{"product_id":"2001-02-cardiff-city-shirt","title":"Cardiff City Home Shirt 2001-02 Xara Vintage | 9\/10","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.8em;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:16px;\"\u003eCardiff City 2001-02 Jersey — The Xara Era, Before Everything Changed for the Bluebirds\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:1.1em;line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eIn 2001-02, \u003cstrong\u003eCardiff City\u003c\/strong\u003e was still playing in the English Third Division, far from the Premier League spotlight — but the club was beginning to stir. This \u003cstrong\u003eXara home jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e, featuring the sponsor \u003cstrong\u003eKen Thorna World Cars\u003c\/strong\u003e, is an artifact from this pivotal period, just before the Bluebirds began their ascent to the top of Welsh and British football.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eJersey details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:2;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeason:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2001-2002\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClub:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cardiff City\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Home\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKit Manufacturer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Xara\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSponsor:\u003c\/strong\u003e KEN THORNA WORLD CARS\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9\/10\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 jersey represents\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003eThe 2001-02 season was a key period in \u003cstrong\u003eCardiff City\u003c\/strong\u003e's modern history. The club was then playing in the \u003cstrong\u003eThird Division\u003c\/strong\u003e — the fourth tier of English football — but the foundations for a revival were being laid. Lennie Lawrence was in charge at the beginning of the season, before Dave Bassett and then Bobby Gould took over, in a period of instability on the bench that reflected the club's still ill-defined ambitions. \u003cstrong\u003eNinian Park\u003c\/strong\u003e, Cardiff's legendary stadium, still roared, loyal, noisy, popular.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eThis was also the era when players like \u003cstrong\u003eRobert Earnshaw\u003c\/strong\u003e began to make a name for themselves in the Bluebirds' changing room. The small Welsh striker, capable of scoring goals in all sorts of ways, perfectly embodied the energy of this developing Cardiff team. Around him, tough, hardworking players, typical of lower-division English football — the kind of guys who gave their all every Saturday, without cameras, without national ovation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eMoments etched in this jersey\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Cardiff in full identity reconstruction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 2001-02, the club was searching for its path between a glorious past — Cardiff City won the FA Cup in 1927, the only non-English club to have done so — and a future it felt would be great. This \u003cstrong\u003eXara home jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e was worn in this transitional context, where the seeds of future ascent were sown match after match at Ninian Park.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe era of regional kit manufacturers — Xara, a brand in its own right\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eXara\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of those independent British brands that dressed lower league clubs in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Far from giants like Nike or Adidas, Xara offered cuts and designs authentically rooted in their time — no frills, no global marketing, just football. Today, these jerseys have become true collector's items for fans of \u003cstrong\u003evintage British football\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKen Thorna World Cars — the sponsor that grounds the jersey in its territory\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThe sponsor \u003cstrong\u003eKen Thorna World Cars\u003c\/strong\u003e is typical of this era when lower league clubs relied on local partners, rooted in their community. This kind of sponsor is only found on these specific jerseys, from these specific seasons — impossible to reproduce, impossible to imitate. This is exactly what makes this jersey unique for a serious collector.\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\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003eAn \u003cstrong\u003eauthentic vintage jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e is not the same as a replica from an official store. It's the real deal, the one that was sold at the time in club shops or worn in the stands by supporters. The finishes, the internal labels, the fabric weight, the stitched or flocked kit manufacturer logos — all of that speaks to those who know how to look.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eThis \u003cstrong\u003eCardiff City 2001-02 Xara\u003c\/strong\u003e boasts a condition of \u003cstrong\u003e9\/10\u003c\/strong\u003e, which is frankly excellent for a jersey over twenty years old. Very few signs of wear, intact fabric, logos and sponsor well-preserved — it's the kind of piece you buy and can proudly display or wear without questioning its condition.\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\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage sizes from the 2000s\u003c\/strong\u003e do not correspond to current standards. An XXL from 2001-02 can easily correspond to a modern L or XL depending on cuts and brands. Xara in particular had rather fitted cuts for the time — never rely solely on the label to buy a \u003cstrong\u003evintage collector's jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eBefore confirming your order, lay flat and measure one of your t-shirts or jerseys that fits you well: shoulder to shoulder width, chest width, and total length. Then compare with the exact measurements of this jersey — if available, ask the seller for them. This is the only way to avoid unpleasant surprises with a \u003cstrong\u003evintage football jersey XXL\u003c\/strong\u003e.\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\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage Cardiff City jerseys from the 2000s\u003c\/strong\u003e are rare on the collector's market. The 2001-02 period represents a specific moment in the club's history — just before the explosion, just before Cardiff moved up to the Championship and established itself permanently among the big names in Welsh and British football. Adding this jersey to your collection means owning a piece of this discreet but fundamental history. And with a kit manufacturer like Xara, increasingly sought after by fans of \u003cstrong\u003eretro British football\u003c\/strong\u003e, the piece will not lose interest over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-size:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eIn \u003cstrong\u003e9\/10 condition\u003c\/strong\u003e, there really aren't many in this state on the market. The majority of jerseys from this era and this division have seen better days — repeated machine washes, detached badges, worn textiles. This one is the exception. The kind of piece you find once and regret if you let it go.\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\/Cardiff_City\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCardiff City - 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 jerseys\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;\"\u003eThis Cardiff City 2001-02 Xara, it's real football, without glitter — exactly what a serious collector is looking for. It's up to you to decide if you're ready to welcome it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cardiff City","offers":[{"title":"XXL","offer_id":54011618918675,"sku":"358955","price":99.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0949\/4839\/3235\/files\/eng_pm_2001-02-CARDIFF-CITY-SHIRT-XXL-358955_1.jpg?v=1775491765","url":"https:\/\/supporterid.com\/en\/products\/2001-02-cardiff-city-shirt","provider":"SUPPORTER ID®","version":"1.0","type":"link"}