Stoke City Home Shirt 1997-99 Asics Vintage - Collector's Item

Stoke City 1997-99 Asics Jersey — The relegation kit etched in Potters history

1997-98 season, Stoke City finished 23rd in the First Division and were relegated to the Second Division. This Asics home kit sponsored by Britannia was worn during one of the most painful seasons in the club's recent history. This is exactly the kind of kit true collectors look for — not a title-winning jersey, but one from a moment of truth.

Kit details

Season: 1997-1999
Club: Stoke City
Type: Home
Manufacturer: Asics
Sponsor: BRITANNIA
Condition: 8/10
State: LITTLE PULLS — authentic wear of a worn vintage jersey, some small fabric pulls that bear witness to its real life on a pitch or in the stands of Victoria Ground then Britannia Stadium

What this jersey represents

In 1997-98, Stoke City went through one of the most turbulent periods in its history. The club, founded in 1863 and one of the oldest in the world, found itself freefalling down the First Division table — what is today the Championship. A 23rd-place finish synonymous with direct relegation to the Second Division was a monumental slap in the face for a club with such tradition. The Britannia Stadium had just opened its doors in 1997, meant to symbolize a new beginning — it ended up hosting a descent into hell.

The managerial context was equally chaotic. Lou Macari was at the helm but could not turn around a team that sorely lacked consistency and squad depth. Players like Mike Sheron, a striker who nevertheless had a good Championship level, or midfielder Graham Kavanagh, struggled in a team that never found its footing. Asics, a Japanese kit manufacturer not accustomed to the limelight of English football, dressed the Potters in this kit, which would remain associated with one of the club's darkest seasons.

Moments etched in this jersey

Inauguration of the Britannia Stadium — August 1997
The club left Victoria Ground after more than a century to move into the brand new Britannia Stadium, whose name is featured on this very jersey as a sponsor. The first home matches in this new venue were played in this kit — the beginning of an era that quickly turned into a sporting nightmare.

Relegation to the Second Division — 1997-98 season
Stoke City finished 23rd, second to last, and were directly relegated. This confirmed that the club could not hold on to the elite of the English second tier despite investments. This jersey was worn during each of those lost matches, each of those insufficient efforts — that is its raw historical value.

The 1998-99 season in the Second Division — rebuilding
The same kit was used the following season, in the de facto English third division, during the club's attempt to bounce back. It was a difficult but necessary period of rebuilding, and this jersey is a direct witness to it. The same design for two seasons with radically different stakes — that's also the reality of 90s football.

Authentic vs. Replica

An authentic vintage jersey is not a reproduction manufactured years later for nostalgic fans. It is a piece produced at the time, with the materials and manufacturing techniques of the era — here the 90s and the recognizable touch of Asics on the football cuts of that decade. The finishes, labels, and fabric weight all differ radically from a modern replica. You are wearing an object that already existed when the matches were being played.

This jersey is rated 8/10, with some small fabric pulls reported — what we call "little pulls". Nothing that jumps out, nothing that compromises the overall presentation. For a jersey over 25 years old that has truly lived, it is in a remarkably well-preserved state. This is the difference between a jersey that decorates and a jersey that tells a story.

Vintage sizing guide

Vintage jerseys from the 90s systematically run smaller than current standards. A 1997-99 L often corresponds to a modern M, sometimes even an S depending on body shape. The cuts of the time were fitted, without the wide, flowing panels seen today. If you hesitate between two sizes, always take this into account.

Before confirming your order, measure your chest width and compare it with the flat measurements of the jersey. The simple method: take your favorite jersey that fits you well, lay it flat, measure from seam to seam at armpit level, and multiply by two. This is the most reliable reference for buying a vintage jersey online without any unpleasant surprises.

Why have it in your collection

Asics in English football in the 90s is already a rarity in itself. The Japanese equipment manufacturer only supplied a very few British clubs during this period, and the jerseys produced in this collaboration are few on the vintage market. Add to that the very specific context — the historic relegation of 1998 and the inauguration of the Britannia Stadium — and you get a piece with real narrative value, not just aesthetic. Collectors who seek the highs and lows of English football in the nineties know exactly why this jersey deserves a prime spot.

At 8/10, with only a few discreet small pulls, we are far from the cracked, faded, or stained jerseys often found from this era. There are really not many in this condition on the market — Stoke City Asics 1997-99 jerseys in good condition are rare, and those that remain are quickly snapped up by those who know what they're doing. If you miss this one, you might wait a long time for the next.

To go further

• Stoke City — Wikipedia
• Football Kit Archive — History of jerseys
• UEFA — European Football

This jersey won't appeal to everyone — and that's exactly why it will appeal to the right people. If you know, you know.