{"product_id":"1997-99-wimbledon-shirt","title":"Wimbledon Home Shirt 1997-99 Lotto Vintage | Elonex","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.8em;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:16px;\"\u003eWimbledon 1997-99 Lotto Shirt – The Last Gasp of the Crazy Gang in the Premier League\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:1.1em;line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eBetween 1997 and 1999, \u003cstrong\u003eWimbledon FC\u003c\/strong\u003e was still playing in the English top flight – but for how long? This \u003cstrong\u003eLotto home shirt sponsored by Elonex\u003c\/strong\u003e is a direct witness to the final seasons of an extraordinary club, one that no great fortune ever bought but that no one ever managed to intimidate. Two seasons etched into the fabric, a history that deserves to be in your collection.\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 1997-1999\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClub:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wimbledon FC\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Home\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKit Manufacturer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lotto\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSponsor:\u003c\/strong\u003e ELONEX\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8\/10\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eState:\u003c\/strong\u003e LITTLE PULLS – slight fabric pulls, authentic wear of a \u003cstrong\u003eworn vintage shirt\u003c\/strong\u003e, no major snags, no visible stains\u003cbr\u003e\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 late 1990s, \u003cstrong\u003eWimbledon FC\u003c\/strong\u003e was one of the last living anomalies in English football. No stadium of their own – they played at Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace's stadium – no exorbitant fortune, no superstar on display. And yet, they were in the \u003cstrong\u003ePremier League\u003c\/strong\u003e, season after season, holding their own against the biggest clubs in the country. That's the true legend of the \u003cstrong\u003eCrazy Gang\u003c\/strong\u003e: survival as a way of life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eThe 1997-1999 period coincides with a painful but combative end of a cycle. \u003cstrong\u003eJoe Kinnear's\u003c\/strong\u003e club on the bench tried to maintain a balance between a tightly-knit, war-room-like locker room and resources far inferior to those of the surrounding clubs. Men like \u003cstrong\u003eRobbie Earle\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eVinnie Jones\u003c\/strong\u003e nearing the end of his time at Wimbledon, \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Hartson\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003eMarcus Gayle\u003c\/strong\u003e embodied this rough, uncompromising spirit. This Lotto shirt is their combat uniform.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eMoments Etched in This Shirt\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe 1997-98 season: a hard-fought survival, an electric atmosphere\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nWimbledon finished the 1997-98 season in 15th place in the Premier League – not glorious on paper, but vital. In a championship where the fight for survival was as brutal as the game advocated by the Dons, every point was a victory in itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJoe Kinnear and the philosophy of organized chaos\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThe Irish manager embodied everything that made Wimbledon unique: a fearless team, capable of taking down anyone on a good day. Under his command, the Dons never gave up on playing direct and physical football that displeased purists but hurt opponents.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe 1998-99 season: the first signs of an announced fall\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThe last season worn in this Lotto kit marked a kind of farewell to an era. Wimbledon finished 16th, still saved, but the signs were there. The relegation in 2000 would put an end to the Premier League adventure – this shirt therefore dates from the very last golden years of the club in the elite.\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 different from a replica produced in a factory for the general public. Replicas are made to be sold in bulk, with standardized finishes and thicker fabric. Authentic shirts, however, are designed to be worn on the field: different cut, more technical materials for the era, specific finishes on the seams and badges. The difference can be felt in the hands, and it can be seen by the trained eye.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eThis \u003cstrong\u003eWimbledon Lotto 1997-99 shirt\u003c\/strong\u003e has some slight fabric pulls – what collectors call \"pulls\" – which are completely normal for a shirt of this era that has been worn. This does not detract from the structure or overall aesthetics: the \u003cstrong\u003e8\/10\u003c\/strong\u003e rating is serious and honest. You receive a shirt in very good overall condition, not a sterile display item.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eVintage Size Guide\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage shirts from the 1990s\u003c\/strong\u003e generally run one to two sizes smaller than current standards. A 1997 Medium often corresponds to what would now be called a Small or a Small-Medium. The cuts were more fitted, less oversized, designed to cling to the body on a football field – not to be worn with baggy streetwear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eBefore you buy, grab your tape measure and take your flat measurements: shoulder width, chest circumference, back length. Compare these with the actual measurements of the shirt, which you can request directly from the store. This two-minute check will prevent any disappointment upon receiving your package.\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\u003eWimbledon FC\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the most iconic and hardest-to-find clubs in the \u003cstrong\u003eEnglish vintage shirt\u003c\/strong\u003e market. Unlike Manchester United or Arsenal, production was limited, and international distribution was almost non-existent. It wasn't a club of merchandised superstars – it was a club of warriors. As a result, authentic shirts from this period are rare, very rare. Serious collectors know this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eThere aren't many in this condition still circulating freely. A \u003cstrong\u003eWimbledon Lotto 1997-99 home shirt\u003c\/strong\u003e with Elonex sponsorship in 8\/10 condition checks all the boxes for the discerning collector: iconic era, legendary club, kit manufacturer with a distinct identity, condition that still allows it to be worn proudly or displayed without shame. The kind of thing you regret not getting when it's gone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eTo Learn More\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\/Wimbledon_F.C.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWimbledon 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 Kits\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 grew up with the Premier League of the 1990s or you respect clubs that built their legend without money or a safety net, this shirt is for you. It's up to you to decide if you'll let it slip away.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wimbledon","offers":[{"title":"M","offer_id":54011621441811,"sku":"361735","price":229.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"2XL","offer_id":54011621474579,"sku":"309857","price":229.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"L","offer_id":54011621507347,"sku":"278472","price":229.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0949\/4839\/3235\/files\/eng_pm_1997-99-WIMBLEDON-SHIRT-M-361735_1.jpg?v=1775491823","url":"https:\/\/supporterid.com\/en\/products\/1997-99-wimbledon-shirt","provider":"SUPPORTER ID®","version":"1.0","type":"link"}