both kits.

So feck it, an executive decision is needed, and the best reason for keeping a kit throughout the tournament so far was for the 94/95 kit -

https://kieranrobinsondotcom.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/wp-1518768766503-2009975036.jpg?w=474&h=318

So Father Dougal wins it for the 94/95 kit, and 98/00 is narrowly eliminated.

The worst vote, though, is much clearer. The Kerry kit picked up 3 votes, but clear in the lead, and your worst Ireland kit of the past 45 years, is -

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02248/ireland-football_2248991b.jpg

So we have 16 left. I'll start the knock-outs on Monday morning on the same basis as before. The draw will be an open draw, except that reprieved kits can't meet the kits that just knocked them out. The last 16 will run next week, and we may get the competition concluded the week after. So another two weeks to go to find Ireland's best home kit of all time!

[passinginterest]

Funnily enough, the worst one is the only shirt I actually own! I won it in a competition to be fair. The shirt itself is grand, I think the socks swing it in terms of being a bad kit overall.

[Eminence Grise]

Did the guy who came second win two kits, PI?

[the 12 th man]

In fairness those hooped socks would kill the coolest jersey of all time.

[Fixer82]

Did the guy who came second win two kits, PI?

Ha Ha very good

[backstothewall]

We then have a tie for the second spot between the 94/95 and the 98/99 kit. This now is awkward because I'd noted at the start that the tie-break was to remove my vote (as an effective de-casting vote) - but I voted for both kits.

So feck it, an executive decision is needed, and the best reason for keeping a kit throughout the tournament so far was for the 94/95 kit -

https://kieranrobinsondotcom.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/wp-1518768766503-2009975036.jpg?w=474&h=318

So Father Dougal wins it for the 94/95 kit, and 98/00 is narrowly eliminated.

I'll fight any man who questions the logic of this!

[pineapple stu]

A reminder - we go live with the first round of 16 tie tomorrow morning!

[pineapple stu]

OK - let's get back down to business here.

No more reprieves - once a kit is gone, it's gone. Those kits that complain about a tough draw - well, the best kit won't be losing to any other one by definition.

First up is a doozy I think - it's two of our World Cup kits going head-to-head. Italia 90 v Japan/Korea 2002.

https://m0.sportsjoe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20171153/1990.jpg

https://i2-prod.irishmirror.ie/incoming/article10564630.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/inpho_00074712.jpg

Next bout online this evening.

[jbyrne]

italia 90 thanks

[the 12 th man]

Italia 90.

[passinginterest]

Italia 90, the fact it still looks pretty modern means it was just a damn good design in the first place.