{"product_id":"1996-97-portsmouth-shirt","title":"Portsmouth Third Asics 1996-97 vintage shirt – XL","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.8em;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:16px;\"\u003ePortsmouth Third Shirt 1996-97 – Asics, the English First Division era\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:1.1em;line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eIn 1996-97, \u003cstrong\u003ePortsmouth FC\u003c\/strong\u003e competed in the First Division — England's second tier — as a historic club looking to reposition itself. This \u003cstrong\u003eAsics Portsmouth third shirt\u003c\/strong\u003e, sponsored by \u003cem\u003eThe News\u003c\/em\u003e, the city's local newspaper, evokes the locker room atmosphere of Fratton Park, the pressure of a Championship season before its time, and the loyalty of a South of England stronghold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eShirt details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:2;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeason:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1996-97\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClub:\u003c\/strong\u003e Portsmouth FC\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Third\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKit Manufacturer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Asics\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSponsor:\u003c\/strong\u003e The News\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e XL\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8\/10\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eState:\u003c\/strong\u003e Little pulls, little stains — authentic wear of a \u003cstrong\u003eworn vintage shirt\u003c\/strong\u003e, consistent with its age and history\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eWhat this shirt represents\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003eIn the mid-90s, \u003cstrong\u003ePortsmouth FC\u003c\/strong\u003e went through a pivotal period. The club navigated between the First Division and hopes of a return to the Premier League, in an ultra-competitive English second-tier league. \u003cstrong\u003eFratton Park\u003c\/strong\u003e remained a fortress, a stadium where the popular atmosphere was intact, and where fans pushed with a fervor that rivaled elite clubs. This third shirt embodies this era of struggle, restrained ambition, and undiminished pride.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eIn the 1996-97 season, the \u003cstrong\u003ePortsmouth team\u003c\/strong\u003e was managed in a rebuilding context. Solid players like \u003cstrong\u003eAlan McLoughlin\u003c\/strong\u003e, an emblematic figure in the Pompey midfield during those years, carried the standard. The \u003cstrong\u003esponsor The News\u003c\/strong\u003e — Portsmouth's local newspaper — anchors this shirt in its territory: it's a football shirt that carries the identity of an entire city on its shoulders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eMoments etched into this shirt\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAsics and Portsmouth: a rare collaboration\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThe Japanese brand \u003cstrong\u003eAsics\u003c\/strong\u003e supplied Portsmouth during this period, making it a particularly sought-after combination by collectors. Asics kits from this era are renowned for their cut and manufacturing quality — a far cry from the mass productions that would soon flood the market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe third kit: rarity squared\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nA \u003cstrong\u003evintage third shirt\u003c\/strong\u003e is always harder to find than a home or away kit. Produced in smaller quantities, worn during rare specific matches, it disappears faster from wardrobes and second-hand shops. Finding this \u003cstrong\u003ePortsmouth third 1996-97\u003c\/strong\u003e in XL and good condition is already a small victory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe News: the sponsor that tells a city's story\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nHaving \u003cem\u003eThe News\u003c\/em\u003e emblazoned on the chest is a reminder that English football in the 90s was still deeply rooted in its local communities. This newspaper has existed in Portsmouth since the 19th century — seeing it on this \u003cstrong\u003eretro Portsmouth shirt\u003c\/strong\u003e gives the item an almost documentary dimension.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eAuthentic vs Replica\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003eAn \u003cstrong\u003eauthentic vintage shirt\u003c\/strong\u003e is an item actually produced at the time, to be worn — either by players or sold to fans in club shops. The finishes, labels, cut, materials: everything speaks of a specific era. It is not a reproduction or a reissue — it is the original item, with all that implies in terms of irreplaceable value.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eThis \u003cstrong\u003ePortsmouth Asics third 1996-97\u003c\/strong\u003e is rated 8\/10 with some micro-pulls and slight marks — these are proof that this shirt has lived. It hasn't emerged from an airtight box: it existed, it was worn, and it is here today in a condition that remains frankly solid for a textile nearly thirty years old. That's what a \u003cstrong\u003egenuine vintage football shirt\u003c\/strong\u003e is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eVintage sizing guide\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003esizing of 90s vintage shirts\u003c\/strong\u003e does not correspond to current standards. An XL from 1996 can easily be equivalent to a modern L, or even an M depending on the brand. \u003cstrong\u003eAsics\u003c\/strong\u003e, a Japanese brand, historically cut its shirts to be more fitted than a European kit manufacturer from the same era. Never rely solely on the label.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eBefore buying, grab a tape measure and compare it to a shirt you already wear. Key measurements: \u003cstrong\u003echest width\u003c\/strong\u003e (armpit to armpit, x2), total shirt length, and shoulder width. These three pieces of data will save you any unpleasant surprises upon receipt. A poorly sized collector's shirt is a shirt that stays on the hanger — so it's best to take precautions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eWhy have it in your collection\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage Portsmouth shirts\u003c\/strong\u003e from the 90s don't flood the market. We're far from the mass productions of big European clubs — here, we're talking about an English provincial club, with a rare kit manufacturer in this market (Asics), on a type of shirt (third) produced in limited quantities. These are exactly the parameters that make an item valuable in the eyes of a serious \u003cstrong\u003eretro shirt collector\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eAnd at 8\/10 with only minor flaws, there aren't many in this condition. Thirty years have passed since this shirt left the Asics workshops, and it's still holding up. For a \u003cstrong\u003ePortsmouth third shirt 1996-97\u003c\/strong\u003e, this is a condition that commands respect — and one that won't improve on the secondary market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eTo go further\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"line-height:2.2;margin-bottom:16px;\"\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Portsmouth_F.C.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003ePortsmouth FC — Wikipedia\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.footballkitarchive.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eFootball Kit Archive — History of football shirts\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.uefa.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eUEFA — European Football\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"font-style:italic;line-height:1.8;\"\u003eIf you're a Pompey fan or looking for a \u003cstrong\u003erare vintage Asics shirt\u003c\/strong\u003e from the 90s to add to your collection, this one ticks all the boxes. Your move.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Portsmouth","offers":[{"title":"XL","offer_id":54010179223827,"sku":"343418","price":149.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0949\/4839\/3235\/files\/eng_pm_1996-97-PORTSMOUTH-SHIRT-XL-343418_1.jpg?v=1775428734","url":"https:\/\/supporterid.com\/en\/products\/1996-97-portsmouth-shirt","provider":"SUPPORTER ID®","version":"1.0","type":"link"}