{"product_id":"1998-99-watford-shirt","title":"Watford Away Shirt 1998-99 Le Coq Sportif Vintage 2XL","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.8em;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:16px;\"\u003eWatford 1998-99 — The Le Coq Sportif away shirt from the season of their Premier League return\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:1.1em;line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003e1998-99 Watford season\u003c\/strong\u003e was when the club knocked on the door of elite English football again after years in the Championship. This \u003cstrong\u003eLe Coq Sportif away shirt\u003c\/strong\u003e with the \u003cstrong\u003eCTX\u003c\/strong\u003e sponsor on the chest is direct evidence of that epic journey — rare, authentic, and available in size 2XL.\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 1998-99\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClub:\u003c\/strong\u003e Watford FC\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Away\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKit manufacturer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Le Coq Sportif\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSponsor:\u003c\/strong\u003e CTX\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8\/10\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eState:\u003c\/strong\u003e LITTLE PULLS — authentic wear and tear of a worn vintage shirt, some light snags on the fabric that bear witness to its real history\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;\"\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003e1998-99 season was a pivotal one in Watford FC's history\u003c\/strong\u003e. After several seasons navigating England's second division, the Hornets were about to experience something extraordinary: \u003cstrong\u003epromotion to the Premier League\u003c\/strong\u003e via the First Division play-offs, secured after a spirited campaign led by \u003cstrong\u003eGraham Taylor\u003c\/strong\u003e — yes, the same Graham Taylor who had brought the club glory in the 80s and had returned to write a new chapter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eThis away shirt is what the players wore on the road during that historic season. The partnership with \u003cstrong\u003eLe Coq Sportif\u003c\/strong\u003e, a French brand with an unmistakable style, gave a particular look to this late 90s Watford. A design rooted in its era, combining sober aesthetics with the graphic codes that characterised the kit manufacturer's production at that time.\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\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGraham Taylor's return to management\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGraham Taylor had already transformed Watford into a Division 1 and then Division 2 club in the 70s-80s. His return in 1997 and the 1998-99 campaign represented the perfect conclusion to his story with the club. A legendary manager, a legendary shirt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe First Division play-off race\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThroughout the 1998-99 season, Watford battled in the ultra-competitive English First Division. Away matches — those played in this very shirt — were part of a tenacious collective quest, driven by a united squad featuring players like \u003cstrong\u003eTommy Mooney\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eGifton Noel-Williams\u003c\/strong\u003e, two of the faces of this golden generation of Hornets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePromotion to the Premier League via the play-offs\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt the end of the season, Watford gained access to the \u003cstrong\u003ePremier League\u003c\/strong\u003e after winning the play-off final against Bolton at Wembley. This 1998-99 away shirt is the garment from the campaign that made it all possible. To wear this shirt is to wear a piece of that history.\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 not a replica shirt marketed to the general public. It's the player or match version — different cut, different material, different finishes. The authentics from this era, especially those produced by \u003cstrong\u003eLe Coq Sportif\u003c\/strong\u003e, are pieces designed for on-field performance, with construction details not found on the general public versions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eThis one is in \u003cstrong\u003e8\/10 condition with some small snags\u003c\/strong\u003e — what collectors call \"little pulls\". It's not a glaring flaw; it's the mark of time on a fabric that has existed, that may have been worn, that has lasted over twenty-five years. In the world of \u003cstrong\u003evintage football shirts\u003c\/strong\u003e, an 8\/10 with slight imperfections is still a very nice piece, well above the average of what's found on the market.\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;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage sizes from the 90s\u003c\/strong\u003e do not correspond to modern sizes — and this is a crucial point before any purchase. A 2XL from 1998-99 can easily correspond to a current XL depending on the brand and cut. \u003cstrong\u003eLe Coq Sportif\u003c\/strong\u003e from that era tended to fit within European norms, meaning that larger frames will find this 2XL suitable, but it's still important to check actual measurements before confirming.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003ePractical advice: measure your shoulder width and chest circumference before ordering. Compare with the shirt's flat measurements if available. A poorly sized vintage shirt will remain in the closet — and that would be a shame for a piece like this. If in doubt, do not hesitate to contact the shop directly for precise measurements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eWhy you should have it in your collection\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage Watford shirts\u003c\/strong\u003e from the 90s, especially those from the \u003cstrong\u003eLe Coq Sportif\u003c\/strong\u003e period, are pieces that are seriously starting to become rare on the \u003cstrong\u003ecollector's shirt\u003c\/strong\u003e market. Watford is not Manchester United or Arsenal — and that's precisely what makes these shirts interesting. A club of human scale, with a rich history, memorable seasons, and a passionate fan base that hasn't forgotten. The 1998-99 away shirt with the CTX logo is an item that speaks directly to anyone familiar with this era of English football.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eThere aren't many in this condition on the market. An \u003cstrong\u003e8\/10 for a shirt that's over twenty-five years old\u003c\/strong\u003e is a rare find. Most examples still circulating show stains, significant discoloration, or much more visible defects. This one has aged just right — with subtle snags that tell its story without disfiguring it. That's exactly what serious collectors look for.\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\/Watford_F.C.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWatford 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 — Shirt history\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 looking for a shirt that tells a true story of 90s English football, in serious condition and a generous size — you've found it. The decision is yours.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Watford","offers":[{"title":"2XL","offer_id":54010257867027,"sku":"329990","price":179.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0949\/4839\/3235\/files\/eng_pm_1998-99-WATFORD-SHIRT-2XL-329990_1.jpg?v=1775445324","url":"https:\/\/supporterid.com\/en\/products\/1998-99-watford-shirt","provider":"SUPPORTER ID®","version":"1.0","type":"link"}